Bagenalstown stride impressively into South Leinster semi-final
Ruarc O'Neill eyes up the posts
Pres De La Salle Bagenalstown were pillar to post winners in this South Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling knock-out game at the Carlow Training Centre on Thursday. From the moment Alex Doyle raised the opening white flag for the eventual winners, the result was never in doubt.
The same player turned provider when off-loading to Ruarc O’Neill and he found the net at the Fenagh end of the ground. After 15 minutes the lead had gone out to 2-7 to 0-1. That second goal came when Lillis ran at the defence and easily scored.
Grennan College had little to offer as Jamie Cassin converted two frees in the opening half and James Brennan also pointed. At the interval, De La Salle led 2-13 to 0-3 with Lillis and Doyle doing the most damage.
Not surprisingly, the rate of scoring died off after the change of ends but substitute, Fionn Forde pulled from close range and beat the unfortunate James Dempsey in the Grennan goal after the net-minder had, initially, saved well.
AJ Dooley also raised a green flag when his effort seemed to be sailing wide but somehow found its way inside the post.
The last ten minutes served neither side well with Presentation in complete control and the final whistle was a blessing for the Thomastown side who didn’t seem to know what hit them on the day.
A Doyle 0-6, J Lillis 1-3, E Byrne 0-4 (65 2fs), R O’Neill, F Forde, A J Dooley 1-0 each, B Kelly 0-2, C Fanning 0-2, PJ McHugh, J Brennan 0-1.
J Cassin 0-3 (2fs), J Blanchfield 0-1.
Daithi Roche (Bagenalstown Gaels); Frank Cushen (Bagenalstown Gaels), Charlie Byrne (Ballinkillen). Tadhg O’Connor (Barrow Rangers); Conor Stanley (Naomh Bríd), Ben Kelly (Ballinkillen), Aodhan Hickey (Bagenalstown Gaels); Brian Mahon (Barrow Rangers), Ruarc O’Neill (Naomh Bríd); James Brennan (Bagenalstown Gaels), Cian O’Reilly (Barrow Rangers), PJ McHugh (Barrow Rangers); John Lillis (Bagenalstown Gaels), Seamus Brennan (Barrow Rangers), Alex Doyle (Bagenalstown Gaels).
Subs: Cathal Fanning (Barrow Rangers) for Brennan (15), Niall Power (Bagenalstown Gaels) for O’Neill (h/t), Fionn Forde (Naomh Bríd) for Doyle (h/t), Dara Nolan (Ballinkillen) for Stanley (h/t), AJ Dooley (Ballinkillen) for Hickey (43), Eoghan Kavanagh (Naomh Eoin) for Cushen (49).
James Dempsey; Edward Morrissey, Evan Fitzgerald, Cian Murphy; Jack Ravenhill, Jimmy Hennessy, Rory Tobin; Eoin McCorry, Jamie Cassin; John Blanchfield, Eoghan Byrne, Sean Byrne; Aaron Cullen, Ryan Jackman, AJ O’Neill.
Subs: Daniel Begley for Cullen (35), Liam McGorry for O’Neill (47), TJ Brennan for Byrne (47).
Pat Kehoe (Rathvilly).
