Two goals for Maddock as Clane eliminate St Joseph’s
Scoil Mhuire, Clane 4-10 St Joseph's, R'bridge 1-10
The concession of a few preventable goals proved very costly for the senior footballers from St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge who exited the race for the Bro Bosco Cup when they lost by a nine-point margin to Scoil Mhuire, Clane on the winners’ pitch last Monday (November 25).
There was a poignant feel to this game as it had been postponed due to the tragic death of Scoil Mhuire pupil Kedagh Moore a fortnight earlier. A very dignified and respectful minute’s silence was observed prior to the game in Kedagh’s memory.
The boys in white and green led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter. Indeed, their first goal in the 14th minute was quite similar to later green flags in that the ‘Bridge defence might have coped better with a high delivery goalward, in this case from the always dangerous Mick O’Toole, with Liam Blake getting the decisive touch from close range.
Clane’s three points came courtesy of Aidan Maddock (two) and Daniel Colbert, while Shane Cully, Dean Kelly and Connor Callaghan (a free) raised white flags for the losers.
Scoil Mhuire tagged on a further 1-1 in the second quarter, the goal a very well taken effort by Maddock, and the point from the boot of Josh Gannon. St Joseph’s kept well in touch with four further points scored by Callaghan (two right-footed frees), Cully (a left-footed free) and Brian Ronan (a cleverly fisted score on the stroke of half-time). The home team led by 2-4 to 0-7 at the interval.
By the midpoint of the second moiety wind-assisted Clane had pounced for their third goal, Adam Fitzpatrick spectacularly fisting the ball to the net in the 43rd minute. They also registered two more points in the same period via Ben Kehoe and O’Toole (a quality strike). The lads in sky blue and navy had only one extra point to their name, a neat effort by Ronan. These scores left Clane ahead by 3-6 to 0-8 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
There was a sense of déjà vu to the fourth – and decisive – Scoil Mhuire three-pointer, with Maddock doubling his goal haul at the end of a Fitzpatrick delivery. They also tagged on another four points, via O’Toole (his second outstanding score), subs Tadhg O’Donoghue and Rob Lynch (within seconds of his introduction), and the closing score of the contest appropriately coming from man of the match Maddock.
To their credit, the team managed by Eoghan Kevlihan and Alan Giles plugged away manfully, scoring points via Jack Duignan and Callaghan (a free), sandwiched between which the latter player converted a 47th-minute penalty after he had been fouled - the award seemed soft.
Scorers - Scoil Mhuire: A Maddock 2-3, L Blake, A Fitzpatrick 1-0 each, M O’Toole 0-2, D Colbert, J Gannon, B Kehoe, T O’Donoghue, R Lynch 0-1 each. St Joseph’s: C Callaghan 1-4 (1-0pen, 4f), S Cully (1f), B Ronan 0-2 each, J Duignan, D Kelly 0-1 each.
Scoil Mhuire, Clane: Evan Dunne; Sean McGinn, James O’Donoghue, Calum O’Reilly; Niall Keane, Paddy Connolly, Mick O’Toole; Daniel Colbert, Liam Blake; Josh Gannon, James Moore, Aidan Maddock; Eoghan Lyons, Adam Fitzpatrick, Ben Kehoe. Subs used: Tadhg O’Donoghue for Kehoe (47), Rob Lynch for Gannon (50), Sean McLoughlin for Moore (54), Charlie Doran for O’Toole (55), Neil Vizzard for Lyons (58).
St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge: Ciaran Kavanagh; Oisín McCauley, Eoghan Daly, Kevin Corrigan; Nathan Hall, Oisín Carroll, Jason Gavin; Cormac McKeogh, Cian Fleming; Jack Duignan, Connor Callaghan, Dean Kelly; Shane Cully, Jack Carroll, Brian Ronan. Subs used: Kian Campbell for Carroll (inj., 37), Josh Kelleghan for Kelly (54).
Referee: Paul Fahey (Dublin).