Marist march on to Leinster semi finals after goal fest

 

Marist College 6-16 Wicklow Schools 2-10

By Kieran Galvin

In this remarkably high scoring goal fest, Marist College advanced to the Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ semi-finals with an emphatic win over Wicklow Schools at Kiltoom on Saturday.

Wicklow Schools knocked out Athlone Community College in the previous round, but they never looked like repeating the trick against another Westmeath opponent in this quarter-final, played in surprisingly benign conditions given the recent weather.

Aided by a truly bizarre goal by Conor Marlowe – Sean O’Brien’s attempted clearance deflecting off the full-forward and into the net – the Marist led 2-7 to 2-2 at half-time. The Athlone side held this lead despite having played against the wind. The Marist’s other goal in the first half was a poacher’s strike from Michael Monaghan.

For their part, the Wicklow combination side took both of their goals brilliantly. On 11 minutes, Mikey O’Connor hit a left-foot shot into the bottom corner; and, later in the half, Garry Allen found the top corner with arguably the best goal of the eight scored on the day.

But when impressive Marist substitute Charlie McMickan raised the Marist’s third green flag early in the second half, the writing was on the wall for the visitors.

McMickan grabbed a second goal, before further goals from the excellent Brian Stack (a brilliant strike) and Marlowe decorated the Marist’s victory.

The Athlone outfit will meet Good Counsel, New Ross in the semi-finals.

*See next week's Westmeath Independent for a full report and pictures from the Marist College v Wicklow Schools match.

 

Scorers – Marist College: C McMickan (0-1f) and C Marlowe (0-1 ‘45’, 1f) 2-3 each; M Monaghan 1-3; N Neary 0-4 (1f); B Stack 1-0; T Byrne 0-2; L Carty 0-1.  Wicklow Schools: G Allen 1-1; N Hughes 0-4 (4f); M O’Connor 1-0; P O’Connor 0-2; D Walsh, C Byrne and M Lennon 0-1 each.

Marist College: Shane Mannion; Alan Daly, Mark Daly, Frank Farrell; Martin Nolan, Robbie Curley, Luke Carty; Sam Omukoro, Gavin Delaney; Mark Curley, Niall Neary, Terry Byrne; Michael Monaghan, Conor Marlowe, Brian Stack. Subs: Charlie McMickan for R Curley (31 mins); Adrian Garvey for Nolan (41); Conor Gleeson for Neary (BC, 48); Jack McDonnell for Byrne (52); Eamonn Cunnane for Delaney (52); Jason Martin for M Daly (57).

Wicklow Schools: Ian Murphy; Sean O’Brien, Eoin Murtagh, Shane Lohan; Eoghan Marah, Ruairi Marron, Darren Walsh; Niall Hughes, Eoin Baker; Cormac Byrne, Garry Allen, Stephen Cruise; Martin Cullen, Marc Lennon, Mikey O’Connor. Subs: Brendan Behan for Cruise (24 mins); Sean Vickers for Walsh (24); Brian Miley for O’Brien (38); Patrick O’Connor for Marah (41); Daire McBride for M O’Connor (47); James Dunne for Baker (52).

Referee: Damien Brazil (Offaly).

 

Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ Championship – Quarter-final Results

 

Marist College, Athlone 6-16 Wicklow Schools 2-10

Knockbeg College 3-8 Good Counsel College 2-12

St. Peter's Wexford 0-7 Colaiste Eoin 2-12

St. Pat’s Navan 3-11 St. Joseph's Rochfortbridge 2-10

 

Semi Final Pairings

Marist Athlone v Good Counsel College

St. Pat's Navan v Colaiste Eoin