Knockbeg College v Naas CBS
Leinster Colleges SFC quarter final in SETU Carlow at 1pm
Friday will be a huge day for the senior footballers of Knockbeg College as they host Naas CBS in the Leinster quarter finals.
Chris Conway’s charges are up against the Kildare side who are attempting to win their third Leinster title in a row.
They were Leinster champions in 2022 and 2023 – winning their first ever All-Ireland title, the Hogan Cup, in 2022.
Knockbeg have five Leinster titles – their last coming in 2005 – the same year that they also lifted the Hogan Cup.
Their journey for this season began back in October when they had a four point win over St Peter’s of Wexford.
They then faced Ardscoil of Athy in their final group game where a win would seal a home preliminary quarter final.
Here, a late Pierce O’Dwyer point saw Knockbeg prevail by the minimum in a tense affair.
That brought them on to December where Terenure College came to IT Carlow and a Cialann Brady masterclass saw them sent back to Dublin.
As is typical with Knockbeg, Laois, Carlow and Kildare clubs all have representation on the team.
Sean Brown (Crettyard), Eóin Cawley Killeshin), Jack Brennan (Killeshin), Michael Gaffney (Killeshin), Darragh Loughman (Ballylinan), Mackenzie McIvor (Ballylinan), Jeremy Kelly (St Joseph’s), Jack Behan (Arles-Kilcruise), Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen), Ronan Creery (Stradbally), Callum McElroy (Arles-Kilcruise), Eoin Mulhall (Arles-Kilcruise) and Kevin Fennelly (Annanough) have all featured.
While Mikey Murphy (St Joseph’s) played in Round 1 but sustained a leg injury in the U-20 championship with his club and hasn’t competed since.
John Phiri of Askea is the standout on the team as he made his senior debut with Carlow in the O’Byrne Cup recently.
While the Brady twins (Eire Og), Cialann and Josh, have been electric in attack with Cian Cashman (Palatine) a rock in defence.
As for their opponents Naas, they began with a huge 4-15 to 1-7 win over Terenure College in Round 1.
They then sealed top spot by defeating St Benildus College by 1-16 to 1-6.
They gave them a home preliminary quarter final where they hammered fellow Kildare side Patrician by 6-10 to 2-3.
From the Naas team that won the final last year, just Niall Cramer (Raheens), Daniel Hamill (Raheens), Eoin Lawlor (Naas), Evan Gilmartin (Raheens) and Jamie McGuirk (Naas) remain.
Many players from both sides were involved when Knockbeg lost to Naas in the South-Leinster Junior final in 2022.
Daniel Hamill did plenty of damage that day for Naas with his 1-2 from wing back crucial in a 2-8 to 2-5 victory.
The other three quarter finals have already been played with Colaiste Choilm Tullamore, St Pat’s Navan and St Mel’s of Longford through to the semis.
So whoever wins this will join those teams in the last four.
