First year hurlers from Mountrath Community School rounded off the year impressively as they beat Creagh College of Wexford to claim the 1st Year Leinster Hurling Plate.
The Laois school began the game on the front foot, Ryan Guilfoyle’s free found the uprights but Creagh College were prompt with their response.
They scored a goal and a point of their own moments later and threatened to take control of the game entirely.
However David Peters, Tadhg Lowry and Leo Guilfoyle managed to wrestle back control of the halfback line as they provided a platform for the forwards to display their scoring ability.
Points from Guilfoyle, Darragh Mortimer and the lively Jack Higgins settled Mountrath CS and then Billy Lawless struck for two quick fire goals to put them in front at the break.
MCS began to take control of the game as the second period progressed.
Luke Delaney, Daniel Meade and John Fitzpatrick were to thank for this as they worked tirelessly in midfield to break up Creagh attacks and to deliver the ball into the forwards.
Lawless and Guilfoyle benefited hugely from the service that was being afforded to them and continued to tally scores up as well as Bobby Callaghan and Luke Delaney who contributed to the scoring effort.
However, the full backline of Padraig Fahy, Daniel Sheeran and Ciaran Callaghan were put under huge pressure as Creagh launched one last surge in the closing exchanges but along with the help of goalkeeper Ben Heffernan no further green flags were waved.
Matthew Lynch, Benjamin Peake and Fionan Phelan Dalton brought great energy from the bench and helped MCS see out the game as full back Padraig Fahy and full forward Billy Lawless received the silverware on behalf of the team and panel.
It was a deserving reward for the very committed panel of 37 players who have trained with Ross Young of Laois Gaa and coaches Mr Bryan Bredin, Mr Christy Coughlan and Tom Óg Phelan.
TEAM: Benn Heffernan; Ciaran Callaghan, Padraig Fahy, Daniel Sheeran; David Peters, Tadhg Lowry, Leo Guilfoyle; Luke Delaney, Daniel Meade; John Fitzpatrick, Daragh Mortimer, Ryan Guilfoyle; Bobby Callaghan, Billy Lawless, Jack Higgins
SUBS: Matthew Lynch, Benjamin Peake, Fionan Phelan Dalton, Billy Byrne, Dayne Byrne, Xavier Bennett, Jack Carroll, James Cullinan, Eoin Dollard, Callum Fitzpatrick, Ben Fitzpatrick, Darragh Hooban, Sean Hyland, Ryan Lanham, Jack Morton, Evan Murphy, Tommy Merriman, Patrick O’Connor, Calum O’Connor, Evan Rafter, Joseph Ryan, Harry Shore.
SEE ALSO – Maher: “Some guys put their hand up and some didn’t – that’s the nature of high level sport”
