Goal blitz sinks Presentation College challenge.

St Kevins Community College, Dunlavin    8-7

Presentation College, Carlow                       6-2

A three goal blitz by St Kevins, Dunlavin in the opening minutes of this South Leinster Juvenile Football semi final played in Dunlavin proved to be the decisive event in this free flowing, fast moving game. Despite gaining the upper hand in the second half the Presentation College side were unable to overcome the damage done to their chances of reaching the South Leinster final by the early goal blitz.

In this contest both teams brought a similar style of play into the match. Both sides had strong midfields and fast moving forwards who were well able to take scores and had a particular eye for the goal net. On the day the St Kevins forward division had the more direct approach which allowed them to cut open the Presentation College defence on a more regular basis giving them the upper hand in the scoring stakes.

St Kevins got off to a dream start when through the incisive running of centre forward Mike O Connor and his inter play with full forward Lyle Hand they stunned the Carlow side by cracking home three goals within the first seven minutes. At this point the Presentation College side began to find some of there previous form and goals by John Murphy and David Aston suggested that this game was going to be a closely contested affair. Over the next ten minutes St Kevins added a further goal and three points to a one point response for the Carlow side. The St Kevins side as a whole were moving with more purpose whilst the Presentation side were not quite performing with their usual fluency. A penalty in the 21^st  minute saw St Kevins add another goal to which they added a further goal and three points before half time to a one goal response from the Presentation side. At half time the Wicklow school led by 6-5 to 3-1.

The second half opened with two points for St Kevins but over the next fifteen minutes a lot of competitive football was played with St Kevins adding a further two goals to a one goal response from the Carlow side . At this point it was evident that the Presentation College side were doing the lions share off the attacking and they were rewarded with two goals and a point to no reply from the Wicklow side. As the game moved into the last ten minutes the Carlow side kept the pressure up but a resolute St Kevins defence made it very difficult for any off the Carlow attackers to make incisive runs which would allow them to  trouble the St Kevins goal. The game ended without any further scores and St Kevins progress to the final.

Scorers for Presentation College – D Aston (2-2), John Murphy (2-0), James Mc Grath (1-1), Ricky Nolan (1-0).

Presentation College :

A Dunne, P Coughlan, B Lowry, C Gaffney, J Hickey, D Reamsbottom, C Heffernan, O Scully, R Nolan, D Coleman, D Aston, J Mc Grath, N Walsh , J Murphy, A Amond. S Monaghan, F Crimmins, P Doyle, P Dempsey, A O Hara, L Coughlan , I Fennell .