Good Counsel too strong for St. Mel's
Three goals in a glorious six-minute spell at a crucial stage of the second half set up Good Counsel for a comprehensive win over St. Mel's in the Leinster Colleges Juvenile 'A' Football Championship Final at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Wednesday of last week and the physically stronger New Ross outfit were worthy winners of the U-14 title.
While the wide margin of 15 points separated the sides in the finish with the superior Good Counsel side inflicting further damage with two more goals in the closing minutes of the game, St. Mel's actually held a slender 2-3 to 2-1 lead at the break and extended that advantage when James Heffernan shot over the bar with a couple of minutes gone on the changeover.
But the St. Mel's defence, after doing so well in the first half to restrict the opposition to just three scores, gradually collapsed under constant pressure to concede 3-3 between the 36th and 45th minutes with Good Counsel completely on top at centrefield in providing a slick attack with a great supply of the ball.
Several clear-cut chances were squandered by the Co Wexford college before Aaron Diskin fired over a well struck free and moments later Michael Bolger flicked the ball to the net after connecting with a high centre in from Adam Diskin.
The direct approach yielded further reward with another goal from Liam Fennelly in the 42nd minute and St. Mel's tale of woe continued immediately when a speculative shot from impressive midfielder Dylan Carthy-Walsh ended up in the top corner of the net.
Good Counsel, with the aid of the wind, were running riot and scored another couple of points through Aaron Diskin (free) and Pierce Doyle to establish a commanding 5-4 to 2-4 lead going into the final quarter of the contest.
Daryl Carrigy then converted a free for St. Mel's in the 46th minute and after Aaron Diskin (free) replied for Good Counsel there was a glimmer of hope for the Longford college when James Heffernan grabbed a goal in the 52nd minute after linking up with Larry Moran in a neat move.
The New Ross side recovered quickly with a point from Michael Bolger and while Niall Kelly kicked over a point for St. Mel's in the 56th minute that proved to be their last score of the game.
Good Counsel showed no mercy in the closing minutes in adding another 2-3 to their most emphatic tally, the goals coming in quick succession from full-forward Cathal Bolger while the points were fired over by Aaron Diskin (free), Adam Diskin and Pierce Doyle.
While St. Mel's did not deserve to suffer such a heavy defeat, they were unable to match the overall quality of a powerful Good Counsel side who were slow to settle into their stride and were 1-2 to 0-0 in arrears with just five minutes gone after making a poor start.
James Heffernan sent Niall Kelly racing through for a cracking goal in the 2nd minute and two points followed from Sean Farrell (free) and Daryl Carrigy. However, Good Counsel gradually got on top in most positions on the pitch and registered their first score in the 15th minute when Aaron Diskin fired over a free.
Moments later, Pierce Doyle was most unlucky with a goal attempt when his shot hit the underside of the crossbar but the next score went to St.Mel's when full-forward Daryl Carrigy (providing the biggest threat to Good Counsel) landed a terrific point in the 21st minute to leave his side 1-3 to 0-1 ahead.
But the south Leinster champions hit back with a goal from Dylan Carthy-Walsh in the 26th minute, who found the back of the net at the second attempt, and soon after another vital goal materialised for Good Counsel when the completely unmarked Michael Bolger made no mistake from close range to put his side in front.
However, with virtually the last kick of the first half a dipping shot from Daryl Carrigy yielded a soft goal for St. Mel's to regain the lead following a bad blunder by the opposing defence but Good Counsel got their act together in the second half to convert their superiority into crucial scores as they clocked up the impressive total of 5-8 as compared to just 1-3 for the gallant losers.
ST. MEL'S: Alan Sorohan (Clonguish); Rory Sullivan (St. James, Ardagh/Moydow), Adrian Duffy (Longford Slashers), Shane Kelly (Longford Slashers); Brian Rooney (Longford Slashers), Fergal Keenan (St. James), Ronan Sweeney (Clonguish); Sean Farrell (St. James, 0-1, free), Kryspin Pliszdynski (St. James); Larry Moran (Killoe), Niall Kelly (Longford Slashers, 1-1), Des Reynolds (Sean Connolly's); James Heffernan (Kilglass Gaels, 1-1), Daryl Carrigy (St. James, 1-3, one point from free), Sean Clarke (Longford Slashers).
Sub used:- Shane McCormack (Kilglass Gaels) and Sean Costello (Longford Slashers).
GOOD COUNSEL: Kevin Murphy; Darren Carthy, Donnacha O'Connor, Liam Hennessy; Lee Norris, Robert Vallejo, Adrian Redmond; Dylan Carthy-Walsh (2-0), Sean Stafford; Michael Bolger (2-1), Aaron Diskin (0-5, all frees), Adam Diskin (0-1); Pierce Doyle (0-2), Cathal Bolger (2-0), Liam Fennelly (1-0).
Referee: Noel Cooney (Offaly).
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
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Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
