Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy come up short after extra-time in first ever Bosco Cup final

Br. Bosco Cup ‘A’ final

Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar 3-10 

Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy 1-13  (aet)

Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar are the Leinster Post-Primary Schools Br. Bosco Cup champions. They beat Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy in extra-time at Glenisk O’Connor Park.

Coláiste Mhuire with a man advantage, after Darragh Farrell’s red card late in normal time, made it to half-time of extra-time four clear. 

A brilliant goal flicked in from the hand of substitute Paul Keating was crucial for Coláiste Mhuire in getting over the line. Despite a late rally from the Kildare school, the eventual winners held on well.

It was a strong start to this game for Ardscoil na Tríonóide who led 0-3 to 0-1 at the 10-minute mark. That was before Will Scahill got the first of his two opening half goals.

Scahill's second green flag, three minutes later, gave his side a four-point lead. 

That margin was short-lived as Ardscoil na Tríonóide put together a super move that ended in the hands of Colm Moran, who found the net off his laces.

Level soon after, Ardscoil kicked on with the breeze at their backs with points from Darragh Farrell, Ronan Kelly and Colm Moran.

A late Will Scahill free sent the sides in at half-time with the Kildare school two clear at 1-7 to 2-2.

Two early second half points from Robbie Murphy and Darragh Farrell put Ardscoil further ahead.

That four-point lead was then wiped out by three Will Scahill frees and a point from Coláiste Mhuire captain Matthew Thornton from play within the space of five minutes.

The sides were level at 1-9 to 2-6 heading into the final 10 minutes and remained level until the full-time whistle with a point going in either direction. 

However, Darragh Farrell’s dismissal in the 58th minute for his challenge on Will Scahill was crucial heading into extra-time.

Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar, Will Scahill 2-6 (0-5 frees), Paul Keating 1-0, Seán Byrne 0-2, Matthew Thornton 0-1, Ben Sheerin 0-1.

Ardscoil Na Tríonóide, Ronan Kelly 0-6 (0-6 frees), Colm Moran 1-1, Darragh Farrell 0-3 (0-1 mark), Robbie Murphy 0-2, Sam Lynch 0-1.

MULLINGAR: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Ty Masterson, Conor Daly; Darragh Smith, Michael Weir, Michael Moloney; Eoin Conlon, Donnacha Maguire; Conor Heffernan, Matthew Thornton, Oisín O'Hara; Will Scahill, Eoin Meehan, Seán Byrne. Subs: Ben McNamee for Eoin Meehan (25 minutes), Paul Keating for Conor Heffernan (58 minutes), James Murtagh for Ben Sheerin (half-time of extra-time), Conor Heffernan for Matthew Thornton (19 mins of extra-time).

ATHY: Oisín Groarke (Castlemitchell); Daniel Henry (Athy), Mark Grufferty (St Laurence's), Liam Byrne (Athy); Cameron Pedreschi (Athy), James Donnelly (St Laurence's), Calum Keaveny (Athy); Eoin Johnson (St Joseph's), Robbie Murphy (St Joseph's); Ronan Kelly (Athy), Colm Moran (Athy), Sam Lynch (St Joseph's); Harry Grainger (Athy), Darragh Farrell (St Joseph's), Páidí Kelly (Castlemitchell). Subs: Eoin Coffey (Castlemitchell) for Mark Grufferty (40 minutes), Seán Rowan (St Joseph's) for Harry Grainger (46 minutes), Niall Hickey (Ballylinan) for Sam Lynch (56 minutes), Sam Lynch for Robbie Murphy (11 mins of extra-time), Cian O'Rourke for Liam Byrne (19 mins of extra-time).

Referee: Eamonn O’Connor (Offaly)