Knockbeg College 3-7 Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar 0-10
Leinster ‘A’ 2nd Year Football Championship Semi Final
Knockbeg College have a 2nd Year Leinster ‘A’ final to look forward to after they came from behind to win in Athy yesterday.
North Leinster champions Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar were their opponents and Knockbeg ran out six point winners in the end.
Chris Conway’s side played against the breeze in the first half and managed it reasonably well to only trail by two points at the end of it.
Mullingar raced into a early three point lead with Arles-Killeen’s Fionn Harris scoring in between four points for the Westmeath side.
But there was a crucial moment midway through when Ethan Lawlor won a kick out and the move ended with Frankie Doyle rattling the net.
Knockbeg had another goal chance but couldn’t convert with the Mullingar keeper absent and the side in green got the next three points.
But Knockbeg captain, Evan Brennan, popped up with a wonderful point on the stroke of half time to cut the gap and leave it 0-7 to 1-2.
Knockbeg had the wind now but it was Mullingar who increased their lead with two points and almost had a goal but for a wonderful save from Arles-Kilcruise’s Sam McElroy-Norman.
Aidan Fitzharris and Fionn Harris replied for Knockbeg but Mullingar moved three clear again as we entered the final quarter of the game.
They didn’t score again and Knockbeg drew level seconds into that as captain Brennan created an opportunity for Harry Buitelaar and he flicked the ball to the net.
Fionn Harris then judged the wind to perfection to land a two-point free and give Knockbeg the lead for the first time.
And they went for the juggler then as Ballylinan’s Mark Kennedy’s pass split the Mullingar defence and Fitzharris slipped in behind the cover to score Knockbeg’s third goal.
After that, as they had done all game, Knockbeg defended extremely well but Conor Whelan deserves special mention for an unbelievable turnover.
There was still time for McElroy-Norman to make another save and Harris to tap over another free as Knockbeg won again.
The victory sets up a Leinster final, possibly next week, against Dublin champions Colaiste Eoin of Finglas.
SCORERS – Knockbeg College: Fionn Harris 0-5 (one two point free, two frees), Aidan Fitzharris 1-1 (0-1 free), Harry Buitelaar and Frankie Doyle 1-0 each, Evan Brennan 0-1
KNOCKBEG COLLEGE: 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). Subs: George Conway (Arles-Kilcruise) for Hughes (43), Darragh Maher (Palatine) for Lawlor (58)
