South Leinster PP Schools U14 Football D Semi-final
Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown (Carlow) 3-16 Ramsgrange CS (Wexford) 1-2 (by Hogan Stand) Hacketstown, Co Carlow was the venue last Friday hosting Ramsgrange Community School in the South Leinster U14 D Semi-final. The Wicklow border side comprising of eight Clonmore men in their starting line-up were dominant from the start. The Midfield duo of Coolkenno's Ruairi Tompkins along with Tinahely's Eoghan Byrne were, in the early exchanges, proving a handful for the visitors. Their supply of quick ball to the inside forward line was paying dividends. Corner forward Andy Foley (Ml Dwyers) a constant thorn in the Ramsgrange defence, netted on nine minutes. Tompkins had amassed three points from play by this stage.
However Coláiste Eoin allowed the Wexford side back into the game for the next ten minutes. Aaron O’ Brien impressed with two long range efforts to cut the deficit to four points. Matters were improving for Ramsgrange twenty minutes in when Coláiste Eoin conceded a penalty. It was O’Brien again who found the net, shooting low to the right hand corner out of Seán Tompkins’ reach.
Knockananna’s Noel Byrne steadied the ship with two points from play for the Carlow outfit before Clonmore's Billy Lawlor get on the end of a high ball to fist to the net just before the break. Coláiste Eoin led 2-4 to 1-2 at the break. From then it was all one way traffic.
Midfield was the platform where all Coláiste Eoin’s attacking play was generated. Ruairí Tompkins bagged 1-3 without reply in a ten minute spell and along with Reid Byrne who scored three superb points from play, the Coláiste Eoin attack continued to prize open the Ramsgrange defence. Ramsgrange did have their chance of a three pointer in the closing stages with O’Brien being denied by Clonmore's Seán Tompkins who pulled off an impressive save from close range considering he seemed to be struggling with a hand injury picked up earlier in the game. Coláiste Eoin ran out eventual winners 3-16 to 1-02.
They now face Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale in Éire óg Carlow this Thursday 18th December at 11:30.
Coláiste Eoin: Seán Tompkins (Clonmore), Jordan Tallon (Clonmore), Luke Doyle (Knockananna), Mark O’Keeffe (Tinahely), Luke Connolly (Clonmore), Cormac Connolly (Clonmore), Rory McGuire (Clonmore), Eoghan Byrne (Tinahely 0-1), Ruairí Tompkins (Coolkenno 1-9, 0-2 frees),Reid Byrne (Tinahely, 0-3), Eoin Byrne (Clonmore), Jake Hickey (Clonmore), Billy Lawlor (Clonmore, 1-0), Noel Byrne (Knockananna, 0-3), Andy Foley (Michael Dwyers, 1-0) Subs: Conor Mooney (Clonmore) for Lawlor 38mins, Ben Meehan (Coolkenno) for Hickey 42 mins, Jake Murphy (Tinahely) for Eoin Byrne 44 mins, Darren Birmingham (Michael Dwyers) for R. Tompkins 50 mins
Back Row (LtoR): Eoghan Byrne (Capt)(Tinahely), Mark O'Keeffe (Tinahely), Jordan Tallon (Clonmore), Luke Doyle (Knockananna), Reid Byrne (Tinahely), Eoin Byrne (C'more), Noel Byrne (Knockananna), Sean Tompkins (C'more), Luke Connolly (C'more), Ruairí Tompkins (Coolkenno), Rory McGuire (C'more). Front Row: Darren Birmingham (Ml Dwyers), David Byrne (C'more), Conor Mooney (C'more), Jake Hickey (C'more), Cormac Connolly (C'more), Keith Bowes (C'more), Billy Lalor (C'more), Andy Foley (Ml Dwyers), Ben Meehan (Coolkenno).
This photo was taken after their previous win over Avondale CS of Wicklow at Ballinakil, Rathdrum. They also defeated Coláiste Craobh Abhainn, Kilcoole, by 6 points to secure their place in the South Leinster Semi-Final. The team also overcame Presentation College, Carlow and Gaelcholáiste Ceatharlach in challenge games recently.
