Castlecomer survive extra-time to see off Wexford CBS in Leinster B Semi-Final

It took all of extra-time to get there but Castlecomer Comunity College will be delighted as they got over the challenge of Wexford CBS in the Leinster PPS Senior B Hurling Championship Quarter-Final.

The Kilkenny school looked to be in a fair degree of trouble when trailing by five points approaching the end of normal time but a goal from county minor star Kevin Buggy saved Comer’s skin as they found a way out of trouble.

There was a real Kilkenny minor feel to the winning side with Buggy, Eoin Brennan and Bobby Brennan who all started last June’s All-Ireland Final meeting with Tipperary starring in their school colours.

While Kevin Buggy’s goal eventually found a route into the game for the Comer side, it would have been academic had Eoin Brennan not kept tapping away at the scoreboard in a game where the dangerous forward scored 0-15 in total of which all but two points came from frees.

Michael Keane and Jack Coogan were the other two players to find the target for the North Kilkenny outfit as they survived the toughest of examinations.

Helped by Darragh Browne excelling on the placed balls and a goal from the ever influential Colin Carley, Wexford appeared to have a semi-final date within grasp until Buggy’s goal and an equalising Brennan free ensured another 20 minutes of action.

Even then, Craig Laffan scored a second goal for the visitors from the Model County but Comer refused to go away and they dominated the latter end of extra-time to book their place in the semi-finals against Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar later this week.

It was Wexford who flew out of the traps Colin Carley and Darragh Browne both pointing before Carley then added the first goal of the game.

Trailing 1-3 to 0-2, it was from here that ‘Comer began to rally and with Brennan converting five frees, his side turned a deficit into a one point advantage by the half-time whistle.

The surge in momentum flipped in the second half however as Wexford CBS retook the lead on the back of points from Darragh Browne, Colin Carley and Sean Denton.

Comer only scored two second half points by the 55th minute and with Wexford leading 1-13 to 0-11, their championship hopes looked in danger but when Brennan knocked over back to back frees, they moved to within a puck of the ball and that’s where they pounced with Kevin Buggy netting the equaliser.

Wexford did go back in front but Brennan still had time to level things up and from there, Comer took control in extra-time to advance.

Castlecomer Community College: Conor O’Sullivan; Jake Dooley, Bobby Brennan, Mark Kennedy; Tom Shore, Alec Kerr, Jack Comerford; Aaron Farrell, Jake Connery; Jack Coogan, Eoin Brennan (0-15, 0-13 frees), Jack Coogan (0-1); Kevin Buggy (1-2), Micheál Keane (0-2), Josh Dowling.

Subs. - Michael Ruane for Dowling (40 mins), Conor Buggy for Coogan (51 mins).

Wexford CBS: Charlie Ellard; Dan Mulvihill, Tadhg Doyle, Harry McGuinness; Ciarán Kelly, Ciarán Doyle, Jamie Doyle; Cian Leacy, Ben Harpur; Conor Reardon, Aaron Ennis, Seán Denton (0-2); Colin Carley ( 1-2), Craig Laffan (1-0), Darragh Browne ( 0-11, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65).

Referee: Owen Beehan (Kilkenny).