South Leinster Colleges Senior ‘C’ Hurling

Wexford CBS..........5-11
New Ross VC..........3-15

Luke Byrne in action

A breathtaking second-half comeback by Wexford CBS saw them bag the points on offer in this South Leinster Colleges Senior ‘C’ Hurling championship played at Pairc Charman last Tuesday.
New Ross VC led at the break by 2-10 to 1-2 and were full value for this lead. Wexford CBS were shocking in that opening half and the game looked well and truly over at half-time.
The away side had three points on the board within minutes of the start and CBS were rocked in the 7^th minute when the New Ross lads scored their first goal. It wasn’t until the 14^th minute that CBS captain Peter Furlong scored his side’s opening point after a strong run through the middle.
However CBS couldn’t build on it as their opponents were hungrier for the ball and played much better throughout the half. They tagged on another goal after 21 minutes as they opened up a lead of 2-5 to 0-1.
Furlong fed Sean Kearney for a point before the Boker boys got a boost when Eoin Roche placed Graham Murphy with a neat pass and Murphy blasted the ball to the net.
Eleven points was a huge deficit at the break and CBS needed to get some early second half scores to drag themselves back into contention. They were a significant increase in the workrate of all the CBS players and they hunted in packs for the ball which made all the difference.
Evan Dunbar converted two early frees before Conor Howlin pulled the ball to the net and at 2-11 to 2-4 CBS sniffed a chance. However three opportunities for points were squandered in the next few minutes.
The game got really interesting in the 43^rd minutes when Eoin Roche drove home the third goal for CBS and Gary Murphy and Sean Kearney flashed over points (2-11 to 3-6). New Ross VC struck back with some points but the CBS lads were relentless now.
Despite carrying a hand injury John Bridges entered the game as a substitute in the final quarter at full-forward and had a huge impact as he finished with four points (two frees). Despite a third goal from the New Ross school, the game was decided by two Graham Murphy goals in the final ten minutes.
The first was a great flick from a Sean Kearney delivery and the second (and Murphy’s third) came after hard-work from Evan Dunbar.
There was even more excitement at the death with the score at 5-11 to 3-14 when New Ross VC were awarded a 21 yard free which went over the bar much to the delight of the CBS players. The final whistle sounded on the puck out.
Wexford CBS: Brad Cohen (St. Martin’s); Mark Hayes (St. Martin’s), Aaron McMahon (Faythe Harriers), James Somers (Faythe Harriers); Luke Byrne (Faythe Harriers), Nicky Lawlor (Faythe Harriers), Liam Barry (Faythe Harriers); Peter Furlong (Faythe Harriers, Capt. 0-2), Gary Murphy (Faythe Harriers 0-1), Jamie McDonnell (Faythe Harriers), Evan Dunbar (St. Martin’s, 0-2f), Eoin Roche (Faythe Harriers 1-0); Sean Kearney (Faythe Harriers 0-2), Graham Murphy (St. John’s, 3-0), Conor Howlin (Shelmaliers 1-0).
Sub: John Bridges (Faythe Harriers 0-4 2f) for Howlin.
Ref: James Flood (St. Mary’s Maudlintown). 

Paddy Kehoe presents new set of G.A.A. jerseys to school principal Mr. Michael McMahon.