Jan
19
2024
Ramsgrange Community School: 4.09 Presentation College / Gaelcholáiste Carlow: 2.10
A combination of hurlers from the Presentation College and Gaelcholáiste Carlow were narrowly defeated by Ramsgrange Community School in a hotly contested South-Leinster Final on Thursday afternoon at Kennedy Park, New Ross.
Played in Arctic conditions there was much speculation before throw-in as to whether the game would be postponed due to the frozen pitch. However, referee John Bennett deemed the pitch playable and so the game went ahead with a yellow sliotar being used to contrast with the white pitch!
Ramsgrange were the reigning champions coming into the game and showed their pedigree from the off with two points in as many minutes. Presentation responded quickly however and took the lead when Peter Lynch pulled first time on a dropping ball in the square to put the Carlow outfit one point ahead. The teams traded points for the much of the half with the south Wexford team proving to be the most economical in front of goal. Pres dominated much of the play in the opening thirty minutes but squandered several goal chances and shot wides that were uncharacteristic of a team who had scored heavily in the competition to date. Nevertheless, points from James Ingram, Dylan McGrath and free-taker Conal Fitzpatrick kept the Barrow-siders in touch before Peter Lynch netted his and the team’s second goal just before the break to put the Presentation ahead 2.05 to 1.07 at the interval.
Ramsgrange got off to a quick start again in the second half with an early goal to give them a two-point lead. However, the Pres again showed great resilience to draw the game level with white flags coming from Jack Connolly and a free from Conal Fitzpatrick. The rest of the half remained a tense affair with scores hard to come by and so the seasiders third goal with seven minutes remaining proved to be a decisive score. To their credit again, the Carlow lads stayed battling. James Ingram was rewarded with a point a after a great run-on goal (he should perhaps have been awarded a penalty instead) to reduce the deficit to two points. Entering stoppage time, the Pres needed a goal to take home the cup but unfortunately it was Ramsgrange who got the final three-pointer of the tie to give them a five-point victory.
There was no shame in defeat for Pres/Gaelcholáiste as they more than matched a very good team containing several county players from Wexford and Waterford. Huge credit must go to Pres defenders Conal McGuire, Paul Gray and Seanie McMahon for keeping their danger men quiet for much of the contest and to Pres full-forward James Ingram, who was a constant threat throughout, as the Ramsgrange defence struggled to deal with his pace. The Carlow Town attacker was unlucky on two occasions not to be awarded penalties after being hauled down inside the 14-yard line. Goals were indeed the key in this contest and the three that Ramsrgrange rattled off in the second half saw them over the line as they now progress to the Leinster phase of this competition where they will play the North Leinster champions in the next round. For the Pres and Gaelcholáiste, this result was bitterly disappointing for Sixth Year students Paul Gray, Seán Buggy, James Ingram, and Conal Fitzpatrick who have been pivotal figures of school hurling for the past six years. They would especially like to thank their trainers and mentors, who have given them the opportunity to represent their school and develop their skills and talents.
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