Strong second half performance secures Leinster Final place for Offaly Schools

OFFALY Schools put in a strong second performance to turn around a half time deficit and win by a well deserved 10 point margin in the Leinster PP Schools Senior Hurling 'A' semi-final played at Ballyragget on Saturday.

Leinster PP Schools Senior Hurling 'A' Semi-Final

OFFALY SCHOOLS 1-20

GOOD COUNSEL NEW ROSS 2-7

They now progress to the Leinster Final where they will take on St Kieran's of Kilkenny as they bid to win a historic first title for the combined schools team.

They were made to work hard for this win, particularly in the first half, but they didn't panic and aided by a couple of half time substitutions they dominated the third quarter to turn a two point deficit into a six point lead and they pushed on from there to secure their place in the final.

Backboned by a large cohort of last year's Offaly minor hurling team, the understanding and team work that they built up through that was evident in this game and even when they were behind they didn't panic, but just concentrated on their own game and got their rewards.

Conditions were difficult with a soft pitch after overnight rain and the heavy conditions probably didn't suit some of the Offaly players. They dropped a number of efforts short, when the wet ball was probably responsible for them not getting a cleaner strike.

Good Counsel, with half of their team from South Kilkenny clubs, put it up to Offaly in the first half. An early goal gave them a big boost and they matched Offaly for the remainder of the half before a well taken second goal a minute before half time gave them a two point half time lead. However they were unable to live with Offaly in the second half. They failed to score in the third quarter and only managed three points over the course of the second half, two of those from frees.

Offaly will be content with their win. They stood up to the challenge put up to them in the first half and then pulled away after the break, when they played some very good hurling and took some lovely scores. They made two subs at half time bringing on Colin Spain at midfield and Daniel Hand in attack and both players made significant contributions in the second half.

The defence played very well, particularly in the second half, where Ruairi Kelly, Brecon Kavanagh and Ben Miller stood out. Leigh Kavanagh did well around the middle of the field where he was well assisted by Colin Spain after the break. In attack Daniel Bourke, sub Daniel Hand, Shane Rigney and Adam Screeney impressed.

Cathal Mooney, Lar Murphy, Peter McDonald, James Quinn, Niall Kehoe James Doyle and Conor Power were best for Good Counsel.

Adam Screeney opened the scoring inside the first minute from a 65m free but Offaly suffered a setback half a minute later when Cillian Byrne's shot from 50m bounced off the wet surface and deceived Kieran Coonan in the Offaly goals. Cathal Parker added a point to put them a goal up but Offaly responded with three in succession from Adam Screeney (free), Dan Ravenhill (free) and Alex Kavanagh to level after eight minutes. Adam Screeney had a half chance of a goal but Mark Flood saved his effort.

James Doyle pointed two frees for Good Counsel with one in reply from Adam Screeney for Offaly before Offaly hit three more in succession from Barry Egan, Daniel Bourke and Adam Screeney (free) to put them two up seven minutes before the break. Conor Power pulled one back for Good Counsel and a minute before the break, Niall Kehoe, who had just switched to full forward, caught a ball from Cathal Parker and crashed the ball to the net to give Good Counsel a 2-4 to 0-8 half time lead.

Offaly came out determined at the start of the second half and half time sub Daniel Hand pointed in the second minute, quickly followed by points to Daniel Bourke and Dan Ravenhill to edge Offaly back in front. Adam Screeney pointed two frees and their only goal came after 43 minutes when Colin Spain, Daniel Hand and Adam Screeney were all involved in the build up before Daniel Bourke crashed the ball to the net to put Offaly six points up.

