Offaly school back in Leinster Final after impressive victory over Kilkenny side

ST BRENDAN'S Community School, Birr, are back in the Leinster Senior Hurling 'B' Final after an impressive 13 point victory over Castlecomer CS in the semi-final played at Rathdowney on Thursday.

Leinster PP Schools Senior Hurling 'B' Semi-final

ST BRENDAN'S CS 1-19
CASTLECOMER CS 0-9

The Birr school were in charge from the word go and never really relinquished their grip on the game. They built up a good lead in the first half, then weathered an early second half challenge from Castlecomer before regaining control and pulling away before the finish.

Having come through a tight quarter final against Colaiste Choilm the previous Friday, this was a much more dominant display by St Brendan's and they clearly benefited from having that good contest the previous week.

St Brendan's lost the final last year at this same venue by two points to Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown, and seven of that team started Thursday's semi-final. They now have the chance to make amends for that defeat and it could be an all-Offaly final as Colaiste Naoimh Cormac will face Naas CBS in the other semi-final.

St Brendan's took the game to their opponents from the start of this game and Eoin Burke took up where he left off in the win over Colaiste Choilm as he pointed five frees in the first 12 minutes as the Birr side built up a three point lead. The game's only goal came after 16 minutes when Shane Connolly netted and that helped St Brendan's lead by 1-10 to 0-4 at half time.

Castlecomer came out all fired up at the start of the second half and managed to cut the lead by two points as St Brendan's struggled a bit to get back in the game. But their defence withsood the pressure and once St Brendan's got a couple of points themselves, they seemed to regain their composure and they were very effective on the counter attack pulling away to win comfortably in the end.

That period at the start of the second half was probably the main source of concern for St Brendan's. They almost allowed themselves to be dragged into a dogfight, which they didn't need at that stage. They had a nine point lead at the interval and Castlecomer came out on the retart ready to throw everything at Birr. Those couple of early points gave them and their supporters some encouragement. There were a couple of minor flare ups and St Brendan's really needed to show cool heads rather than get involved in these incidents and lose their focus and concentration. Once they got a couple of scores, they settled more and when they then concentrated on hurling they showed they were clearly the better team.

The St Brendan's defence was excellent throughout and provided great protection for goalkeeper Charlie Hogan. Caelum Larkin had a great game at corner back and full back and captain Patrick Bergin was commanding on the edge of the square. Cian Nolan scored a couple of great points and delivered great ball into the forward line while Ben Miller grew into the game the longer it progressed.

Stephen Gilligan put in a huge effort around the middle of the field where Eoin Burke also did well until picking up a knock. In the forward line Shane Connolly was always lively, Darragh Tierney put in another big shift and Cathal Robinson became more of a force in the second half.

Bobby Brennan had a fine game in defence for Castlecomer and was very strong under the high ball, while Darragh Hennessy and Eoghan Moore also worked hard. Jamie Morrissey did well around the middle of the field and Michael Brennan made more of an impact when he moved out the field but overall the attack was very well contained.

Eoin Burke had St Brendan' in front from a free after a minute but Castlecomer levelled with a long range score from Bobby Brennan, the only time the sides were level in the game. Eoin Burke added four more frees before Michael Brennan replied with a Castlecomer free to leave three in it approaching the midway point of the half.

St Brendan's got their first point from play after 15 minute with a fine effort from Cian Nolan and a minute later struck for the only goal of the game. Ben Miller took a quick free, sending the ball into the left corner, where Shane Connolly gathered it, beat his man and shot to the net from an angle to give St Brendan's a seven point cushion.

Michael Brennan replied with a Castlecomer free but almost from the puck out Shane Connolly pointed at the other end. Eoin Burke pointed two more frees, with Michael Brennan replying with one for Castlecomer, before Eoin Bailey O'Brien lofted over a point to give St Brendan's a 1-10 to 0-4 interval lead.

There was a feisty start to the second half but St Brendan's withstood some pressure and five minutes passed before Michael Brennan pointed a free. The same player added another from play two minutes later and Castlecomer were sensing a comeback might be on. But those hopes were quickly snuffed out as Peter King's ball found Shane Connolly who sent over a fine point from the wing in the 9th minute and Eoin Burke added another from a free.

Eoghan Moore pointed a free from midfield for Castlecomer but Cathal Robinson quickly replied after taking a pass from Eoin Bailey O'Brien, and then St Brendan's put a great move together with Cian Nolan and Peter King combining to send Darragh Tierney away and he drilled his shot just over the bar when it could just as easily have been a goal.

