This is set to be a massive week for football in Knockbeg College as three of the school’s football teams are competing towards the latter ends of their competitions.
The 1st Years kick off proceedings as they have an ‘A’ Leinster semi final on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, it is the turn of the Juniors who will compete in an ‘A’ South Leinster final.
And then on Thursday, the 2nd Years will look to collect their second piece of silverware as they contest an ‘A’ Leinster final.
Knockbeg’s First Years are coached by Laois keeper Killian Roche and Laois Ladies midfielder Jane Moore.
Wins over Ardscoil na Trionoide of Athy and Good Counsel of Wexford saw them advance from the group phase as winners.
They then faced Naas CBS in the quarter final and ran out massive 3.16 to 0-8 winners.
That sets up a semi final on Tuesday, February 3, against Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge at 12pm in a Carlow venue which is yet to be confirmed.
The Knockbeg junior team comprises of students in Third Year, Transition Year and Fifth Year – they are coached by Liam Knowles, Aaron O’Gorman and Orlaith Moran.
They opened their campaign with a home fixture against Ard Scoil Athy on Tuesday, November 25. After a strong all-round performance, late goals from Nisun Balogun and Jamie Jullian sealed an impressive victory, with the game finishing 3-12 to 1-8 in favour of Knockbeg.
On Thursday, December 18, the Juniors travelled to Good Counsel College for a tough encounter played in very challenging conditions.
A late goal from Brendan Byrne saw Knockbeg take a two-point lead heading into the closing minutes.
However, a last-gasp penalty for Good Counsel proved decisive, as they edged the contest by a single point on a final scoreline of Good Counsel 1-9, Knockbeg 2-5. This result meant Knockbeg finished second in their group.
The Juniors then welcomed Enniscorthy CBS to Knockbeg for a home quarter-final. Despite playing against the breeze in the opening half, Knockbeg led by two points at the break.
After the interval, the lads took control of the game, showcasing impressive attacking play and strong pressing high up the pitch.
A dominant second-half display saw Knockbeg run out convincing winners on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-7.
The semi-final took place on Friday, January 23, in SETU Astro against Naas CBS.
A slow start saw Naas race into a commanding lead, with the score reading 0-10 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.
Scores from Tadhg O’Gorman and Greg Kelly helped steady the ship, leaving Naas ahead 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time.
Knockbeg burst into life in the second half, with three quick-fire points from Greg Kelly narrowing the gap.
A superb goal from Cormac Murphy proved to be the turning point and was undoubtedly the score of the game.
Riding this momentum, Knockbeg pushed on to complete a remarkable comeback, eventually securing a memorable three-point victory.
Knockbeg now turn their attention to the South Leinster Final, where they will face Good Counsel College again in what promises to be a highly competitive encounter.
The final will take place in Bunclody GAA on Wednesday, February 4, with a 12.30pm throw-in.
After that, attention on Thursday February 4 will turn to the Knockbeg 2nd Years – and they are coached by Chris Conway, Oisin Byrne, Caoimhe Townsend and Liam Osborne.
They have already collected silverware after they hammered Naas CBS by 10-17 to 2-7 in the South Leinster final.
They followed that up last week by defeating Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar in the Leinster semi final by 3-7 to 0-10.
They now face on final hurdle as they play Colaiste Eoin of Dublin in a Kildare venue at 12.30pm on Thursday, February 4.
Speaking about the week ahead, principal John Maye said that excitement is building.
He said: “We have a really exciting week ahead. The buzz in the school would be huge around any one of these games, but packed together in three days and excitement is through the roof.
“Huge credit to the coaches who have worked so hard. All panels have large training groups of up to 50 per squad.
“Really notable success considering the size of our school. We are the one of, if not the smallest school in Leinster A population wise but it’s shows what a strong culture and great coaching can achieve.
“Add that to the young lads appetite for work and you’ll never be too far off.”
