Page 59 - INTO THE WEST - March-April 2018

MASITA GAA ALL-IRELAND POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS CROKE PARK
Caulfield goals sink Kilkenny in thriller
Presentation College Athenry ...........4-10 EKilkenny CBS........ 2-12
By DARAGH SMALL Media West Ireland
Oin Caulfield scored two goals as Presentation College Athenry advanced to the All-ireland Post-
Primary Schools Hurling final with a thrilling comeback victory over Kilkenny CBS at Ferbane in Offaly.
The Galway school had a resounding 14-point win over Gort Community School in the previous round, but were 2-9 to 1-2 in arrears at half-time.
However in the second-half Presenta- tion College Athenry scored 3-8 with the wind at their backs, and goals from Caulfield (two), Mark Kennedy and Adam Brett sealed the win.
Kennedy opened the scoring after three minutes before Conor Heary equalised. But Sean Boyd’s pin-point pass was finished to the net by Luke Hogan in the seventh minute and Kilkenny CBS took over.
Their second goal arrived via a goal- mouth scramble and Jamie ryan. And four unanswered points from Conor drennan (three) and Boyd gave them a comfortable half-time advantage.
Presentation College Athenry were ten points down and ryan quickly added to the deficit. nevertheless, the Athenry outfit found a way back, a 2-4 blitz got brought them within one point.
Karl Conneely scored in the 37th minute and goals from Caulfield in the 44th minute, and Kennedy five minutes later, meant Presentation College Athenry only trailed by 2-10 to 3-6.
drennan scored his sixth point but Kilkenny CBS were rattled and Conor Walsh cancelled that out, before Kennedy drew Presentation College Athenry level.
CAPTAIN: Presentation College captain Conor Walsh led the fightback for his side against
The Presentation College Athenry backs got on top as well and Eoin O’don- nell put them in front, for the first time since the third minute, with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Kilkenny CBS at Ferbane.
SCORERS – Presentation College Athenry: E Caulfield 2-0, M Kennedy 1-3 (0-2f), A Brett 1-0, C Walsh 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65), C Lawless 0-2, E O’Don- nell 0-1, K Conneely 0-1.
Kilkenny CBS: C Drennan 0-7 (0-3f), J Ryan 1-2, L Hogan 1-0, S Boyd 0-2, C Heary 0-1. PRESENTATION COLLEGE ATHENRY: P Rabbitte; A Clarke, C Lee, E Lawless (I McGlynn
Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE.
60); K Conneely, C Walsh, TJ Brennan; S Quirke, J Reilly; E O’Donnell, A Brett, B Connolly; M Kennedy, C Lawless, E Caulfield.
KILKENNY CBS: D McCormack; M Byrne, B Lawlor, M Butler; L Hogan, L Stynes, C Timmons; S Staunton, J Sheehan; O Murphy, C Drennan, C Heary; J Ryan (S Kenny 58), T Butler, S Boyd. REFEREE: Alfie Devine (Westmeath).
INTO THE WEST – Page 59
Caulfield’s fourth goal arrived three minutes into additional time and there was no way back for Kilkenny CBS.