Naas CBS out of Bosco Cup as future Westmeath star hits 1-11 in dazzling display

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar 2-16

Naas CBS 0-14

A starring performance from Will Scahill, who hit an astonishing 1-11 on the day, and an early second half onslaught from Coláiste Mhuire was enough to put the Mullingar school into the Bosco Cup final for the second year in a row at the expense of Naas CBS.

It was an enthralling start to this semi-final with Naas CBS opening the scoring after two minutes through Rory Thompson.

Another couple later and Coláiste Mhuire had hit the net for the first time. It was of course Will Scahill who grabbed it with the school’s star man being found by Kian Loughlin before brilliantly firing low into the far corner.

Naas’ gap closer was a contentious score, with much debate surrounding the legitimacy of Cian McKevitt’s point which was flagged over. Nevertheless, play moved on.

Both sets of players conducted themselves superbly in this tense fixture. The same could not be said for their mentors who exchanged expletives at every available opportunity in the first half.

On the field, Will Scahill again pushed his side two clear before back to back points from Rory Thompson, including one from a free, levelled this game at 0-4 to 1-1.

The Kildare men then took the lead headed towards the 20-minute mark when Thompson found Euan Cowzer in space to score.

Coláiste Mhuire had suffered from poor shot selection and not moving the ball with as much purpose as their opponents to that point. That was before their full-back line showed them how it was done, corner-back Sean Byrne jinked past his man and found full-back Michael Moloney with room to breathe and he fired over to level this game.

Less than a minute later and the Mullingar men were three clear when Stephen McWade hit the net in much the same style as the first goal when he found the bottom corner once again. The now fifth year student was top-scorer in Leinster last year when his side lifted the Bosco Cup and he played the starring role in getting them to yet another decider.

Naas swung back superbly and a close-range free from Euan Cowzer was followed by an excellent two-point free off the deck from ‘keeper Mark Halligan to restore parity.

Scahill and Cowzer added one more at each end as these sides entered the break as level as they started on a scoreline of 0-9 to 2-3.

Naas’ Rory Thompson got the first point after the break to give his side the lead, but it would be their last shot, let alone score, for 15 long minutes. Coláiste Mhuire put 12 points on the board before Naas scored again in a second half onslaught from the Westmeath team.

A gorgeous two-pointer from Will Scahill was followed by three points in as many minutes for  Coláiste Mhuire. They came from Paul Keating, Scahill himself and full-back Michael Moloney who added his second.

Naas were feeling the heat and could not get hold of the ball from kickouts or otherwise. Frustration began to tell and needless fouls meant more opportunities for the Westmeath dangerman.

Will Scahill hit two superb two-point frees in the space of four minutes. Those doubles were separated by a single from Stephen McWade as Coláiste Mhuire moved 2-13 to 0-10 ahead.

Scahill popped over another single before setting up full-forward Conor Leary to put the Westmeath men 11 points clear.

Naas got their second score of the half in the 46th minute through Euan Cowzer. Their last real roll of the dice came when Liam Kenny was denied a goal by an exceptional save low to his left from Adam Buckley.

Scahill got his and his team’s final point in the 53rd minute with Naas getting the game’s final three scores as they exited the Bosco Cup at the semi-final stage.

Coláiste Mhuire move into the final, on a scoreline of 2-16 to 0-14, after another masterclass from their star man.

Coláiste Mhuire, Will Scahill 2-11 (0-7 frees, 1 x 2pt, 2 x 2ptf), Stephen McWade 1-1 (0-1 frees), Michael Moloney 0-2, Paul Keating 0-1, Conor Cleary 0-1.

Naas CBS, Rory Thompson 0-5 (0-2 frees), Euan Cowzer 0-4 (0-2 frees), Mark Halligan 0-2 (0-2 frees, 1 x 2ptf), Cian McKevitt 0-1, Jack Reilly 0-1, Sean Tully 0-1.

COLÁISTE MHUIRE: Adam Buckley; James Flynn, Michael Moloney, Sean Byrne; Eoin Donohue, Ty Masterson, Michael Weir; Criostóir Ormsby, Rory O'Brien; Stephen McWade, Paul Keating, Finn Higgins; Will Scahill, Conor Cleary, Kian Loughlin. Subs: Ronan Byrne for Sean Byrne (48 minutes), Sean Hayes for Finn Higgins (52 minutes) Eoin Meehan for Conor Cleary (52 minutes), Padraig Monaghan for Paul Keating (52 minutes), Eoin Mullin for Will Scahill (57 minutes).

NAAS CBS: Mark Halligan; Dan Sargent, Tom Kilmartin, Oisin O'Neill; Niall McAndrew, Cian McKevitt, Cillian Long; John Heneghan, Darragh O'Boyle; Evan Lenehan, Matthew Galvin, Sean Tully; Euan Cowzer, Rory Thompson, Robbie Millham. Subs: Liam Kenny for Darragh O'Boyle (Half-time), Rian Curran for Matthew Galvin (36 minutes), Jack Reilly for Robbie Millham (39 minutes), Liam Mescal for Dan Sargent (52 minutes),Tom Boran for Cillian Long (52 minutes).

Referee: Des Cooney (Laois)

READ NEXT: The Kildare club who pushed towards for GAA pay-for-play in 1971