Good Counsel got their first score of the half in the 16th minute when James Doyle pointed but Eoin Burke, Daniel Bourke and Daniel Hand replied for Offaly. Two James Doyle frees were responded to with points from Daniel Bourke and Adam Screeney (free) before Daniel Hand and another Adam Screeney free added further points to give Offaly a ten point winning margin.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

OFFALY SCHOOLS: Kieran Coonan (Colaiste Choilm); Ruairi Kelly (Banagher College), James Mahon (Colaiste Naomh Cormac), Pat Taaffe (Gallen CS); Barry Egan (Ard Scoil Chiarain Clara), Brecon Kavanagh (Colaiste Naomh Cormac), Ben Miller (St Brendan's CS); Leigh Kavanagh (Colaiste Naomh Cormac), Dan Ravenhill (Colaiste Choilm); Shane Rigney (Banagher College), Daniel Bourke (Colaiste Choilm), Conor Doyle (Ard Scoil Chairain); Alex Kavanagh (Colaiste Naomh Cormac), Cathal Robinson (St Brendan's CS), Adam Screeney (Colaiste Naomh Cormac). Subs. Colin Spain (Colaiste Naomh Cormac) (for Conor Doyle, half time), Daniel Hand (Colaiste Naomh Cormac) (for Cathal Robinson, half time), Eoin Burke (St Brendan's) (for Alex Kavanagh, 36 mins), Cian Nolan (St Brendan's CS) (for Daniel Bourke, 59 mins), Ciaran Daly (Banagher College) (for Leigh Kavanagh, 62 mins).

GOOD COUNSEL NEW ROSS: Mark Flood; Jamie Lyng, Cathal Mooney, Joe Mulholland; Peter McDonald, Lar Murphy, Darragh Verker; Niall Kehoe, James Quinn; James Doyle, Cillian Byrne, Cathal Parker; Luke Codd, Marty Murphy, Conor Power. Subs. Dean Kehoe (for Luke Codd, 47 mins), C.J. Fitzpatrick (for James Quinn, 55 mins), Matthew Murphy (for Marty Murphy, 60 mins), Kyle Rankin (for Darragh Verker, 60 mins).

REFEREE: Owen Beehan (Kilkenny)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Daniel Bourke from Colaiste Choilm had a terrific game for Offaly Schools. Not only did he finish with a tally of 1-4 from play but he was constantly in the thick of the action and did a lot of tremendous work around the middle of the field when he moved out the field.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The Offaly Schools goal was a terrific team score. It began in defence where Colin Spain cleared to Daniel Hand, who then took a return pass from Adam Screeney before picking out Daniel Bourke and he fired to the net. Not only was it a great score but it put Offaly six points clear and there was no looking back from there.

REFEREE WATCH

Owen Beehan handled this game very well. He communicated very well with the players, explaining his decisions to them, and he was always in control. He was firm and decisive and twice threw in the ball after a free had been awarded but the fouled player retaliated.

TALKING POINT

Offaly Schools showed a lot of maturity in this victory. Things didn't always go their own way in the first half and a second Good Counsel goal a minute before half time left them trailing by two points at the break. But they never panicked. They came out in the second half with a couple of subs introduced and turned the game around with good hurling, keeping calm and nullifying the threat from their opponents.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly Schools advance to take on St Kieran's of Kilkenny in the Leinster Final. As combined school teams can't advance to the All-Ireland series, Good Counsel will meet the other defeated semi-finalists Colaiste Eoin, to see who will be the second Leinster representatives in that series.

VENUE WATCH

St Patrick's Ballyragget had plenty of stewards on duty for this game, with plenty of parking space provided. The match was played on their second pitch as the main pitch was too soft. The second pitch was soft as well after overnight rain and was slippy but in the circumstances held up reasonably well.

STATISTICS

Wides; Offaly Schools 7 (4 in first half) Good Counsel 6 (2 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Offaly Schools 0 Good Counsel 1 (Joe Mulholland)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Offaly Schools; Adam Screeney (0-8, frees), Dan Bourke (1-4), Daniel Hand (0-3), Dan Ravenhill (0-2, 0-1 free), Alex Kavanagh, Barry Egan, Eoin Burke (0-1 each).

Good Counsel; James Doyle (0-5, 0-4 frees), Cillian Byrne and Niall Kehoe (1-0 each), Cathal Parker, Conor Power (0-1 each).