Senior Hurling - Leinster SHC ‘C’ Final

Wexford CBS........................................4-9
St. Colmcille’s CS.................................1-3

The hurlers of Wexford CBS swept to Leinster Senior Hurling ‘C’ success with this fifteen point victory over Dublin school St. Colmcille’s CS in Pearse Park, Arklow last Saturday.
CBS rocked their opponents with an opening quarter of power and precision as they tore into a 1-6 to 0-0 lead. The Wexford defence totally shut down any Dublin attack while Joe Coleman punished every foul committed by the St. Colmcille’s defence.

Indeed Ciaran Kirwan was fouled right from the throw-in and Coleman split the posts from inside his own half from the resultant free. It got much better for CBS when corner-forward Ian Moran gathered possession and burned his marker for pace before coolly slotting a powerful shot to the corner of the net.

Coleman converted a ’65 and then Sean Stafford was narrowly wide with a goal attempt. However CBS, coached by Willie Carley and Fr. Brian Whelan, kept up the momentum and Ciaran Kirwan was fouled again for Coleman to slot his third point in the tenth minute. The big centre-forward grabbed the next three points in a row from frees as the Dublin students were finding it difficult to cope with the CBS forwards.

However, they came to grips with the Wexford lads in the second quarter. Their opening score came from Keith McCarron’s well struck 21 yard free in the 17^th minute. He followed up with a converted free minutes later but McCarron’s colleagues found the going extremely difficult against the CBS defence who were in a miserly mood.

The recently crowned South Leinster champions struggled at this stage (1-6 to 1-1) but they received a massive tonic just before the break when Stephen Kearney (now at full-forward) got on the end of a lovely passing movement and slammed the ball to the top corner of the net with a stinging shot.

This gave the Wexford students an eight point lead at the break and early in the restart Joe Coleman’s seventh point was quickly followed by CBS’s third goal. Impressive midfielder Nicky Lawlor went on a galloping run through the heart of the Colmcille’s defence and he drew full-back Ciaran O’Brien before popping a pass to Stephen Kearney who made no mistake in finding the net.

Not once did the Dublin side flag or throw in the towel but they couldn’t find space to threaten Brad Cohen’s goal due to the stout defending of Evan Dunbar, John Hamilton, Daniel Lynch and Ciaran Kirwan.
Coleman pointed a ’65 before Ian Moran’s second goal after 50 minutes sealed the deal for Wexford CBS.

Thirteen of the St. Colmcille’s side play their club hurling with Dublin kingpins Ballyboden St. Enda’s and they are coached by Kilkenny senior hurler Conor Fogarty while they had won the Dublin championship in impressive fashion.

Afterwards CBS’s hard-working captain Jamie McDonnell received the trophy from Leinster Council’s Jim Murphy.

This was a fine team performance from Wexford CBS who grafted very hard for their win and can look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final against St. Patrick’s Grammar School Downpatrick next Saturday March 8 at a Dublin venue.

Wexford CBS: Brad Cohen (St. Martin’s); Daniel Lynch (Faythe Harriers), Evan Dunbar (St. Martin’s), John Hamilton (St. Martin’s); Joe Redmond (Shelmaliers), Ciaran Kirwan (Faythe Harriers), Joe McBride (Volunteers); Jamie McDonnell (Faythe Harriers Capt.), Nicky Lawlor (Faythe Harriers); Stephen Kearney (Faythe Harriers 2-0), Joe Coleman (St. Martin’s) 0-9, 5 frees, 2 65s), Eoin Roche (Faythe Harriers); Ian Moran (Glynn-Barntown 2-0), Sean Stafford (St. Martin’s), Rob Donnelly (Buffers Alley).
Subs: Conor Fenlon (Glynn-Barntown) for Donnelly inj., John Forde (Shelmaliers) for Kearney inj., Mikey Coleman (St. Martin’s) for Moran inj., Richie Cleary (Clonard) for Lynch, Liam Barry (Faythe Harriers) for Roche. Also: Dylan Hynes (Clonard), Gearoid Finn (St. Anne’s) Liam Hore (Faythe Harriers), Conor Coleman (St. Martin’s).
St. Colmcille’s CS: Conor O’Donoghue; Robbie O’Connell, Ciaran O’Brien, Cillian Byrne; Robert Leddy, Fergal Murphy, Darragh Bolger; Rian Cannon, Ross Cullen; Harry Coffey, Darragh McGuire, Keith McCarron (1-3 frees); Conor Deane, David Mahon, Darragh Gogan.

Ref: Pat Moran (Carlow).