‘More than just a match’ Emotional draw for Hacketstown
COLÁISTE EOIN CBS CARLOW 1-8 0-11
‘IT was more than just a football match for Hacketstown,’ said Coláiste Eoin captain Eoghan Byrne after the Wicklow border school drew with Carlow CBS in the Carlow Post Primary Senior ‘B’ Football Final in IT Carlow last Friday night.
Boasting players from Clonmore, Knockananna, Kiltegan, Coolkenno, Tinahely and Ballymanus, it was an emotional night for the Hacketstown school only weeks out from bidding farewell to their comrade and cherished friend, Eoin Byrne, who passed away in tragic circumstances.
Talented Eoin would have been wearing the number 11 or 14 jersey had he been there to line out and it was abundantly clear how profound a game this was judging by the emotion on display prior to throw-in and in the voice of the team captain, Tinahely and Wicklow Minor star Eoghan Byrne after the final.
‘We have to mention him, he’s not going to be forgotten anyway,’ said Eoghan after the game when asked about what the game meant in the absence of Eoin.
‘It was more than a football match for Hacketstown. He would have been centre-forward or full-forward, he would definitely have been on the team,’ added Eoghan.
When asked to reflect on the personality of his friend, a broad smile tinged with hurting sadness formed on Eoghan Byrne’s face.
‘He was the biggest, I don’t know what you’d call him, a messer, I suppose. You’d have to keep an eye on him, he could do anything to you. He was a bit of craic, that’s for sure,’ he added.
The game was an entertaining battle between two very talented sides. Coláiste Eoin, managed by Darragh Kelly, took a 1-5 to 0-6 lead into the break with full-forward Jordan Tallon collecting a wicked ball from sprightly corner-forward Sean Moran before firing home for the game’s only goal after 22 minutes of the 25-minute aside game.
The Hacketstown team took a 0-2 to 0-0 lead early on thanks to points from the superb Eoghan Byrne at midfield and the aforementioned Jordan Tallon at full-forward, Tallon’s effort off his right kissing the heavens before it dropped over the CBS crossbar.
CBS were very dangerous throughout this game with Bob Mulholland and full-forward Maurice Lawlor, brother of sprinter Marcus Lawlor, levelling the game with two fine scores as Lord Afrifra was causing the Coláiste Eoin team some bother from centre back.
Points from Coolkenno’s Ruairí Tompkins, Eoghan Byrne and Tallon’s goal sent Darragh Kelly’s team in leading by those two points at the break.
The second half was nip and tuck all the way with scores exchanged and some superb play on display all over the field.
An early point from Ruairí Tompkins pushed Coláiste Eoin out to a three-point advantage but CBS rallied big time and were soon level thanks to points from Adam Nolan, Mulholland, and Lawlor.
Tallon stopped the rot with a free and followed that up with another which was to prove their last score. Lawlor would cause havoc in the closing stages with two sweet scores to level the affair and Tallon would be offered a very tricky free to clinch victory, but the shot proved wayward.
A great game of football and the replay is scheduled for early January. Interestingly, there were three finals down for decision last Friday evening and all three finished level.
‘Very close match, fairly strong wind, we were only two points up at half-time, but we needed more. We knew there was going to be a bit of a battle in the second half and in fairness to the lads they did stand up, but we just couldn’t hold out,’ said Eoghan Byrne, who complimented his full-back for a towering performance on the lethal Lawlor.
‘Ronan McKernan played very well, like a rock in there he was,’ he said.
- Coláiste Eoin: Jordan Tallon 1-3 (2f), Eoghan Byrne 0-2 (1f), Ruairí Tompkins 0-2, Sean Moran 0-1.
CBS: Maurice Lawlor 0-6 (3f), Bob Mulholland 0-2, Cathal O’Neill 0-1, Luke Reamsbottom 0-1, Adam Nolan 0-1.
Scorers COLÁISTE EOIN:
Melvyn Kinch; Rory Maguire, Rory McKernan, Cormac Connolly; Sean Tompkins, Colm Keogh, Jake Hickey; Luke Connolly, Eoghan Byrne; Reid Byrne, Billy Lawlor, Noel Byrne; Ruairí Tompkins, Jordan Tallon, Sean Moran. Subs: Keith Bowes, Darragh McKernan, Ciarán Harmon, Luke Doyle, Sean Harmon, Oisín Foley-Shorthall, Eoin Connolly, Cathal Foley, Anthony McDonald, James Whelan.
CBS CARLOW:
Luke Hickey; David Dunphy, Jack Brennan, Conor Holohan; Mark Behan, Lord Afrifra, Craig Bowden; Lee Nolan, Levan Serafim; Dinny Farrell, Adam Nolan, Luke Reamsbottom; Cathal O’Neill, Maurice Lawlor, Bob Mulholland.
REFEREE:
Pat Keogh (Rathvilly) THE Coláiste Bhríde Senior hurling provincial campaign came to an end after they faced a very strong Grennan College Thomastown on Thursday, December 6, in the South Leinster semi-final.
Carnew made the journey to Thomastown and took a while to settle, trailing 0-07 to 0-01 after