Jamie Morrissey pulled one back for Castlecomer but they could find no way through the St Brendan's defence. Sub Andrew Hogan found the range and Ben Miller added another from a free. Jonah Kelly hit a point for Castlecomer but St Brendan's finished with their tails up with James O'Sullivan, Cathal Robinson and Cian Nolan all firing over late points to give them a 13 point winning margin.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

ST BRENDAN'S CS: Charlie Hogan (Coolderry); Caelum Larkin (Carrig & Riverstown), Patrick Bergin (Carrig & Riverstown), Patrick Dooley (Kinnitty); Cian Nolan (Birr), Ben Miller (Birr), Ajay Cleary (Coolderry); Stephen Gilligan (Seir Kieran), Eoin Burke (Coolderry); Peter King (Carrig & Riverstown), Darragh Tierney (Birr), Marc Ryan (Coolderry); Eoin Bailey O'Brien (Shinrone), Cathal Robinson (Kinnitty), Shane Connolly (Coolderry). Subs. Andrew Hogan (Coolderry) (for Eoin Burke, 50 mins), James O'Sullivan (Shinrone) (for Eoin Bailey O'Brien, 57 mins), Conor McDowall (Carrig & Riverstown) (for Darragh Tierney, 57 mins), Joseph McLoughney (Coolderry) (for Caelum Larkin, 59 mins).

CASTLECOMER CS: Niall Shore; Jack Comerford, Darragh Hennessy, Adam Buggy; Bobby Brennan, Eoghan Moore, John Brennan; Jonah Kelly, Jamie Morrissey; Evan Harding, Harry Roche, Michael Keane; Michael Brennan, Ross Dowling, Jake Connery. Sub. Joey Ryan (for Jake Connery, 50 mins).

REFEREE: Michael Cleere (Laois)

MAN OF THE MATCH

St Brendan's had a number of contenders, with Caelum Larkin having a great game, particularly in the first half, and outside him Cian Nolan was always prominent. In the end Shane Connolly just shades the vote. He was always lively in attack and his 1-2 was decisive with some of those scores coming at critical times for his side.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The St Brendan's goal was a critical moment. They had a lot of the play in the first quarter but hadn't converted it all into scores. With whatever wind advantage there was in their favour in the first half they needed to build up a lead and Shane Connolly's goal after 16 minutes seemed to lift the shackles from them a little bit, put some daylight between the sides and helped them build up a nine point half time lead.

REFEREE WATCH

Michael Cleere had to work hard to keep a lid on things at times in the second half. Some of the Castlecomer supporters weren't happy with some of his decision making, but on the whole he got the main decisions correct and didn't let the game get out of hand. He was clear in his rulings and overall handled the game well. There was an incident after the final whistle when some players “squared up” to each other and as a result of that one of the extended St Brendan's panel of subs was shown a red card.

TALKING POINT

St Brendan's were pushed all the way in their quarter final against Colaiste Choilm the previous Friday and that game probably benefited them here. They hit the ground running and took an early lead, never letting Castlecomer settle. Once they got their goal they were able to maintain their advantage throughout and played some very good hurling over the final 20 minutes.

WHAT’S NEXT

St Brendan's advance to the Leinster Senior B final where they will meet either Colaiste Naomh Cormac or Naas CBS, who meet in the other semi-final.

VENUE WATCH

Rathdowney hosted the game well. There was parking available inside the grounds, the scoreboard was operating and they had officials on hand to look after everything. It was also nice to see a programme available for the game. The pitch was a little soft but wasn't bad for this time of the year.

STATISTICS

Wides; St Brendan's 6 (1 in first half) Castlecomer 7 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: St Brendan's 2 (Ben Miller, Ajay Cleary) Castlecomer 0

Red Cards: One shown to a St Brendan's sub after the final whistle.

THE SCORERS

St Brendan's CS; Eoin Burke (0-8, all frees), Shane Connolly (1-2), Cian Nolan and Cathal Robinson (0-2 each), Eoin Bailey O'Brien, Darragh Tierney, Andrew Hogan, Ben Miller (free) and James O'Sullivan (0-1 each).

Castlecomer CS; Michael Brennan (0-5, 0-4 frees), Bobby Brennan, Eoghan Moore (free), Jamie Morrissey and Jonah Kelly (0-1 each).