Good Counsel College 2-10 St. Kieran’s College 2-09
The Father John Cosgrave Cup returned home to Good Counsel College from Thomastown on Wednesday 24th thanks to a brilliant gutsy display from our U-16 hurlers. The boys were rewarded for their hard work and stylish hurling by being crowned Leinster champions, overcoming fierce rivals St. Kieran’s College by a single point.
Good Counsel opened the scoring with a free from corner forward David Kelly who showed great composure throughout the game. However, mid-way through the half they found themselves trailing four points to two despite having good possession and numerous chances to score. During this period St. Kieran’s scored two frees and added two from play while Willie Tracy kept the Good Counsel boys in touch with a well-taken score.
Good Counsel began to exert a lot of pressure on their opponents approaching half time and were rewarded with the last three scores of the half. The first was a lovely point from Alan Walsh who scored with his first touch having just been introduced. Shortly afterwards, a dangerously dropping ball from the stick of David Kelly found its way to the net after a mix-up in the Kieran’s defence. The boys weren’t ready to greet the half-time whistle just yet however as Mikey Dwyer followed up a blistering run with a low bouncing shot which eluded the Kieran’s keeper and ended up in the corner of the net, leaving the score 2-03 to 0-4 at half time.
The second half began with both teams trading points as two fine Kieran’s points were cancelled out by efforts from David Kelly and Willie Tracy. Ten minutes into the second half it looked like Good Counsel were beginning to assert themselves on the game as points from Daire Barden, Pat Lyng, Willie Tracy and David Kelly gave them a commanding nine point lead with fifteen minutes remaining, 2-9 to 0-6. Despite the score line, there was very little between the teams and St. Kieran’s showed their pedigree as they began to fight their way back into the game. The Kilkenny side scored two goals and three points without reply and seemed to have all the momentum approaching the closing stages.
With the game level at 2-9 a piece, the final minutes were fiercely contested and Good Counsel’s defence made some crucial interceptions and clearances to keep the resurgent St. Kieran’s at bay. A little over a minute from the end Good Counsel were awarded a free and an opportunity to clinch the title. Corner forward David Kelly stepped up and showed nerves of steel to land what turned out to be the winning score. On a dull day in Thomastown, Good Counsel’s vocal supporters added plenty of colour and atmosphere to the occasion and the celebrations at the final whistle were fantastic.
There was little to separate the teams in terms of skill and ability but the Good Counsel team outfought their opponents and showed great bravery to claim the cup. A lot of credit must go to their mentors, Declan Wall and Mick Purcell, who put a lot of time and effort into preparing the boys since returning in September. Well done to all involved for providing another great sporting memory and achievement for Good Counsel College.
Good Counsel Colege:
Jack Dunne, Sean Barden, Donngh O’ Connor, Dylan Kehoe, Pat Lyng, Darragh Joyce, Ian Carthy, Daire Barden, Stephen Stafford, Mikey Dwyer, Willie Tracy, Adam Mansfield, David Kelly, Bob Whitty, Jason Dunne, Alan Walsh, Darragh Brennan, Stephen O’ Gorman, Dean Croke, Shane Doyle, Joe Sutton, Andy Walsh, Eoin Higgins, Ciaran O’ Connor, Darragh Lyons, Conor Duggan, James Tobain, Liam Barron, Sean Dowling, Craig Murphy, Peter Aspel, Shane Ryan, Maurice Fitzgerald.
