Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown suffer narrow defeat to Good Counsel in Corn Ui Dhuill Quarter-Final

It was a case of so close yet so far for Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown as they fell to a one point defeat against Good Counsel in a thoroughly entertaining Leinster PPS A Corn Ui Dhuill Quarter Final.

The Johnstown school put in a massive display and if it weren’t for Callum Lawlor knocking a last puck of the game free wide of the goal, then they would have got another 20 minutes to try and cause an upset.

Lawlor’s missed free was a very difficult one near the sideline so no blame lays at the Emeralds man’s door especially after he produced a big second half display for his team.

Two goals in two first half minutes from Mark Downey and Eoin Delaney had given the North Kilkenny school the advantage as they led 2-6 to 0-9 at the break but backed by the wind at their backs, Good Counsel bounced back with Colm Kavanagh’s 45th minute goal providing the impetus as the visiting side came from behind to win.

Johnstown made the better start to the game with early points from Cian Donnelly, Oisin Deegan and Mark Downey giving the home side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

Colm Kavanagh got Good Counsel’s only score in that opening spell but the following few minutes were a different story as the Kilkenny selector Declan Wall managed team outscored Johnstown 0-7 to 0-1 to go into a double scores lead.

Sean O’Brien, Thomas Cummins and the Kilkenny duo of Darragh Vereker and Andrew Murphy excelled at this point while Vereker and Conn Mernagh also had goalbound efforts go wide and stopped on the line.

Johnstown looked in a bit of bother at this stage when trailing 0-8 to 0-4 but the tie was soon flipped on it’s head when Eoin Delaney and Mark Downey both found the net in quick succession.

St Lachtain’s clubman Cian Donnelly then pointed twice either side of a Good Counsel score from Andrew Murphy as Colaiste Mhuire went into the interval leading on a 2-6 to 0-9 scoreline.

Callum Lawlor had a relatively quiet opening half but the wing back proved hugely effective on placed balls for Johnstown upon the second half resumption and he extended the lead before Sean O’Brien hit two on the bounce for Good Counsel.

The Kilkenny school still led by four in the 40th minute on the back of points from Regan Downey and Ross Deegan but the New Ross opponents rallied with three points on the trot via Sean O’Brien and Colm Kavanagh.

Lawlor did make it a two point game soon afterwards but the game changed when Kavanagh blasted in a goal for the Wexford side at the halfway mark of the half.

Johnstown’s ace free taker Lawlor briefly nudged his side back in front but after Conn Mernagh, Sean O’Brien and sub Darragh Rossiter found the target, Good Counsel led by two going down the stretch.

A Lawlor 65 in stoppage time left the minimum between the sides and he had one last chance to draw the game but his late free went wide as Good Counsel survived to book a semi-final date with St Kieran’s.

Teams and Scorers

Good Counsel, New Ross: Sean O’Brien (0-7, 0-5 frees); Colm Kavanagh (1-2); Andrew Murphy (0-3); Darragh Vereker (0-2); Thomas Cummins, Conn Mernagh, Darren Rossiter (0-1 each).

Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown: Callum Lawlor (0-5, 0-4 frees and 0-1 ‘65) Mark Downey, Eoin Delaney (1-1 each); Cian Donnelly (0-3); Regan Downey, Oisin Deegan, Ross Deegan (0-1 each)

Good Counsel, New Ross: Paddy Quigley; Ross English, Joe McCarthy, Mitch Cullen; David Kennedy (Tullogher Rosbercon), Jack Dollard (Glenmore), James Reid (Glenmore); Sean Fitzharris, Darragh Vereker (Glenmore); Thomas Cummins, Colm Kavanagh, Conn Mernagh; Andrew Murphy (Tullogher Rosbercon), Sean O’Brien, Jason Cody (Glenmore).

Subs: Darren Rossiter for Cummins, 50 mins; David Foley for Vereker, 55 mins; Joey Tobin for Fitzharris, 60 mins.

Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown: Bobby D’Arcy (St Lachtain’s); Simon Zhang (Emeralds); Jerry Henderson (Fenians), Aaron Dwyer; Callum Lawlor (Emeralds), Rory Garrett (Fenians), Tomas Meaney; Oisin Deegan (Emeralds), Darragh O’Grady (Fenians); Regan Downey (Fenians), Cian Donnelly (St Lachtain’s), Ross Deegan; Eoghan Sumner (Fenians), Mark Downey, Eoin Delaney.

Subs: Daniel Tobin (Fenians) for O’Grady, 22 mins; Adam Norton for Sumner, h-t; Lorcan Bourke for Meaney, 52 mins; Donal Deegan for Downey, 54 mins; Cormac Dunne for O.Deegan, 58 mins.