Avondale CC prove too good

Rathdrum students see off brave Gaelcholáiste na Mara

AVONDALE CC had a merited win in the Wicklow Schools Senior ‘B’ football final in sunny Pearse’s Park last Wednesday.

The Avondale outfit had class performers throughout their team and played some fantastic attacking football when afforded the opportunities taking some wonderful scores along the way.

The Gaelcholáiste lads played their part in a fine contest especially in the second half when they threw the shackles off and really went after it. It was the second quarter where they can look back and pinpoint the main reason for their defeat.

They couldn’t handle the blue tide that swept towards them in that period with Avondale outscoring them 1-6 to 0-1.

The Arklow based Gaelscoil had the better start and enjoyed plenty of early possession. They were a little lateral in their build up at times, but Avondale were also well set up, electing to play on the break early on.

Charlie Mernagh opened the scoring for Gaelcholáiste na Mara in the fourth minute from a free after a foul on full-forward Cian Nolan. It took Avondale until the 13th minute when their excellent midfielder Paddy Harpur fired over the equaliser. Harpur got through a mountain of work and turned possession over time and again for his team.

Avondale owned the second quarter as Harpur, Joe Sinnott, Sean McHugh, Caleb Fox, Mark O’Reilly, Lorcan Toomey and Gavin Cullen who was playing in a sweeping role took total control around the middle third.

O’Reilly kicked a fine point while on an advantage and Alex Kavanagh had a dreamy point from out on the wing after weaving his way around the Arklow side’s backs. Joe McDonnell fired over off his left before Kavanagh buried a tonic goal past Adam O’Leary in the Gaelcholáiste na Mara goal in the 23rd minute. Mark O’Reilly had picked Kavanagh out with a sublime cross field pass and the Aughrim man done the rest.

Kavanagh had another from play before Charlie Mernagh broke the Arklow team’s duck with a second pointed free after a foul on Fenn Wolohan. Joe Kindlon, Jack Dempsey, Diarmuid O’Reilly, Brian McCall and Kyle Mills were trying to turn the tide, but it was Avondale who were to finish the half with two more points from centre-forward Mark O’Reilly and fine long-range free into the dressing room end from goalkeeper Joe Jacob.

As everyone took a well-earned break from the warm conditions it was Avondale who led 1-8 to 0-2.

Gaelcholáiste na Mara needed a good start to the second half, and they got just that, no doubt the words of Tony Murphy ringing in their ears after their lacklustre ending to the opening half.

Three early points from Kyle Mills, a fine Fenn Wolohan effort and another Mernagh free set the tone. Avondale quickly answered back with three of their own as they now played a more patient game; one from a Joe McDonnell free, another Kavanagh score from distance and a beauty from Mark O’Reilly floated over off the outside of his left boot.

Kyle Mills did have a point sandwiched between the Kavanagh and O’Reilly scores before the goal they so badly needed arrived from Dylan Lennon after some intense pressure on the Avondale goal to leave the score 1-11 to 1-7.

Joe Kindlon was having a fantastic second half driving his team forward time and again. He kicked a beauty and was also fouled for a free from which Charlie Mernagh hit the butt of Joe Jacobs post with a fierce shot.

Avondale lost a player to a red card in the same passage of play which further added to the momentum the Arklow team was now building. It was Kavanagh once more who lifted the siege for Brian Breen’s charges with another sweet score.

Mernagh pointed again in reply and Kindlon sailed over another sublime score from some distance. Now Sean Byrne, Aaron Conway, Conor Byrne and Jacob in goal were seeing a lot more action as Avondale were starting to feel the pressure.

Some great defending from Luke McGrath and a great save from Adam O’Leary denied Jake Byrne twice but Avondale were to kil the game off in clinical fashion in the next few minutes.

Firstly, Alex Kavanagh won a ball out under the stand about 50 metres from goal, he took off leaving defenders trailing desperately. He avoided a couple of challenges before finding Joe McDonnell inside with a clever pass and the An Tóchar player done the rest finishing beautifully to the top corner off his left.

The same combination linked up with Jake Byrne for the same result just moments later and the deal was done.

Just before the end Harpur executed one of his many turnovers and fed Kavanagh who floated an effort towards goal from all of 50 metres with Adam O’Leary isolated well away from goal.

Time seemed to stand still as everyone waited for the net to bulge but the ball bounced back off the cross bar and on the resulting breakaway Tomas O’Reilly fed Fenn Wolohan who finished brilliantly to the corner out of Jacob’s reach with the final whistle going almost immediately.

Many of the players on show have featured on Wicklow underage teams in the past few years and, like the ‘A’ final, the players on both teams delivered a fine contest. It would seem there is some justifiable hope for a good future for Wicklow football.

Jim Murphy, a legend of Wicklow Schools football over the years, congratulated both teams on a fine game, giving the decent crowd plenty of entertainment and also thanked referee Kieron Kenny for his contribution as he handed the cup over to a deserving Avondale captain Alex Kavanagh.

AVONDALE: Joe Jacob (0-1); Sean Byrne, Lorcan Toomey, Aaron Conway; Conor Byrne, Sean McHugh, Killian Byrne;

Joe Sinnott, Paddy Harpur (0-1); Caleb Fox, Mark O’Reilly (0-4), Lee Kenny; Joe McDonnell (2-2), Alex Kavanagh (1-4), Gavin Cullen. Subs: Declan Murphy, Jack Murphy, Jake Manley, Jake Byrne, Darcy Santos, Alex Baillie Johnston, Cian Fluskey, Cormac Moore, Glen Power, Ross Toomey, Cormac Sheridan, Daniel Concagh, Keith Lawless, Matthew Theron and Jamie Townsend Doyle.

GAELCHOLÁISTE NA MARA: Adam Ó’Laoire; Tomas Ó’Faoláin, Luke MacCraith, Zach Ó’Tuathail; Jack Ó’Diomsaigh, Seosamh Ó’Caoindealbháin (0-2), Diarmuid Ó’Raghallaigh; Fenn Ó’hUllacháin (1-1), Brian McCathmhaoil; Aaron MacAodha, Charlie Meirtneach (0-5), Kyle MacMhuilinn (0-2); Tomás Ó’Raghallaigh, Cian Ó’Nualáin, Dylan Ó’Leannáin (1-0). Subs: Jack Ó’Braoin, Cillian De Ris, Jack MacFhloinn, Luke Ó’Muiri, Dylan Ó’Loinsigh, Oisin O’Duigeannáin.

REFEREE: Kieron Kenny (Tinahely)