Sport

Good Counsel turn things around to win

Good Counsel overturned a half-time deficit to reach the quarter-finals of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup Section A at a windswept…

Thu Nov 20 1997 - 00:00

Good Counsel overturned a half-time deficit to reach the quarter-finals of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup Section A at a windswept Athy yesterday. Sean Dunne gave St Conleth's the lead with a fine penalty kick after 10minutes, but there was little quality rugby on offer as both sides found it difficult to cope with the gale-force breeze.

A good running move by St Conleth's following a line-out close to the New Ross line almost resulted in a score which New Ross defended well, restricting the Dublin school to a 3-0 halt-time lead.

An excellent tackle by Lewis Lavelle prevented a try by New Ross substitute John Dunne and Good Counsel applied most of the pressure in the second half. From a scrum, Good Counsel's best player, Gary Conway, gave them the lead with a try in the corner in the 59th minute.

Out-half Conway then atoned for earlier penalty misses with a well-taken conversion which left St Conleth's needing at least a try.

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However, Good Counsel kept play inside the St Conleth's half for most of the remainder of the game.

Good Counsel: O Moloney;J Bardon, D Wall, J Hannon, J Finn; G Conway, A O'Loughlin; D Conway, J Bolger, P O'Farrell, J Maguire, W Downes, L Kehoe, B O'Donnell, J Redmond. Subs: J Dunne for Moloney, A Darcy for Barden.

St Conleth's: R McCarthy; P Ashe, K Carmody, C O Cleirigh; L Lavelle, J Russell; B O'Connor, B Bennett, D Keaney, R Maher, B Gallagher, R Young, D Kelly, M Connellan, S Dunne.

Referee: E Carberry (Leinster).

England reject Jon Sleightholme completed his switch to Northampton yesterday vowing to help turn the struggling club into the best team in the country.Sleightholme, who is believed to have moved to Franklins Gardens for around £70,000, was an everpresent in England's Five Nations campaign last season but was transfer-listed by Bath earlier this season.The 25-year-old was linked with a return to Yorkshire which would have involved him playing for league club Leeds Rhinos in the summer and neighbours Leeds RUFC in the union season, but Northampton, who are currently two places off the foot in Allied Dunbar Premiership One, stepped in to end his Recreation Ground hell.