LEINSTER SF ‘B’ FINAL: CLONKEEN COLLEGE 1-9 ST MARY’S CARLOW 2-14
Extra heartbreak for Clonkeen
Daire Walsh
THERE was heartbreak for Clonkeen College at Abbotstown last Thursday, when they suffered an extra-time defeat to St Mary’s, Carlow CBS in the Leinster Schools SF ‘B’ decider.
Clonkeen had advanced to this stage as a result of their gripping Dublin showpiece win over Malahide CS, and they were playing in a provincial final for a second consecutive year.
They lost to Dunshaughlin CC in the Leinster Senior ‘C’ competition 12 months ago, but with ace marksman Cormac Quinn producing another exceptional display, they were eager to add further silverware in 2017. The Barrowside outfit rallied towards the end of normal time, however, and it took a goal from Clonkeen midfielder Jim Kennedy (preceded by a Sean McDonald point) to force the game into the additional periods.
With 0-6 to his name, Quinn was exerting a major influence, but Clonkeen received a blow when defender Rory Fitzpatrick was forced out of the action through injury. This allowed Mary’s to gain the upper hand, and even though Quinn, Cormac Spain and James Murphy continued to excel for the Deansgrange side, their Carlow counterparts eventually emerged with a 2-14 to 1-9 success.