Just under a year ago, Good Counsel were All-Ireland football champions when they came up against St Patrick's, Navan. After extra-time, they fell by a point and for the next few weeks watched St Patrick's march an inevitable path to the All-Ireland title.
Yesterday in Maynooth, Good Counsel had their first championship outing since that stinging defeat and their mission was made clear. They want to win back that title.
A young Maynooth Post Primary school felt the full brunt of this determination. Under wintry skies, they battled hard but never once rattled the New Ross students. They were down 0-6 to 0-1 at half-time, and from then on were seeking scores to break the fall rather than threaten the deficit.
All six of the Good Counsel forwards scored in that opening half hour. Kevin Jordan started the flow after two minutes, shortly followed by the quick and imaginative Tommy Cooper. Ciaran Deely was also making his presence felt.
Maynooth struggled to keep possession and it was midway through the half before Aidan Dalton hit their first free. Just before the break, however, Dalton had a wonderful chance of a goal that could have made it interesting but Shane Dunphy won the race for the ball and Good Counsel were safe.
As the rain and wind picked up in the second half, conditions turned worse. The game remained physical, but a couple of wides in succession for Dalton and David Comerford did not help Maynooth's spirit.
Instead, Lloyd Colfer and Niall Collins helped extend the New Ross advantage. Cooper was also looking more dangerous by the minute and on 50 minutes ran in the first goal. He then played a crucial role in setting up Colfer for the second about five minutes later.
Cillian Carr had managed to chip Maynooth's first point from play but there was never any hope of the scores coming fast enough. Deely and Cooper continued to ensure the trip from Wexford was worth every inch. Good Counsel next face the winners of today's meeting between St Benildus and St Mel's, Longford.
GOOD COUNSEL: S Dunphy; R Corcoran, T Hendrick, S Doyle; J Delaney (0-1), A O'Loughlin, K Doyle; D Bradley, K Kennedy; G O'Grady (0-3, one free), K Deely (0-3), N Collins (0-2); T Cooper (1-2), K Jordan (0-1), L Colfer (1-2). Subs: D Foley Hendrick (41 mins), B Kennedy for Jordan (55 mins).
MAYNOOTH PP: D Conway; D O'Neill, A Sweeney, F Molloy; C O'Neill, D Beirne, G McMahon; M Creevy, C Carr (0-1); B Downey, D Comerford, P O'Rourke; R Moore, A Dalton (0- 4, all frees), A Baxter. Subs: D Canning for Moore (40 mins), J McCarthy for Conway (56 mins).
Referee: S Sheridan (Westmeath).
