Cloke goal puts the dagger into Castlecomer's Leinster Schools hopes

There was Leinster Final heartbreak for Castlecomer Community School after they lost out to St Mary’s of Enniscorthy in the B decider at SETU Carlow on Bank Holiday Monday.

Two quickfire second half goals from Larry Cloke and Bobby Codd put an end to Castlecomer’s resistance after they threatened to make a comeback.

With the aid of the wind at their backs and a converted penalty from Bobby Codd, the Wexford outfit led by double scores at the break but helped by Eoin Brennan scoring 10 points in total, Comer rallied back to within two of their opponents before the sucker punch of the two goals ended any hope of turning the deficit around.

Castlecomer came into the final on the back of impressive victories over Wexford CBS and Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar and they were first to register on the scoreboard when Eoin Brennan converted a free in the fifth minute.

The story of much of the opening quarter was missed opportunities with Enniscorthy hitting a number of early wides before Pauric Doyle got them off the mark, quickly followed by further efforts from Bobby Codd and Larry Cloke.

Brennan hit back with a free and his first from play to level up matters at 0-3 each but Enniscorthy then took control of the contest when Bobby Codd netted a penalty after Larry Cloke was brought down in the square by Castlecomer full back Bobby Brennan. Comer responded with points from Brennan and Michael Keane but they had a mountain of work to do come the second half after Codd, Jamie Downey and Shane Reddy helped Enniscorthy go into the break with a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage.

St Mary’s kept the scoreboard ticking away during the early minutes of the second half before Castlecomer got a bit of momentum going and by the halfway mark of the half, only two points separated the teams as Brennan and Kevin Buggy brought the fight to Enniscorthy. The Wexford side soon restored their breathing space with goals from Codd and Cloke as they ran out big winners in the end (3-11 to 0-13).

Teams and Scorers

St Mary’s Enniscorthy; Bobby Codd (2-6, 0-4 frees); Larry Cloke (1-1); Rhys Wickham, Jamie Downey, Shane Reddy, Peter Wickham, Pauric Doyle (0-1 each)

Castlecomer Community School: Eoin Brennan (0-10, 0-6 frees and 0-1 ‘65); Michael Keane, Kevin Buggy, Michael Ruane (0-1 each)

St Mary’s Enniscorthy: Eamon Asple; Tadhg Doyle, Kyle Curran, Oisin Cloke Rochford; Oisin Moore, Jack Nolan, Jamie Downey; Eoin Cloke, Shane Reddy; Bobby Codd, Pauric Doyle, Peter Wickham; Larry Cloke, Rhys Wickham, Darragh Kirwan.

Subs: Sean Hyland for Kirwan, 24 mins; Brian Ivers for Moore, h-t; Kian Murphy for Rochford, 55 mins; Alfie Murphy for Ivers, 61 mins.

Castlecomer Community School; Conor O’Sullivan (Erin’s Own); Jake Dooley (Conahy Shamrocks), Bobby Brennan (Erin’s Own), Mark Kennedy (Erin’s Own); Tom Shore (St Martin’s), Alec Kerr (Erin’s Own), Jack Comerford (Erin’s Own); Aaron Farrell (St Martin’s), Patrick Coughlan (St Martin’s); Michael Keane (St Martin’s), Eoin Brennan (Erin’s Own), Jack Coogan (St Martin’s); Kevin Buggy (Erin’s Own), Jack Coogan (Erin’s Own), Jake Connery (Erin’s Own).

Subs: Josh Dowling (St Patrick’s) for Connery, 39 mins; Michael Ruane (St Martin’s) for Keane (Blood Sub), 52 mins; Michael Keane for J.Coogan (Erin’s Own), 54 mins; Conor Buggy (Erin’s Own) for Farrell, 55 mins; Robert Coogan (Erin’s Own) for J.Coogan (St Martin’s), 62 mins.