LEINSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL REPLAY
Fox pounces
Golden goal steers Benildus into Leinster Final
Daire Walsh
ST Benildus College will contest the Leinster Schools SFC ‘A’ decider this Saturday, following their semi-final replay triumph over Colaiste Mhuire, Clane last Saturday afternoon.
Despite heading to extra-time, a winner couldn’t be determined from their original fixture seven days earlier in Darver, and it was a similar case in their second encounter at St Conleth’s Park.
It remained extremely tight during the additional periods in Newbridge, but thanks to a 71st-minute goal from half-forward Andrew Fox, nephew of Dublin GAA legend Ciaran Whelan, it was the Kilmacud school who ultimately prevailed.
Mhuire had taken confidence from their grandstanding conclusion to the drawn match, and they moved into an early lead with a well-worked point by Tadhg Montgomery.
Dan O’Brien and midfielder Callum Pearson were in fine form for Benildus, but thanks to some impressive attacking play by excellent corner-forward Ciaran Kelly, Mhuire had developed a 0-6 to 0-4 cushion on the half-hour mark.
Indeed, the north Kildare school held a slender advantage for the vast majority of normal time, and they looked set to claim the spoils – until O’Brien came to the rescue of Benildus with a magnificent long-distance free.
This ensured that the sides were deadlocked at 0-10 apiece for the start of extra-time, but with Mhuire’s Kelly registering the only score of the first additional spell, the southsiders still found themselves chasing the game.
However, they finally moved into the ascendancy when Fox flicked O’Brien’s delivery beyond the reach of Mhuire netminder Philip Mylod, and with Pearson, Eoin Foley and Tom Keane all in fine scoring form, Benildus secured a thrilling 1-12 to 0-13 win.
They face Marist College, Athlone this Saturday in the provincial showpiece, which takes place at O’Connor Park, Tullamore (throw-in 2pm).