Final quarter surge sees Coláiste Mhuire earn clear-cut victory
Coláiste Mhuire 2-17, Naas CBS 2-5
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Shane Murray (Coláiste Mhuire) is closed down by Oisín Bonner (Naas CBS).Image 2 of 3
Hugo Corroon, Coláiste Mhuire, looks up for options as Rory Cooke (Naas CBS) challenges.Image 3 of 3
Daragh O’Sullivan, Naas CBS, tries to get to grips with Conor Williams (Coláiste Mhuire).Mullingar’s Coláiste Mhuire recorded a fine victory over Naas CBS in the Leinster second year hurling competition at Lakepoint Park on Thursday.
While the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story, a dominant final quarter ensured a comprehensive win after a resurgent Naas side had battled back to level the match. Coláiste Mhuire scored an unanswered 2-6 to seal victory.
The Mullingar side took the lead when Hugo Corroon slotted over in the first minute and they went on to lead by 0-3 to nil thanks to Ryan McNamee and Conor Williams (free). However, there were periods when they drifted out of the game and Naas took over and Cuan Óg Mac Aogain was their marquee man in attack, his 2-4 haul underlying his value to the Kildare school side.
When Mac Aogain finished to the net in clinical style after 10 minutes, it levelled proceedings and he then put the visiting side ahead with a converted free.
Coláiste Mhuire then shot six points without reply and that was the general trend in this game: whenever Naas threatened to get back into it, Coláiste Mhuire found another gear.
At half-time, it was 0-10 to 1-2 in Coláiste Mhuire’s favour - Hugo Corroon (a couple of good strikes) and Conor Williams (0-4, two frees) the men who did the damage in attack.
Naas CBS got the opening two scores of the second half per Mac Aogain (free) and Finnian O’Rourke and while Williams converted a 65’, Coláiste Mhuire were certainly lacklustre in their approach.
Naas CBS got level through a goal from Mac Aogain, who flicked the ball home when Connor Cassidy failed to control it and then sent over a fine point from 60 metres to make it 2-5 to 0-11.
Shane Murray did come close to grabbing a goal for Coláiste Mhuire on a couple of occasions, the first being ruled out for a square ball infringement, but they got ahead when Cian Matthews pointed on 46 minutes and from there, they never flinched.
Only a good save by Jack Fitzpatrick denied Hugo Corroon a goal in the 50th minute, but then Conor Williams won the ball back and booted it to the net when he lost his hurl’ in the ensuring scramble.
Cian Matthews scored a quality point after surging up the right wing and when Aidan Doyle sent an angled ball into the danger area, Shane Murray won it close to goal and this time crashed the sliotar to the net.
That left it 2-14 to 2-5 after 54 minutes.
Conor Williams (two frees) added the final three points of the match to complete a resounding win in the end. The final score was a terrific strike from over 60 metres, after Oisín Gavin’s pass and Coláiste Mhuire were worthy winners.
Scorers - Coláiste Mhuire: C Williams 1-9 (0-4f; 0-1 65’), S Murray 1-1, H Corroon 0-4, C Matthews 0-2, R McNamee 0-1.
Naas CBS: C Óg Mac Aogain 2-4 (0-3f), F O’Rourke 0-1.
Coláiste Mhuire: Connor Cassidy; Oisín Gavin, Oisín Scally, Calum McHugh; Shane O’Mara, MJ Long, Ciaran Casserly; Cian Matthew, Zak Bates; Ryan Mcnamee, Conor Williams, Rhys Brady; Aidan Doyle, Shane Murray, Hugo Corroon. Subs: Fionn Kelly for S O’Mara (h-t), Colm Clinton for R McNamee (55).
Naas CBS: Jack Fitzpatrick; TJ Carr, Oisín Bonner, Daragh O’Sullivan; Rory Cooke, Thomas Walsh, Ryan Cooke; Tadhg O’Neill, Harry Feely; Ronan Lenehan, Finnian O’Rourke, Rory Hannigan; Cuan Óg Mac Aogain, Luca McDonnell, Tom Hennessy. Sub: Paddy Cooke for R Lenehan (38).
Referee: Bernard Heeney (Westmeath).