Sport

St Columba's survive game Good Counsel challenge

Defending champions St Columba's are through to the final of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup (Section A) after gaining a narrow…

Wed Dec 12 2001 - 00:00

Defending champions St Columba's are through to the final of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup (Section A) after gaining a narrow victory over gallant Good Counsel, New Ross, in a nail-biting finish to their game at Arklow yesterday. St Columba's now meet Cistercian Roscrea in the first round of Section B next month.

Making a habit of winning their cup games this season in the dying moments of each match, the Dubliners only won this one in the closing five minutes with a push-over try immediately after Good Counsel had levelled the score at 8-8 with a penalty from their outhalf, Derek Byrne.

Straight from the kick-off St Columba's surged downfield, putting New Ross on the backfoot for the first time since the early stages of the second half and, following a line-out, they drove Good Counsel back over the line for Paddy Cooper to get the touch down for the decisive unconverted try.

Good Counsel, while more noted as a hurling stronghold, put up a fierce battle that deserved a draw. With a heavier pack they again forced St Columba's to retreat and were unfortunate to be penalised as Tom Walsh got over the Dubliners' line for what would have been the equaliser.

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This was a tremendous battle all the way through with the New Ross side in no awe of their more experienced opponents.

Good Counsel took the lead midway through the first half when the ball was fed out along the line for Brendan Cody to go over for a try in the corner.

Six minutes later St Columba's responded with a good back movement that led to an unconverted try from Alaistair Musgrave and they went ahead (8-5) just on the stroke of half-time with a penalty landed by Patrick Cooper.

Both sides gave this game their all, with Sean Scott, Patrick Cooper, Ben Cork and Jamie O'Malley prominent for St Columba's, and Tom Walsh, Kieran Maloney, Colin Breen and Derek Byrne best for Good Counsel.

ST COLUMBA'S: J O'Malley; A Musgrave, J Hosey, P Black, A White; B Cork, J Hamilton: H Gervais, P Cooper, J Wheeler, B Sadek, P Daneswamy, S Scott, E Hsu, D Dobbs.

GOOD COUNSEL: C Howlin; P Digby, E Kavanagh, S Roche, B Cody; D Byrne, C Breen; K Maloney, M McNamara, S Brazil, T Walsh, M Dunne, K Walsh, M Walsh, B Wilkinson.

Referee: C Todd.