KNOCKBEG 1ST YEARS: Fionn Campbell (Arles-Kilcruise), Shane Kealy (Arles-Kilcruise), Charlie Conway (Arles-Kilcruise), Oisín Maguire (Arles-Kilcruise), John Conway (Arles-Kilcruise), Connor Moore (Arles-Kilcruise), Aidan Howard (Asca), Zach Clancy (Athy), Michael Phelan (Athy), Ryan Kelly (Ballylinan), Dallan Leonard (Ballylinan), Henry Whelan (Barrowhouse), Fionn Harmon (Castledermot), Oscar Deering (Castledermot), Jack O’Shea (Castledermot), Eoin Dowling (Crettyard), MJ Dowling (Crettyard), Ben Larkin (Eire Og), Ciarán Murphy (Eire Og), Séan Keating (Fighting Cocks), Ethan Finnegan (Fighting Cocks), James O’Gorman (Fighting Cocks), Cian O’Shea (Graiguecullen), Pauric Nolan (Grange, Carlow), Jack Fingleton (Grangenolvin), Tom Byrne (Grangenolvin), Fionn Farrell (Killeshin), Mason Rice (Killeshin), Cathal English (Killeshin), Max Fitzgerald (Killeshin), Rhys Morrissey (Killeshin), Dillon Cullen (Kiltegan), Kyle Glendon (Michael Davitts), Ross Condell (Michael Davitts), Cillian Bambrick (Michael Davitts), Dara Foley (Michael Davitts), James O’Hanlon (O’Dempsey’s), Oisin Coakley (O’Hanrahans), Daragh Foley (O’Hanrahans), Eoghan Webb (Palatine), Andrew Moran (Palatine), Christopher O’Toole (St Pats Tullow), Fionn Hickey (St Laurence’s), Michael Tomlinson (St Laurence’s), Bríain Carroll (Stradbally), Cian McDonald (Timahoe), Arsalan Sheikh, Matthew Folden
KNOCKBEG 2ND YEARS: Sam McElroy-Norman (Arles-Kilcruise), Dara Kavanagh (Stradbally), Padraic Hogan (Fighting Cocks), Liam Hyde (Ballylinan), Oliver Hughes (O’Dempsey’s), Evan Brennan (Killeshin), Jake Kelly (Ballylinan), Conor Whelan (Palatine), Harry McNamara (Killeshin), Harry Buitelaar (Castledermot), Mark Kennedy (Ballylinan), Frankie Doyle (Leighlinbridge); Fionn Harris (Arles-Killeen), Aidan Fitzharris (Palatine), Ethan Lawlor (Palatine), George Conway (Arles-Kilcruise), Darragh Maher (Palatine), Ryan Jacobs (Ballylinan), Fionn Clancy (Athy), Johnny McGrath (Killeshin), MJ Whelan (Barrowhouse), Tristan Cotter (Palatine), Kevin Jones (Killeshin), Sean Lawlor (Grangenolvin), Barry Stynes (Ballylinan), Sean Townsend (Carlow Town), Darragh Dowling (Palatine), Ollie Nolan (Palatine), Jake Brennan (Micheal Davits), Conor Cantwell (Asca), Jonathan Shortt (Baltinglass), Jon Slattery (Fighting Cocks), Noah Kelly (Eire Og), Dara Morgan (Arles-Killeen), Oisin Bannan (Arles Killeen), Alex Moore (Ballylinan), Charles Lacey (Ballylinan)
KNOCKBEG JUNIORS: Cormac Fenlon (Arles-Kilcruise), Jim Wall (Arles-Kilcruise), Cillian Hughes (Arles-Kilcruise), Eoghan Harris (Arles-Killeen), Cathal Harris (Arles Kileen), William Cassidy (Arles-Killeen), Cian Howard (Asca), Senan Kavanagh (Asca), Ryan Clancy (Athy), Oscar Byrne (Athy), Will Duffy (Ballylinan), Henry Hovenden (Ballylinan), Jamie Julian (Ballylinan), Tristan Kenny (Ballylinan), Saran Buttle (Ballylinan), Hugh Langton (Barrowhouse), Tadhg Murnane (Castledermot), Harry O’Gorman (Castledermot), Greg Kelly (Castledermot), Tadhg O’Gorman (Castledermot), Henry Gannon (Castledermot), Conor Harmon (Castledermot), Conor O’Gorman (Castledermot), Mark Dowling (Joint Captain) (Crettyard), Darragh Brennan (Crettyard), Michael Brennan (Crettyard), Oisin Dowling (Crettyard), Cian O’Sullivan (Crettyard), Cormac Murphy (Joint Captain) (Eire Og), Senan Sheehan (Eire Og), Evan McGrath (Eire Og), Shay O’Grady (Eire Og), Zack Kelly (Eire Og), James McDermott (Eire Og), Nigel Coughlan (Eire Og), Oisin Rice (Eire Og), Joe Keating (Fighting Cocks), Podge Brennan (Graiguecullen), Sam Kelly (Graiguecullen), Jonah Brennan (Graiguecullen), Rhys Hennessy (Grange), Jack Anderson (Grangenolvin), Eoghan Ivory White (Grangenolvin), Nisun Balogun (Killeshin), Dale Heffernan (Killeshin), Mikey Regan (Killeshin), Dylan Scully (Killeshin), Milo Doran (Killeshin), Flynn Brennan (Killeshin), Luke Malone (Killeshin), Brendan Byrne (Michael Davitts), Fiac Donnelly (Michael Davitts), Conor Dooley (Michael Davitts), Ronan Maher (O’Dempseys), Mikey O’Hanlon (O’Dempseys), Allen Bowe (O’Hanrahans), Nathan Walsh (Palatine), Joshua Crosby (Palatine), Charlie McHugh (Palatine), Eddie Keenan (Palatine), Bobby Mulhern (Palatine), Owen Fitzharris (Palatine), Cillian McAteer (Palatine), Alex Broderick (Palatine), Michael Breen (Palatine), Niall Fennelly (Palatine), Sean McNally (Palatine), Myles Nelligan (St Josephs), Tadhg Deane (Tinryland), Shay Ryan (Tinryland), Cein McNamara (Tinryland), Oisin Fagan (Tinryland)
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