Boyne CS strong enough to fend off brave Kilbeggan side

Boyne CS 4-9 Mercy SS, Kilbeggan 3-7

Three second half goals paved the way for a Boyce CS victory over spirited Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, in the North Leinster Junior Football ‘C’ final, at Kinnegad on Friday.

Wind-assisted Boyne CS made the most of their goal opportunities after the break to deservedly claim the spoils and while their lead was threatened when the impressive Daragh O’Brien found the net from a free entering the final quarter, they were strong enough to fend off the attempted fight back.

At half-time the sides were level on 1-5 apiece, but Kilbeggan had played with the aid of the strong breeze in the first half.

Boyne CS controlled much of the opening 10 minutes to lead by 1-2 to 0-1, the goal coming via wing back Robbin Johnson, after Ciaran Sheridan’s initial shot was saved. Kilbeggan ‘keeper Guilherme Dias was in the fine form - his partial save almost denying Johnson in the follow-up while earlier his exploits ensured the Westmeath school kept their goal intact.

Daragh O’Brien, who had notched an earlier free, got Kilbeggan’s second minor and they were well in contention when Paddy Moloney shot over in the 18th minute (making it 1-3 to 0-3). Cathal Barron had his shot blocked and Dias somehow kept the ball out on the goal line as Boyne threatened to score a second major at this stage.

Amazingly it was Kilbeggan who found the net when Rory Quinn linked up with Aaron Jackson, who flicked home a goal to level the match in the 20th minute. While Boyne CS went two points clear, Luke Robinson and Gavin Ennis (free) brought Kilbeggan firmly into contention at the break with the final two points of the half.

Mercy Secondary School never managed to get their noses in front as Boyne CS surged ahead on the restart through a Jessie O’Rourke point - the corner forward always looking a threat. The goal that was threatening came in the fourth minute when Ciaran Sheridan’s initial shot was blocked, but Cathal Barron finished to the roof of the net in the follow-up and that was a blow from which Kilbeggan never recovered.

It was 3-7 to 1-6 when Edward Dunne flicked home Boyne’s third major. However, out of nothing, a 30-metre free from O’Brien was held up in the stiff breeze and the ball dropped to the net, leaving just three points between the teams with 14 minutes to play.

It was not the precursor to a winning surge, though. Instead Boyne CS regrouped and built up a five-point lead again when O’Rourke fired over on 57 minutes (3-9 to 2-7). Barron grabbed his second goal in injury-time despite his effort being partially saved. Mikey Devine’s fine strike found the bottom corner for Kilbeggan in the fifth minute of added time, but the fine finish offered only consolation at that late stage.

Scorers: Boyne CS: C Barron 2-0, J O’Rourke 0-4 (1f), R Johnson and E Dunne 1-0 each, C Sheridan 0-3, C Diggins and C O’Connor 0-1 each. Mercy Secondary School: D O’Brien 1-3 (1-2f), A Jackson and M Devine 1-0 each, L Robinson, P Moloney, G Ennis (free) and R Quinn (free) 0-1 each.

Boyne Community School: Aaron Malone; Lewis Ryan, Darragh McLoughlin, Charlie O’Connor; Robbin Johnson, David Regan, Luca Taheny; Conal Diggins, Leon Harris; Kaden Lacey, Cathal Barron, Edward Dunne; Ruairí McCaffrey, Ciarán Sheridan, Jessie O’Rourke. Subs: James Murray for McCaffrey (47), Ben McQuaid for Dunne (51).

Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan: Guilherme Dias; David O’Malley, Shane Carey, Tadhg McNamee; Dara Mulligan, Dylan Corrigan, Joao Godoi; Aaron Jackson, Daragh O’Brien; Luke Robinson, Mark Monaghan, Paddy Moloney; Gavin Ennis, Rory Quinn, Mikey Devine. Subs: Brendan Fox for McNamee (20), Fionn McKinley for Godoi (49), Callum Dunne for Quinn (inj., 60+1), Oisín McCabe for Dias (60+5).

Ref: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).