Stepping up to the 'A' grade after winning the 'B' title last season, Cnoc Mhuire, Granard got the better of Offaly opponents Gallen C.S. in the opening round of the Leinster Vocational Schools Senior Football Championship at the Ferbane grounds on Wednesday of last week.
Goals at crucial stages of the game paved the way for the fairly emphatic victory but Cnoc Mhuire, under the guidance of Owen Swaine, can expect a much tougher task against the school that were unlucky losers in the Leinster Final last season, Wexfor
d outfit Bridgetown V.C., with the quarter-final scheduled to be played this week.
The Granard side got off to a flying start against Gallen with a great ball in from midfielder James McGivney putting Cillian Lynn in the clear for a goal chance and he made no mistake in finding the back of the net in the 6th minute. Moments later, the early advantage was extended when Benny Dempsey shot over the bar.
While the Ferbane Community School hit back to close the gap with a point apiece from Darragh Corbett and Callum Boland (free), Cnoc Mhuire quickly regained the upper hand in adding another three scores to their tally through Conor Madden, Cillian Lynn and Robbie Smyth in the space of a few minutes.
Points were then exchanged between Corbett and Dermot Reilly, the latter on target for Cnoc Mhuire, but Gallen finished the first half strongly and after midfielder Callum Boland converted a well struck free a goal attempt by Leon Fox was blocked down by the determined Anthony Baxter in a terrific piece of resolute defending.
Just before the break, Cnoc Mhuire wing forward Simon Cadam was unfortunate not to score when he fisted the ball against the upright as his side went into the second half leading by 1-5 to 0-4. However, the north Longford school grabbed a decisive second goal with five minutes gone on the changeover.
Wing back Wayne O'Hara created the sweeping move that also involved Robbie Smyth and Conor Madden and ended up with full-forward Johnny Murphy firing home a cracking goal. Moments later, Cnoc Mhuire squandered a glorious opportunity of another goal when Dermot Reilly shot wide from close range.
But the lead was extended with a fisted point from Simon Cadam and while Gallen were given a glimmer of hope with a brace of good scores from Callum Boland, they were denied a badly needed goal when the opposing keeper Gavin Kelly made a fine save with his foot to keep out a shot from Brian Grehan in the 47th minute.
A point apiece from Johnny Murphy and Robbie Smyth consolidated Cnoc Mhuire's grip on the game and while Gallen were fighting a losing battle they kept plugging away.
