Leinster PPS Senior Hurling B, Knockout Preliminary round.
St Brendan’s Community School 0-15
Coláiste Choilm 1-7
By Ronan Cleary
Photographs by Finnan McDonagh
A tight contest between two strong sides saw St Brendan’s CS prevail as winners on a windy day with tough conditions for both sides. An unlucky defeat on the day for Coláiste Choilm and a huge win for St Brendan’s C.S in Birr as they advance to the next round of the championship.
Coláiste Choilm opened the scoring immediately after a well-taken point from a free from Killian Wynne in the first minute. St Brendan’s C.S didn’t take long to strike back, scoring a 65-yard free to equalise the match. St Brendan’s did not wait to put themselves in the driving seat with a super score from a tight angle to give themselves a one-point advantage in the opening five minutes.
Coláiste Choilm hit back with Wynne scoring his second point with a free which was won by Niall Furlong to draw the tie. St Brendan’s again weren't shy of putting themselves back in front with a quick move up the field to score another point. On the 16th minute, St. Brendan’s took control of the game and doubled their lead to two points ahead of Coláiste Choilm.
The first yellow card of the game was shown to Furlong 17 minutes in after a foul.St Brendan’s C.S continued their scoring streak with another point to put themselves three points ahead of their opponents. 3 minutes after their last, St Brendan’s C.S scored from a free to add to their lead.
St Brendan’s C.S had themselves five points ahead with 3 minutes before the half time whistle with another score between the posts to extend their advantage. Coláiste Choilm knew that a response was needed and delivered one with Aaron Rattigan coming through with a goal for Coláiste Choilm as he flicks it into the back of the net with a skilful finish to close St Brendan C. S’s lead to only two points.
St Brendan’s C.S didn’t back down after Rattigan’s goal with scoring from a free on the 29th minute to add to their advantage. Wynne scored his third point of the game just before half time scoring from a free. With a minute of additional time in the first half, St Brendan’s C.S attacked Coláiste Choilm’s defence and received a free which was put over the bar to end the half St Brendan’s Community School's 0-9 to Coláiste Choilm's 1-3.
St Brendan’s C.S began the second half with a superb point from play to extend their lead. The St Brendan’s forwards didn’t stop scoring with another point a minute after their last from a free awarded by the referee.
On the 34th minute, the referee shown his second yellow card of the game to Cillian Bourke.
Coláiste Choilm opened their account for the second half with another free scored by Wynne. Coláiste Choilm hit again 2 minutes later with their first point of the match from play scored by Steven Doran. The Coláiste Choilm coaches made the decision to make their first substitution of the day with Donal Dooley making his way off the pitch to be replaced by Oisín O’Meara.
St Brendan’s C.S replied to Coláiste Choilm attempt on closing their lead with back-to-back points from play to revert the game back to a 5-point St Brendan C.S lead. A second substitution was made by Coláiste Choilm in the 46th minute of play with Ciaran Crowley coming off to be replaced by Luke Waters.
St Brendan’s C.S. didn’t slow down with their scoring streak with a well-taken point from a free far out to put their points tally at 14 so far with eight minutes of regular time remaining. Doran’s name was put in the referee’s book as he was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute of the match. St Brendan’s C.S scored their final point of the day from a free to give themselves a 7-point advantage.
Wynne wasn’t finished scoring yet though, with another point from a free given away by St Brendan’s C.S which he calmly placed over the bar. The last score of the game came three minutes into additional time with Wynne putting over his sixth free of the day.
As the referee blew his whistle, it ended Coláiste Choilm’s senior hurling season as they are eliminated by St Brendan’s community school in Birr. A tight contest with both teams giving it their all for victory but St Brendan’s C.S come out the stronger side of the fixture as they now advance to the next round of the Leinster PPS senior B hurling championship.
Coláiste Choilm’s Team: Sheridan, S. Drea, D. O’Rourke (C), J. Greene, C. Berry, C. Bourke, E. Dunne, E. Rouse, B. Guinan, S. Doran (0-1), N. Furlong, A. Rattigan (0-1), D. Dooley, C. Crowley, K. Wynne (0-6).
Substitutes: O. O’Meara (20 mins), L. Waters (14 mins).
Man of the Match: Killian Wynne -Although Coláiste Choilm were defeated, all 17 players who started or came on, gave it their best and that deserves credit. It was hard to choose the man of the match for this fixture with players like O’Rourke controlling the back line and Doran showing his determination to win the ball whenever the sliotar was near him. In my opinion, the man of the match was Wynne, he was accurate with his frees and put 6 of them over the bar. He was cool, calm and collected whenever he received the ball and I think he deserves the man of the match title from the Coláiste Choilm side.