Rigney goal proves vital as Banagher beat Coláiste Mhuire
Leinster Schools Senior Hurling 'B'- knockout preliminary round
Banagher College 2-12 Coláiste Mhuire 1-12
Banagher College advanced to the next round of the Leinster Schools senior hurling ‘B’ championship with a three-point victory over Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar at Multyfarnham last Friday.
It was tough on the Mullingar side, who led for long stretches but a 49th minute goal by Shane Rigney ensured momentum shifted at a vital stage and it was the Banagher boys who went on to claim victory.
In what was a very competitive game, with some excellent scores over the course of the hour, it was Coláiste Mhuire who led narrowly at the break (0-8 to 1-4).
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the dry conditions, Coláiste Mhuire needed to be further ahead at this stage, but they found Banagher College a formidable opponent.
Jack Duncan gave the Mullingar side the lead after 90 seconds and they were still ahead when Padraig Casey converted a sixth-minute free, but a goal by Banagher's Ricky Fitzsimons on eight minutes proved a vital score. It came after a strong run by Darragh Scully and Fitzsimons found the bottom corner with a crisp strike.
Seán Hayes hit back with a fine strike from distance as Coláiste Mhuire remained in the hunt. Hayes later shot his second point of the half and a wonderful long-range free from impressive centre back Darragh Smith sailed between the uprights. Duncan got another from play but Banagher remained within striking distance, with Shane Rigney their go-to man in attack.
Padraig Casey’s free taking remained accurate as he converted a brace, but Coláiste Mhuire didn’t create much from play and this would ultimately prove their downfall.
One minute after the restart, a long-range free from Darragh Smith found its way to the Banagher net rather fortuitously and that seemed as if it might be the catalyst for the Mullingar outfit. Coláiste Mhuire built on it with points from Nathan Cornally, Smith (a superb long-range free into the breeze) and Conor Leech, who showed great strength to get a shot away under intense pressure.
Darragh Scully converted a free for Banagher, but leading by 1-11 to 1-5 after 43 minutes, Coláiste Mhuire had every chance. However, an unanswered 1-4 from the visiting Offaly school set them up for victory.
Shane Rigney and Darragh Scully notched minors before a long delivery by Ruairí Kelly in the 49th minute put Rigney through on goal. He got a low strike on the sliotar, giving the advancing Kian Loughlin no chance. That proved a game changer.
Scully and Rigney added frees, before Rigney shot over from play, making it 2-10 to 1-11 in Banagher’s favour with nine minutes remaining.
A Padraig Casey free crept inside the upright as Coláiste Mhuire showed character to respond, but the next two scores went Banagher’s way - Scully and Rigney converting frees.
Right at the death, Coláiste Mhuire had a chance to level it when Ben McNamee exchanged passes with Conor Leech to engineer an opening, but Banagher ‘keeper Eanna Mulhare was equal to McNamee’s effort and that ensured the Offaly side of victory.
Overall, this was a keenly contested game with the standard of play quite decent at times. Banagher College made the most of the useful breeze and pushed up confidently, crowding out the middle third and making it really difficult for Coláiste Mhuire. For their part, the Westmeath side will rue their failure to push on when in such a strong position early in the second half.
Scorers - Banagher: S Rigney 1-6 (0-2f), D Scully 0-5 (3f), R Fitzsimons 1-1. Coláiste Mhuire: D Smith 1-2, P Casey 0-4 (4f), S Hayes and J Duncan 0-2 each, C Leech and N Cornally 0-1 each.
Banagher College: Eanna Mulhare; Daire Daly, Ruairí Kelly, Eric Rigney; Rob Duffy, Mark Kilkenny, Lee Hogan; Luke Bowe, Paul Cannon; Harry Grant, Shane Rigney, Niall Flannery; Ricky Fitzsimons, Aaron Molloy, Darragh Scully. Subs used: John Foley, Morgan Glynn, Michael Boylan, Liam Donoghue.
Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Kian Loughlin; Jack Dowling, Mikey Weir, Ben Murphy; Conor Daly, Darragh Smith, Seán Brennan; Darragh Kenny, Ben McNamee; Seán Hayes, Conor Leech, Jack Duncan; Padraig Casey, Nathan Cornally, Conor Heffernan. Subs used: Jack Murtagh, Aaron Flanagan.
Referee: Michael Moran (Raharney).