No joy for Longford school as gallant Cnoc Mhuire Granard lose out to Gorey in Leinster title bid
Leinster Post-Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Football Championship Semi-Final
Gorey Community School (Wexford) . . . 3-5 Cnoc Mhuire Granard . . . 1-8
When a speculative shot from Gorey wing forward Dylan Cooke Leonard ended up in the back of the net midway through the second half, the north Longford school were trailing by the wide margin of eight points (3-5 to 0-6) and it looked all over as a contest.
Great credit to gallant Cnoc Mhuire for the spirit they showed in a brave bid to salvage the situation during the reminder of the match and Ryan Plunkett’s gutsy side were thrown a lifeline when midfielder Caolan Lynch scored a cracking goal in the 52nd minute.
But they kicked a few costly wides from there until the finish and the best they could manage was a score apiece from Eoghan Hartin and chief marksman Daire Madden (free) to close the gap to three points when the final whistle was eventually blown deep into stoppage time.
With the powerful midfield pairing of Jack Higgins and Rian Fitzpatrick leading the charge, Gorey were unquestionably the stronger side but were guilty of squandering several scoring chances in the windy conditions.
CNOC MHUIRE GRANARD: Cillian Brady (Gowna); Oisin Flynn (Ballymore), Arran Briody (Ballymacugh), Cian Halton (Gowna); Harry Kiernan (Granard), Dylan Reilly (Granard), John Boyle (Ballymore); Caolan Lynch (Abbeylara, 1-0), Eoghan Hartin (Gowna, 0-1); Sean Hartin (Gowna), Gavin O’Hara (Ballymore), Padraig Boyle (Ballymore); Emmet Brady (Mullinalaghta), Daire Madden (Gowna, 0-7, four frees), Micheal Hynes (Granard).
Subs:- Fionn Hartin (Gowna) for O Flynn (injured, half-time); Darragh McConnan (Gowna) for S Hartin (52 mins); Oisin O’Hara (Granard) for G O’Hara (60 mins); Mark Brady (Gowna) for E Hartin (stoppage time).
GOREY COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Eoin Blanchfield; Conor Kelly, Conor Jones, Ruairi Martin; Luke Darley, Brian Cushe, Andrew Smyth; Jack Higgins (0-2, frees), Rian Fitzpatrick (1-0); Dylan Cooke Leonard (1-1), JJ Twamley (0-2), Michael mcGonigle; Shane Flood, Cathal Murphy, Cian Hughes (1-0).
Subs used (second half):- Seamus O’Hagan (41 mins); Joe Woods (56 mins), Daniel Reeves (56 mins); Gavin McNulty (60 mins); Tomas Mythen (stoppage time).
Referee: Brian O’Connor (Dublin).