Bourke’s late brace sinks disappointing St Joseph’s side
Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Football ‘A’ Championship: Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore 2-12, St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge 1-5
Gerry Buckley reports
The senior footballers from St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge were decisively beaten by their counterparts from Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore in what was the two schools’ opening round robin game in the race for the 2022/23 Bro Bosco Cup at the losers’ home venue last Tuesday afternoon.
The visitors had whatever advantage was accruing from a mainly crossfield win in the first half and, in truth, they looked the livelier and more cohesive outfit right from the opening whistle.
Impressive corner forward Jack Connolly converted a brace of frees in the opening four minutes, and Niall Furlong made it 0-3 to nil when he rounded off a patient move with a fine score from play in the seventh minute.
Ben Kennedy, by far St Joseph’s most consistent scoring threat, shot a wide in their first attack. His colleague Rory Cole was also off-target from a free, albeit via the post, before the lads in sky blue and navy equalised against the run of play in the 14th minute when Kennedy availed of sloppy defending to superbly chip the ball into his hands, before bearing down on goal and firing a low shot past Sean Kavanagh.
However, the Tullamore boys took over again in almost all sectors and they tagged on five points without reply between the 17th and 28th minutes, courtesy of Connolly (via Stephen McNevin’s fingertips), Luke Bourke (two), corner back Ryan Conway, and Robbie Gallagher (seconds after he had a penalty claim waved away).
A dipping shot from Tiernan Jessop almost yielded a second Rochfortbridge goal, before a routine free conversion by Cole in injury-time left his side trailing by 0-8 to 1-1 at the interval.
Skipper Liam Daly was unlucky when his fine ‘45’ conversion in the 32nd minute was wiped out, and his retaken effort was wide of the target. A lovely point from Connolly was soon cancelled by a Ross Kelleghan free.
Fine play by Kennedy teed up Cole for a goal chance in the 42nd minute, but his shot lacked conviction and was kept out by Kavanagh’s outstretched leg. At the other end, Furlong’s flicked effort for a goal was comfortably kept out by McNevin.
Hard-working St Joseph’s sub Winston Larkin and Luke Bourke soon traded points. When Cole slotted over a free in the 53rd minute, the home team was surprisingly still very much in contention, trailing by 0-10 to 1-4. However, the boys in red and blue deservedly pulled away in the closing stages.
A close-range goal from Dan Bourke was followed by a successful free from sub Adam McCarthy. In added-time, Connolly kicked another fine point and Dan Bourke doubled his goal haul despite being pressurised.
Kelleghan’s well-judged free with the last kick of the contest amounted to a mere consolation score for the 2020 Leinster champions.
Scorers – Coláiste Choilm: D Bourke 2-0, J Connolly 0-5 (3f), L Bourke 0-3, R Gallagher, R Conway, A McCarthy (f) and N Furlong 0-1 each. St Joseph’s: B Kennedy 1-0, R Cole (2f) and R Kelleghan (2f) 0-2 each, W Larkin 0-1.
Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore: Sean Kavanagh; Brian Malone, Ben Heffernan, Ryan Conway; Jack Daly, Jer Guinan, Eoghan Spain; Cillian Martin, Cillian Bourke; Luke Bourke, Niall Furlong, Dan Bourke; Jack Connolly, Robbie Gallagher, Ryan Kenny. Subs used: Patrick Kenna for Martin (45), Adam McCarthy for Kenny (inj., 45), Cian Malone for Gallagher (58), Stephen Doran for Furlong (58).
St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge: Stephen McNevin; Callum McKeogh, Matt Shaw, Kian Ennis; Tírnan Fallon, Charlie Johnston, Eoghan Kenny; Rory Cole, Liam Daly; Tiernan Jessop, Finian Carroll, Tadgh Kenny; Ben Kennedy, Ross Kelleghan, Charlie Cullen. Subs used: Winston Larkin for Carroll (47), Jack Larkin for Jessop (47), Adam Smith for Fallon (inj., 58), Ger Cullen for C Cullen (58).
Ref: Owen Ganly (Meath).