Kelly and Hill goals steer St Joseph’s lads to Promised Land

Top Oil Leinster Post-Primary Schools senior football ‘A’ (Bro Bosco Cup) final

St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge 2-13, Naas CBS 0-15

St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge won the Bro Bosco Cup for the first time in Tullamore today, thereby preventing Naas CBS from completing a hat-trick of Leinster ‘A’ colleges senior football titles, writes Gerry Buckley.

This was an absorbing and keenly contested game of football, given the 125-day delay since the original date of the decider due to the Covid-19 virus.

The Westmeath school, appearing in their first final at this level, got off to a dream start when Killucan’s Devin Hill scored a great goal with just 49 seconds on the clock.

However, Naas were level within three minutes courtesy of two converted frees by Mikey McGovern and a classy point from open play by James Dalton.

St Joseph’s, with the breeze on their backs, had more of the play during the remainder of the first half but they spurned two great opportunities, with just a converted ‘45’ by Shane Fleming to show from the two chances.

Both sides had a player sin-binned in the first half – Jack Torpey (St Joseph’s) and Paddy Kelly (Naas). In injury-time, Naas’s Simon Murphy blasted the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. St Joseph’s led by 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time.

There was very little between the sides in the opening stages of the second half, but when wing back Kevin Quinn scored the second of a quickfire brace of points in the 39th minute the holders looked the more likely winners.

However, Luke Dempsey’s charges had regained the lead by the 50th minute courtesy of a Brandon Kelly point. Two minutes later, the same player netted a penalty kick after Niall Smullen was fouled to swing the contest firmly the way of the debutant finalists.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Naas’s Alex Beirne picked up a second yellow card, and St Joseph’s deservedly hung on with Torpey kicking two great insurance points deep into added-time.

At full time, St Joseph’s captain Aaron Kelleghan – son of Offaly legend Pascal – lifted the Bro Bosco Cup for ’Bridge boys, who became the first Westmeath school to win this title since Athlone Community College did so in 2008.

Today’s game can be watched on Leinster GAA’s YouTube feed here.

Scorers – St Joseph’s: B Kelly 1-3 (1-0pen), D Hill 1-1, J Torpey 0-3, A Kelleghan 0-2, S Fleming, L Moran, J Gahan and R Keyes 0-1 each. Naas CBS: M McGovern 0-6 (5fs), J Dalton 0-3, K Quinn, A Beirne and S Murphy 0-2 each.

St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge – Jamie Mulkearns (Killucan); Kenny Ruzzell (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge), Ciaran Daly (sixth year, Coralstown/Kinnegad), Liam Moran (The Downs); Michael McCormack (Milltownpass), Josh Gahan (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Ciaran Daly (fifth year, Coralstown/Kinnegad); Niall Smullen (Clonard), Rory Keyes (Killucan); Brandon Kelly (Milltownpass), Shane Fleming (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Podge Quinn (Coralstown/Kinnegad); Devin Hill (Killucan), Aaron Kelleghan (capt., Rhode), Jack Torpey (Coralstown/Kinnegad). Subs: Sami Clarke (Killucan) for Keyes (59), Evan Rigney (St Brigid’s, Croghan) for Ruzzell (60). Rest of panel: Sean Martin (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Luke Darby (Killucan), Jack Cole (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Conor Borthwick (Killucan), Callum Cruise (Coralstown/Kinnegad), James Lynch (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge), David Weir (Killucan), Shane Whelehan (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge), Cian Murphy (Rhode), Darragh Core (Killucan), Keith Powell (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Dean Swords (Killucan). Management team: Luke Dempsey, John Rouse, Damien Rushe, Muireann Scally (physio).

Naas CBS – David Morrissey; Mikey Maguire, Conan Boran, Paddy Kelly; Kevin Quinn, Adam Malone, Paddy McDermott; Drew Costello, Eoin Archbold; Nicholas Sweeney, Alex Beirne, Sam Morrissey; Mikey McGovern, Simon Murphy, James Dalton. Subs: Ferran O’Sullivan for Kelly (41), Seán McLoughlin for Sweeney (52), Neil Aherne for Archbold (52).

Ref – Patrick Coyle (Meath).