The Coláiste Mhuire’s first year football team retained the Kilkenny VEC Cup after a hard fought but deserved victory over Grennan College Thomastown. The wind, however, was to turn this fixture into the proverbial game of two halves.
Coláiste Mhuire elected to play with the aid of the wind in the opening half and the lively Johnny Doyle signalled their intent from the throw-in when he broke through from midfield for the first point of the game.
Sean Tobin built on this good start with a neat goal. The impressive Karl Collins operating at centre forward then scored a fine individual point. He followed this up with some silky skills and support play to assist industrious wing forward David Doheny with a terrific point.
Thomastown were rattled but responded with a break up-field for which they were rewarded with their first point from a free. However, a long ball in from midfielder Shane Curran was missed by the Thomastown full back and goalkeeper and dropped into the net. This was quickly followed by a fine point from wing forward Darragh Mackey.
Coláiste Mhuire’s David Doheny was rewarded for his hard work and unselfish play with a goal opportunity which he duly finished to the net. Karl Collins followed this up by expertly converting a long range free. Shane Curran then scored his second goal of the half to leave Grennan College an even steeper hill to climb in the second half. The halftime score read Colaiste Mhuire 4-05, Grennan College 0-01.
Steep as that hill may have seemed Grennan College scored 1-01 without reply from the restart, illustrating both their intent and the impact the wind was having on proceedings. Niall Mullins — now operating at full forward responded with a fine goal and quickly followed up with a well taken point. However, Thomastown then upped the ante and entered their most dominant phase of play, scoring a magnificent 3-03 without reply.
Credit must go to the young Johnstown lads who responded in kind with a strong finish. Sean Tobin poached his second goal and Shane Curran fired over another great point. Thomastown again laid siege on the Johnstown goal and were rewarded with another major score. This cut the deficit to just five points. However, this was to be their final score as brave defending from Podge Sweeney and his fellow backs kept the Grennan College crew from closing the gap any further. The full-time score Colaiste Mhuire 6-07, Grennan College 5-05.
