Gaelic Games

Good Counsel bridge 16 year gap to claim Leinster schools title

Wasteful St Mary’s Edenderry have indiscretions punished to the full

Good Counsel, New Ross won a first Leinster schools senior football championship in 16 years against St Mary’s Edenderry - played in Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Sat Mar 07 2015 - 18:40

Good Counsel, New Ross 0-13 St Mary’s, Edenderry 0-11

Good Counsel, New Ross bridged a 16 year gap to deservedly take the honours in Saturday's exciting Leinster Colleges SFC A football final.

The Wexford college's greater ball retention proved crucial, playing a patient, short-passing game on their way to securing a cherished victory at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow.

In contrast St Mary’s gave up the ball far too easily, and far too often, while also misplacing far too many intended passes.

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The sides were deadlocked 0-6 a-piece just before half time, when Edenderry goalkeeper Wayne Cummins made a superb save from Good Counsel full-forward Mikey Dwyer, who was through one-on-one with only Cummins to beat.

To add salt to the wounds St Mary’s swept upfield and centre forward Aaron Kennedy kicked a wonderful long-range score which gave them a one point interval lead.

When midfielders Adam Mahon and David Maloney raised early second half white flags with efforts from play it looked as though St Mary's might push on for victory, but with Darragh Lyons and Kilkenny minor hurling captain and AFL trialist Darragh Joyce gaining midfield superiority, Good Counsel assumed command to shoot four successive points from frees punishing St Mary's indiscretions to the full and quite deservedly claiming their first Leinster title in the grade since 1999. They also went on to claim the Hogan Cup that year.

Good Counsel: C O'Connor; E Porter, D O'Connor, S Barden; J Sutton, I Carthy (0-1), B Power (0-2); D Lyons (0-1), D Joyce; J Shiely (0-4, 0-3 frees), D Kelly, A Swan; T O'Connor (0-4, 0-3 frees), M Dwyer (0-1), B Whitty. Subs: T Cody for Barden (34); J Dunne for Whitty (42); J Myler for Sutton (46).

St Mary's: W Cummins; M Abbott, J Mulraney, I Quinn; J Reilly, D Kavanagh, S Doran (0-3, all frees); A Mahon (0-1), D Maloney (0-1); J Higgins, A Kennedy (0-1), S McGlynn (0-1, 45); J Robinson (0-2), A Kearney (0-1), C Farrell (0-1). Subs: J Cully for Reilly (39); C Brereton for Kennedy (45).

Referee: B Hickey (Kildare).