Duncan goal helps Coláiste Mhuire reach Rice Cup quarter-final

Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar 1-8, Pobalscoil na Tríonoide, Youghal 1-4

University of Limerick was the venue for the first round knock-out Rice Cup hurling game between Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar and Pobalscoil na Tríonoide, Youghal. The Rice Cup is an u14 CBS competition of great prestige, featuring teams such as Kilkenny CBS, Thurles CBS and Midleton CBS to name a few, and the Mullingar men have managed to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history after their brilliant victory on Thursday April 18.

Coláiste Mhuire played with the aid of the breeze in the first half and the opening minutes were very even between the two sides. The Mullingar men's first score came from play from the stick of Odhrán Devine in the fourth minute when he finished off a lovely team move after great defensive work by Joseph Mulvey and Aaron Wallace. They were two points to the good after Michael Brennan, who was starting to influence the game from centre back, played a lovely ball to Jamie Leech who passed to Jonah Hassett and the young Plunkett's player made no mistake with a point from close range.

On 10 minutes, Youghal scored their first point with a converted free from their centre forward after a foul on their dangerous corner forward.

Some good link up play between Jamie Leech, Ruairí Heffernan and Odhran Devine saw Devine get his second from play. The young Castlepollard player showing great composure in from of goal. Leech opened his account on 16 minutes and this was followed quickly by a fine score from the Youghal centre forward to leave the Mullingar men leading by 0-4 to 0-2.

Lawler deployed Ciarán McGrath to man-mark the Youghal centre forward which allowed Michael Brennan to sit back and orchestrate proceedings from a free roll. This seemed to settle the Mullingar men and gave them a foothold in the game.

A fine save by Shay Leavey led to Jack McGuinness clearing a good ball out to Ciarán Casserly, who duly slotted the ball over the bar. Coláiste Mhuire were well on top at this stage but some poor shot selections kept the young Youghal men in the game leading into half-time. Devine finished the half with a pointed free after a foul on Jamie Leech leaving the men from Mullingar in the acsendancy on a 0-6 to 0-2 scoreline.

Against a strong breeze, Hassett scored his second point of the day after some great work by Colm Clinton. Both sides were guilty of some wasteful play in the opening minutes of the second half but another score from the Youghal centre forward left four between the sides. Youghal made two substitutions which seemed to unsettle Coláiste Mhuire but good defensive work from Tom Leech and Michael Brennan kept the Youghal men at bay.

With 10 minutes of the second half played came the pivotal moment of the game. Substitute Tristan Duncan, only on the field a matter of minutes, latched onto a breaking ball after some good work by Wallace and Devine, and he rifled the ball to the Youghal net, leaving the score Coláiste Mhuire 1-7, Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Youghal 0-3.

Some direct running from Colm Clinton led to a foul and the free was converted by Devine. This proved to be Coláiste Mhuire's final score of the game.

A quick 1-1 from Youghal left for a frantic final 10 minutes. Both sides continued to be wasteful during this period but some great defending by Adam Kiernan and goalkeeping from Shay Leavy ensured that Youghal could not find the goal that they crucially needed.

With pressure mounting in the final two minutes, Tom Leech dispossessed the Youghal corner forward and won a free for the Mullingar men to relieve the pressure.

Youghal had two final chances where they dropped in two '65s' but the Mullingar men were resolute in their defending and ran out deserving winners on four-point margin.

Although the scoreline may suggest otherwise, Coláiste Mhuire were a more balanced team throughout but for some wayward shooting. They hit 13 wides in total and had nine scores from 30 scoring chances. If they are to progress to the semi-final stage, this is something Micheál Lawler and his charges will need to improve upon.

They meet Tralee CBS in the Rice Cup Hurling Quarter Final in Toomevara GAA Pitch on Monday April 22 at 11:30am where they will aim to reach the Rice Cup semi-final for the first time in their history.

Team and scorers: Shay Leavey, Tom Leech, Adam Kiernan, Joseph Mulvey (VC), Jack McGuinness, Michael Brennan (C), Aaron Wallace, Ciarán McGrath, Ciarán Casserly (0-1), Jonah Hassett (0-2), Colm Clinton, Ruairí Heffernan, Jamie Leech (0-1), James McHugh, Odhrán Devine (0-4, 2f). Subs: Michael Fitzgerald for Heffernan (55 min), Tristan Duncan (1-0) for McHugh (35 min).