GAELIC GAMES: LEINSTER SF ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL
Benildus and Mhuire must battle again
Daire Walsh
CIARAN Kelly came to the rescue of Scoil Mhuire, Clane at Darver last Saturday, when an extra-time stalemate denied St Benildus College a place in the Leinster Schools’ SF ‘A’ Championship decider.
The two teams will renew acquaintances on Saturday – with the winner moving forward to a provincial showpiece against Marist College. Benildus booked their place in the penultimate rounds courtesy of triumphs over Moate CS, Knockbeg College and St Aidan’s CBS, but a well-taken goal from Brian McLoughlin helped Mhuire to make a bright start.
However, fine scores from Tom Keane and Tom Fox ensured that the Kilmacud school were on level terms (1-2 to 0-5) with 30 minutes gone on the clock, and despite conceding three unanswered points on the restart, strong work from Callum Pearson and Joseph Rafferty provided them with a slender platform.
Yet, a Kyle Devey equalising point meant that 20 additional minutes were required, and in difficult conditions at the Louth venue, a second goal offered Clane a slight edge (2-7 to 0-12) heading into the final ten minutes of the action.
During a frantic finale, Benildus looked set to progress following a successful 75th-minute Keane penalty, but a brace of injury-time Kelly frees ensured that the sides couldn’t be separated.