McGrath swings it for Castlecomer

CASTLECOMER Community School created their own bit of history at Nowlan Park yesterday by winning the Leinster Colleges SHC title for the first time at their first attempt.

In the process, they defeated arch-rivals and champions Kilkenny CBS and set themselves up for an All-Ireland semi-final tilt with Harty Cup champions DLS Waterford, themselves Munster champions for the first time.

This was a magnificent game of hurling between two sides gifted with a number of outstanding exponents.

Not even a snow storm late in the game and a howling bitter cold wind could prevent both teams from serving up all that is best in the game of hurling. Castlecomer deservedly won their first title because they had a superb free taker in Colin McGrath, who finished the game with five points.

While McGrath was doing the business in attack, the Castlecomer defence was superb from the first to the last whistle. Full-back Geoff Morrissey, Aidan Moran on his right, centre-back Kieran Mooney and Peadar Breen on his left hurled like men inspired and the fact that their goalkeeper didn’t have a save to make until deep into injury when he denied Martin Gaffney a goal, was testament to how well they played in front of him.

At midfield Brian Dillon put in a tremendous hour and his two points, one a superb effort on the run, was worthy of the admission fee alone. Up front Michael Murphy was outstanding, winning great possession particularly from the air, while Thomas Breen and team captain Eddie O’Dwyer contributed handsomely to an excellent all round team performance that, if repeated, could see them make a bold bid for All-Ireland honours.

CBS made a handsome contribution to this magnificent contest and in Richard Doyle, David Langton, Enda Malone, Mark Bergin and Adrian Stapleton they have players of whom a lot more will be heard of.

But Castlecomer can now face into next Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against St. Flannan’s with plenty of confidence. Gort CS await the winners in the second semi-final.

With players from the same club on opposite sides, it added to the occasion and with no quarter being asked or given, the crowd who braved the elements were treated to an epic contest.

Castlecomer played with the aid of the strong wind in the first-half and from the throw in had the CBS on the back foot. With Kieran Mooney a commanding figure at centre-back, they forged 0-8 to 0-0 in front after 25 minutes, Colin McGrath scoring half the tally.

The CBS attack could make no impression on the Castlecomer defence and just when it looked as if they would go in at half-time without a score, Mark Kelly knocked over a point which left the community school 0-8 to 0-1 in front at the break.

With the elements in their favour, the CBS applied enormous pressure on the Castlecomer defence in the second-half. But magnificent defending by Geoff Morrissey and Kieran Mooney barred their way to goal and they had to be content with picking off points.

The introduction of Liam Ryan added greater penetration to the CBS attack and he landed two excellent points which begged the question why wasn’t he on from the start? By the end of the third quarter the score read 0-9 to 0-5, but it was the ability of the Castlecomer forwards to score whenever they attacked into the wind which proved crucial and they were never going to be caught after Eddie O’Dwyer and Colin McGrath added a point apiece.

Scorers: Castlecomer: C. McGrath 0-5 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65); B. Dillon 0-2; M. Murphy. T. Breen, E. Hickey, E. O’Dwyer 0-1 each. Kilkenny CBS: A. Stapleton, L. Ryan 0-2 each; M. Kelly, M. Bergin (free) 0-1 each.

CASTLECOMER CS: G. Delaney; A. Moran, G. Morrissey, O. Walsh; C. Fogarty, K. Mooney, P. Boran; B. Dillon, E. Hickey; N. Darcy, M. Murphy, T. Breen; C. Maher, C. McGrath, E. O’Dwyer.

KILKENNY CBS: S. Murphy; J. Traynor, D. Kenny, R. Doyle; P. Nolan, D. Langton, E. Malone; M. Kelly, J. Fitzpatrick; M. Gaffney, T. Langton, M. Bergin; P. Guinan, S. Maher, A. Stapleton.

Subs: L. Ryan for T. Langton; P. Galvin for P. Guinan; M. Bambrick for M. Gaffney.

Referee: J. Owens (Wexford).