ARKLOW MARCH ON
CBS get past Pres Bray to book place in ‘B’ decider
ARKLOW CBS PRES BRAY 1-15 2-11
THE semi-final of the boy’s Senior football ‘B’ championship took place in Pearse’s Park Arklow on Friday with Arklow CBS recording a narrow victory over Pres Bray.
Presentation had the majority of possession in the early stages but failed to convert this into scores. Arklow CBS on the other hand kicked some fine points despite limited possession.
The Arklow CBS side defended stoutly with Shane Mellon to the fore while there were some excellent Luke Delaney saves but relentless Pres pressure eventually led to a Ben Kearney goal in the 18th minute to bring the sides level at 1-3 to 0-6.
The Arklow school regained the initiative to add points by Quentin O’Reilly and Ciaran O’Shea to lead by two at the interval.
The Pres forwards had kicked six wides in the first half and this was to cost them dearly.
Presentation started the second half in determined mood. Aaron Walsh had them in front within a minute when he finished a good move to the net and then added a point.
However, a Conor Breslin goal put CBS back in front in the fifth minute. The accurate Liam Moore added a point from a free to put Arklow in front 1-9 to 2-4 but his side failed to score for the next 15 minutes.
Pres took back control at this stage with midfielder Darragh Rochford and centre forward Aaron Walsh excelling. By the 10th minute the sides were level and the Bray school added four more points in eight minutes to look likely winners.
However they were to score only one further point while Arklow gradually picked off points. Still when Davy Maloney kicked a Pres point in the 23rd minute Pres led by 2-11 to 1-11.
CBS drew level with a Liam Moore free in the 29th minute and soon after that Quentin O’Reilly kicked what was to be the winning point.
Presentation had two great goal chances in the last few minutes but squandered them so when refereeEddie Leonard blew the final whistle Arklow CBS were a point to the good.
This was an excellent game of football with both teams playing a fine attacking style. The winners were well served by Luke Delaney, Shane Mellon, Ciaran O’Shea, Peter Hempenstall and Sean Crowley while Ronan McMahon, Ciaran McKay, Darragh Rochford, Aaron Walsh and Mick O’Gara impressed for Pres.
Scorers - Arklow CBS: Liam Moore 0-7, Mark Fitzgerald 0-3, Quentin O’Reilly 0-3, Conor Breslin 1-0, Ciaran O’Sheas and Jack O’Reilly 0-1 each.
Pres Bray: Aaron Walsh 1-3, Darragh Rochford and Davy Maloney 0-3 each, Ben Kearney 1-0, Cian Walsh and Sam O’Dowd 0-1 each.
Arklow CBS: Luke Delaney, Tadhg O’Callaghan, Shane Mellon, Ben Fennell, Dylan Furlong, Ciaran O’Shea, Mossy Lynch, Sean Crowley, Peter Hempenstall, Liam Moore, Mark Fitzgerald, Chris Furlong, Conor Breslin, Quentin O’Reilly, Jack O’Reilly.
Pres Bray: Aidan Kavanagh, Mike McCarthy, Sam Kearney, Mark Mullen, Ronan McMahon, Ciaran McKay, Ben Kearney, Cian Walsh, Darragh Rochford, Davy Maloney, Aaron Walsh, Sam O’Dowd, Shane Slattery, Mick O’Gara, Mark Robinson. Subs: Andy Conway, Oisin Hayden.
Referee: Eddie Leonard (St Patrick’s)