Kilkenny Schools- Johnstown show class in win over St Peter's of Wexford

Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown produced an accomplished display as they saw off the challenge of St Peter’s College in the Corn Ui Dhuill Leinster PPS knockout clash in Fenians GAA last Wednesday afternoon.

The Kilkenny school laid the foundations for the success while playing against a strong enough breeze in the opening half as they went into the break with a three point advantage on the scoreboard.

Johnstown then went on to dominate in the second 30 minutes with Cian Donnelly (St Lachtain’s) and Callum Lawlor (Emeralds) leading the way as they ran out seven point victors with the St Peter’s goal only arriving late in the day.

It was nip and tuck in the early minutes as the sides shared the first four points of the contest with two Callum Lawlor efforts for Johnstown cancelled out by Jack Quigley and Oisin Caulfield getting the Wexford Town school off the mark.

The home side then began to take control with three points in as many minutes via Billy Hogan, Cian Donnelly and Simon Zhang while Daniel Tobin also had a goal attempt well saved by Martin Dempsey as Johnstown turned the screw on their opponents.

A pair of Jack Quigley frees got St Peter’s back to within the minimum but the Kilkenny side finished the half on top with placed ball efforts from Cian Donnelly and Callum Lawlor.

Another goal opportunity when a quick free from Lorcan Bourke found Cian Donnelly saw the Freshford man have shot saved before a ground attempt by Oisin Quinlan went narrowly wide.

As a result, the North Kilkenny school led 0-7 to 0-4 on the scoreboard and in truth they all but settled the result in their favour when they also added on the first three points in the second period.

Two Cian Donnelly efforts from play as well as a pointed attempt by Ross Deegan moved the margin out to six and with the elements at their back, they quickly moved into a dominant position.

It was a strange sort of game for St Peter’s after they used four substitutes in the first half alone through injuries and tactical reasons.

One of those subs Niall Taaffe kept Peter’s tapping away but in that third quarter, they were outscored 0-8 to 0-2 as Colaiste Mhuire really went through the gears.

In total Cian Donnelly scored five points during that spell while Callum Lawlor and Oisin Quinlan also added to the tally as they eyed up competitive hurling in the new year.

Three more scores in the final 10 minutes really showed Johnstown’s superiority on the scorecard as the likes of Lawlor, Billy Hogan and sub Bobby Darcy rounded off the scoring on the winners side.

Johnstown led 0-18 to 0-7 coming into those final few minutes though the Colaiste Mhuire management will be a little disappointed at how they ended the game with Sean O’Leary nabbing a late consolation goal for the visitors.

It mattered little though as Johnstown booked a quarter-final meeting with Good Cousel in the new year.

Teams and Scorers

Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown: Cian Donnelly (0-7, 3fs); Callum Lawlor (0-5, 3fs and 1 ‘65); Billy Hogan (0-2); Ross Deegan, Simon Zhang, Oisin Quinlan, Bobby Darcy (0-1 each)

St Peter’s Wexford: Jack Quigley (0-4, 4fs); Sean O’Leary (1-0); Oisin Caulfield, Niall Taaffe, Alex Dillane, Alfie Whelan (0-1 each)

Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown: Adam Hogan; Declan Teehan, Noah Scott, Evan Perry; Simon Zhang, Adam Norton, Aaron Dwyer; Ross Deegan, Callum Lawlor; Billy Hogan, Cian Donnelly, Daniel Tobin; Oisin Quinlan, Lorcan Bourke, Ciaran McMenamin.

Subs: Bobby Darcy for McMenamin, 46 mins; Michael Campbell for Tobin, 55 mins; Eoin Holland for Quinlan, 55 mins; David Hanley for Bourke, 58 mins; Jack Gleeson for Hogan, 60 mins.

St Peter’s Wexford: Martin Dempsey; Eoghan Redmond, James Kirby, Andy Byrne; Paddy Walsh, Cian Nolan, Adam Connich; Wally Kelly, James Kavanagh; Jack Quigley, Rory Hearne, Oisin Caulfield; Alex Dillane, Alfie Whelan, Sean O’Leary.

Subs: Bobby Rackard for Nolan, 14 mins; Rian Goff for Kirby, 14 mins; Aaron O’Sullivan for Connich, 22 mins; Niall Taaffe for Caulfield, 30 mins; Ryan Murphy for Quigley, 51 mins.

Referee: Liam Cleere (Laois)