Knockbeg College 6-17 Colaiste Choilm Tullamore 0-8
Leinster Colleges SFC Round 3
Knockbeg College maintained their 100% record in the Leinster Colleges SFC following a big win over Tullamore in Graiguecullen this afternoon.
This was an excellent performance from start to finish for the Laois school who top their group to advance to the last 16 where they will have home advantage.
Captain Ennae Byrne was instrumental in the win as her tormented Colaiste Choilm all game and finished with a hat-trick.
Knockbeg’s attacking threat was evident from the start as only a flying saving from Tullamore keeper Aidan Walsh denied Dylan O’Dwyer from a close range volley.
The sides began by trading points with Dylan O’Dwyer and Cian Horkan swapping points before scores from captain Ennae Byrne and O’Dwyer edged Knockbeg ahead.
Their first goal arrived in the 12th minute when Ruadhri Lawlor won a ball in midfield and found O’Dwyer who scored to Byrne to palm into the net.
Knockbeg took over after that as points from Donnacha Lawlor, Ruaidhri Lawlor and Byrne left it 1-6 to 0-1 at the midpoint of the half.
Eoghan Rouse pointed a free for Tullamore soon after but O’Dwyer responded and then intercepted the next kick out before finding Byrne again who shot low to beat Walsh again.
And Knockbeg added a third goal before half time as wonderful intricate handpassing resulting in space for centre back Jack Julian and the Ballylinan man picked out the bottom corner.
Charlie Burns kicked a free for Tullamore but Mikey Byrne brought the half to a close as Knockbeg led 3-8 to 0-3.
Tullamore needed to start the second half well to have any chance of mounting a comeback and Charlie Heffernan did point from the throw in.
But any chance of something dramatic happening ended in the second minute of the new half when Byrne reacted quickest to a breaking ball to complete his hat-trick.
Byrne added a point after that while Ross Moran and sub Ronan Dooley also scored to leave 16 points between team with 15 minutes to play.
And there was no let up from Knockbeg. Ronan Dooley and Callum McElroy both added goals while the points continued to sail over as they won by 27 in the end.
Knockbeg will now progress to face Good Counsel of Wexford at home in the next phase.
SCORERS – Knockbeg College: Ennae Byrne 3-4 (0-1 free), Ronan Dooley 1-2, Dylan O’Dwyer 0-3, Callum McElroy and Jack Julian 1-0 each, Ruaidhri Lawlor and Mikey Byrne 0-2 each, Jack Doyle, Donnacha Lawlor, Adam Farrell and Ross Moran 0-1 each Tullamore: Charlie Heffernan and Eoghan Rouse (one free) 0-2 each, Cian Horcan, Charlie Burne (free), Paddy Burns (45) and Patrick Duffy 0-1 each
KNOCKBEG COLLEGE: Cody Tucker (Graiguecullen); Sam McHugh (Palatine), Ross Moran (Tinryland), Senan Gallagher (St Laurence’s); Pa Fitzgerald (Killeshin), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Jack Doyle (Crettyard); Mikey Byrne (Tinryland), Donnacha Lawlor (St Laurence’s); Jack O’Gorman (Castledermot), Ruaidhri Lawlor (St Laurence’s), Callum McElroy (Arles-Kilcruise); Adam Farrell (Killeshin), Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen), Dylan O’Dwyer (St Laurence’s). Subs: Ronan Dooley (Eire Og) for Fitzgerald (ht), Aodhan Bergin (Grangenolvin) for Farrell (40) Fionn Lawlor (St Laurence’s) for O’Gorman (45), Jacob Curran (Eire Og) for Lawlor (47), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard) for Byrne (53)
TULLAMORE: Aidan Walsh; Willy Connolly, Odhran Brady, Robert Burns; Charlie Heffernan, Tadgh Kelly, Louis Aubin; Eoghan Rouse, Darragh Stewart; Patrick Duffy, Charlie Burns, Cian Horkan; Cian Kelly, Colm Nolan, Adam Martin. Subs: Paddy Burns, Cormac Stanton, Ben Dillane, Shane Lawless
REFEREE: Lar Murphy (Carlow)
SEE ALSO – ‘If I send staff out to dredge a river in the morning, the Council will end up in court’
