Coláiste Bhríde secure U-16 Leinster final berth
COLÁISTE BHRÍDE 1-12 MAYNOOTH PP 0-13
THE Coláiste Bhríde Carnew under-16 hurlers progressed to the Leinster final after a fantastic display against a very strong and fit Maynooth PP team in Bray last Friday morning.
The Carnew students travelled as underdogs and knew that this game would go right to the wire. Coláiste Bhríde started the game well and an early goal from full-forward Joe Conroy gave them a hard-fought lead, fol- lowing brilliant work from James McGing and young second year student Stephen Kenny.
A long-range Conor Hughes free was one of the highlights of a great first half that ended with Coláiste Bhríde leading 1-6 to 0-05.
A brilliant defensive effort from Kevin Morris’s men had kept Maynooth’s chances to a minimum, with a particularly strong display from centre-back Tom Mordaunt.
Maynooth started the second half strongly and Coláiste Bhríde were under massive pressure with 15 minutes to go, chasing the game and time running out.
Yet again, however, this group showed what they’re made of when it really mattered. Owen Young nailed a couple of late frees, Conor Hughes got one from distance and Tom Mordaunt got a great score on the run to put the Carnew men ahead again.
Despite a late late scare from a 21-yard free, Coláiste Bhríde managed to cling on and progress to a Leinster final where their opponents will be Rochfortbridge from Westmeath.
This was an absolutely absorbing game that could have gone either way. Coláiste Bhríde will now have a hurling team in a Leinster final. A brilliant day for hurling in the school! A fantastic team performance, with all players giving their absolute all. Special mention to goalkeeper Patrick Kavanagh for a clean sheet.
Coláiste Bhríde: Patrick Kavanagh; Cillian McDonald, Conor Wafer, Cormac Redmond; John Young, Tom Mordaunt, Aidan Kavanagh; Conor Hughes, Ricky Byrne; Jason Bolger, Eoin Kavanagh, James McGing; Stephen Kenny, Joe Conroy, Owen Young. Seán Kehoe for Redmond. Pádraig Tobin, Brendan Tobin, Cian O Tuama, Mark Clancy, Jack Murray, James Doran, Thomas Hayden, Caoímhín Rawson, Diarmuid Lambert.