LEINSTER SF ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL
CAPITAL GAINS FOR ST BENILDUS
Goals crucial for Kilmacud school in Dublin derby
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE……………………………… 2-10
ST AIDAN’S CBS………………………………………… 1-9
Daire Walsh
GOALS from Callum Pearson and Aaron Bradshaw were crucial at Pairc Ciceam last Thursday afternoon, as St Benildus College booked their place in the semi-final of the Leinster Schools’ SF ‘A’ Championship with victory over St Aidan’s CBS.
Following this result, the Kilmacud school will now face Colaiste Mhuire of Clane in the penultimate round of the competition, and although the reigning county champions forged a spirited fightback during the closing stages of the contest, Benildus were full value for their win on the day.
In addition to fine scores by Joseph Rafferty and Tom Keane (free), an eye-catching brace by 2015 county minor Pearson helped the southsiders to develop a four-point platform at the end of the first-quarter.
Aidan’s were somewhat fortunate that Benildus also registered a series of wides in this period, but at the end of a memorable run through the heart of the opposition defence, full-forward Patrick Small (brother of Dublin footballer John) finally opened their account with a 17th-minute point from play.
Benildus did respond with unanswered efforts by the central attacking duo of Rafferty and Tom Fox, before Small added a routine free from close-range.
However, Aidan’s received a hammer blow five minutes prior to the interval, when Pearson unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner of Sam Bruton’s net.
This created significant daylight between the teams, and although they conceded scores to Adam Conway and midfielder Keith Campbell, another point by the increasingly-prominent Pearson ensured that Benildus were six points in front (1-7 to 0-4) when the action resumed.
Small and the accurate Fox traded scores after the restart, but Benildus moved into a seemingly unassailable position when a 37th-minute attacking move produced a goal from raiding half-back Bradshaw.
A 16-minute barren scoring spell from both sides did take the sting out of the game, before Keane eventually extended the Benildus lead with a sublime point from the left-wing.
Indeed, when he subsequently added a second score in response to a James Doran point for Aidan’s, they looked set to ease their way over the line.
Yet, their Collins Avenue counterparts refused to thrown in the towel, and they substantially reduced their deficit when three points without reply from Doran (two) and Tony O’Sullivan were supplemented by a stoppage-time Conway goal. It was a case of too little, too late for Aidan’s, though, and it was Benildus who progressed with four points to spare.
They will now face Scoil Mhuire, Clane on Saturday for place in the final.
SCORERS – ST BENILDUS COLLEGE: C Pearson 1-3, T Keane 0-3 (1f), A Bradshaw 1-0, J Rafferty, T Fox 0-2 each. St Aidan’s CBS: A Conway 1-1, P Small (2f), J Doran 0-3 each, T O’Sullivan, K Campbell 0-1 each.
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE: A O’Callaghan; A Walsh, L Doran, P O’Brien; S O’Reilly, D Keogh, A Bradshaw; C Pearson, P Flaherty; D O’Brien, J Rafferty, A Fox; E Foley, T Fox, T Keane. Sub: G Soraghan for T Fox (50, BC).
ST AIDAN’S CBS: S Bruton; D Bergin, T O’Sullivan, L McCarthy; L Gannon, D Gray, D Constantine; D Ryan, K Campbell; C Gerrard, J Doran, T McCaul; A Conway, P Small, R Kerins. Subs: E O’Donnell for McCaul (h-t), M Moran for Bergin (39).
Referee: A Lagrue (Kildare).