Knockbeg College 1-12 Ashbourne CS 1-4
Leinster Colleges SFC Round 2
Knockbeg have moved top of their group in the Leinster Colleges SFC following victory over Ashbourne CS last week.
The Knockbeg Army headed to Meath on Friday for a game they needed to win following an opening round draw with Ardscoil na Trionoide.
Ashbourne had been beaten by Marist Athlone in Round 1 and Knockbeg were without four of their team that helped them battle to a draw with Athy.
Forward Ennae Byrne was absent through injury while Dylan O’Dwyer, James Gannon and Ruaidhri Lawlor missed out due to their involvement in the Kildare minor finals which took place on Saturday.
Knockbeg got the first score of the game from an Evan English free but were rattled by the concession of a penalty soon after.
That was converted but Knockbeg responded well as English and Eoin Ryan struck for points.
Just before the break, the lively Blake Rice rattled the net and Knockbeg led 1-4 to 1-3 at half time.
Knockbeg controlled the second half and held Ashbourne to just a solitary point.
Evan English, Eoin Ryan and Blake Rice added eight points between them as Knockbeg won well.
In the other game in the group, Ardscoil na Trionoide had a 3-13 to 1-13 win over Marist Athlone.
Athy contain numerous Laois players, including six starters from St Joseph’s. Darragh Farrell top scored with 1-3 from full-forward while Robbie Murphy was midfield, Eoin Johnson was centre-back, Roan Brennan was wing-back, Sam Lynch was wing-forward and Sean Rowan was corner-forward.
Barrowhouse’s Ben Howe was introduced as a sub while Niall Hickey from Ballylinan was also involved.
They sit second in the group on points difference and a positive result against Ashbourne in their final game will ensure progression to the knock out phase.
Knockbeg College will join them if they manage to avoid defeat against Marist Athlone.
Those games are currently scheduled for November 7.
SCORERS – Knockbeg: Evan English 0-6(three frees), Eoin Ryan 0-5, Blake Rice 1-1
KNOCKBEG COLLEGE: Cody Tucker (Graiguecullen); Sam McHugh (Palatine), Pauric Moore (Killeshin), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard); Rory Walsh (Athy), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Jack Doyle (Crettyard); Jack Milton (Killeshin), Sean Murphy; Callum McElroy (Arles-Kilcruise), Eoin Ryan (Palatine), Evan Dunne; Dermot Lawler (Eire Og), Evan English (Killeshin), Blake Rice (Killeshin). Subs: Adam Farrell (Killeshin) for McElroy, Mark Buggy (Palatine) for Lawlor, Patrick Fitzgerald (Killeshin) for Dunne, Conor George (Arles-Kilcruise) for Julian
SCORERS – Ardscoil na Trionoide, Athy: Darragh Farrell 1-3, Ronan Kelly 0-6 (five frees), Evan Doogue and Paidi Kelly 1-0 each, Colm Moran 0-2, Robbie Murphy and Harry Gringer 0-1,
Oisín Groarke (Castlemitchell); Eoin Coffey (Castlemitchell), Mark Grufferty (St Laurence’s), Liam Byrne (Athy); Roan Brennan (St Jospeh’s), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s), Calum Keaveny (Athy); Colm Moran (Athy) 0-2 (2 frees), Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s) 0-1; Ronan Kelly (Athy) 0-6 (5 frees), Evan Doogue (Castlemitchell) 1-0, Sam Lynch (St Joseph’s); Sean Rowan (St Joseph’s), Darragh Farrell (St Joseph’s) 1-3, Paidi Kelly (Castlemitchell) 1-0 Subs: Harry Gringer (Athy) 0-1 for Sean Rowan 43, Cameron Pedreschi (Athy) for Sam Lynch 56, Ben Howe (Barrowhouse) for Roan Brennan 58.
SEE ALSO – Leinster Colleges SFC: Stalemate as 14-man Knockbeg come from behind to draw with Athy
