SPORT
QUADRUPLE HEADER FOR KILKENNY COLLEGE - WEDNESDAY 28th January 2009
CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF HOCKEY MATCHES
In the space of one afternoon (on Wednesday 28th January) Kilkenny College was involved in no less than four cup matches: one rugby and three hockey.
The rugby was the next round of the Senior Cup and was played in Athy against Wesley College.
KCK led 8-6 at half-time with two penalties from Greg Hawe.
it became 15-6 during the second half with a try by Scott Caldbeck and conversion by Peter Lydon.
However a late surge by Wesley meant a final outcome of 26-13 in favour of the Dublin side.
Team: Michael Connolly, Foster Horan, Danny Ruddock, Shane D’Alton, Stephen Brennan (C) Peter Lydon, Patrick O’Driscoll, Nigle Condell, Harry Lalor, Scott Caldbeck, Wesley Shirely, Ben Dyer, John McGuinness, Luke Cummins, Henry Burrows.
Replacements: Alan Talbot, Alan Meredith, Philip Haslam, Ross Elmes, Mark Robinson, Lee Wilson, Mark Elmes, Bobby Henderson.
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At home in Kilkenny it was all eyes on the astro pitch as a rare run of three cup matches was scheduled.
At noon the senior girls lined out against their own local rivals Loreto Kilkenny and in the first warmth of the Spring, the match started evenly enough.
Loreto looked the stronger side and were deservedly 1-0 by half time.
In the second half the College were still under pressure and were only looking dangerous on the break.
And thus the match finished with Loreto advancing, despite a late penalty corner which, although converted by the College, was deemed too high and the College bowed out.
Team: Kylie Deverell, Deirdre Kelly, Lyndsey Baker, Wendy O’Morchoe, Jane Honner, Rachel Atkinson, Emma Fryday, Laura Ridgeway, Laura Walshe, Ruth Bergin, Sammy Willis, Jill Condell, Lauren Baker, Alex Hamilton, Mary Handcock. Coach: Adrian Kerr.
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Next up the under 13 boys lining out against Dublin’s John Scottus School in their Cup encounter.
The City side was no match for the Kilkenny first years who were 2-0 by half-time and added another three in the second period.
Coached by Stephen Ashmore the young side show great promise with some accomplished players. Goals from Josh Glass, Nick Dool, Colm Varian and two from skipper David McClure.
Squad: Dylan Kelso (GK), Chris Edwards, Sam Pimm, Josh Glass, Andrew Hodgins, James Bradfield, Craig Miller, Gary Cantwell, Ross Steedman, David McClure (C), Andrew Hardman, Roy Stanley (GK), Luke Sutherland, Nick Dool, Colm Varian, Steve O'Connor.
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The “top of the bill” was to be the senior boys in their first round Leinster Schools Cup match against Wesley College.
This occasion certainly lived up to its title and provided all the excitement and drama reminiscent of great cup matches over years gone by and played on these grounds at Kilkenny.
It has always been said that “home” advantage is vital to Kilkenny College playing the Dublin sides of Leinster. So, once again, Wesley College stepped into the boiling cauldron of the College back yard and despite being all-Ireland semi-finalists earlier in the year, met their match!
The contest started brightly for both sides, the growing crowd becoming accustomed to the extra pace of the senior game. The ball was cracked smartly around the pitch, both sides giving no quarter.
The first half ended scoreless although Wesley had had more of the attacking play. Then the College seemed to get second wind and were beginning to exert themselves. The Dubliners looked decidedly rattled.
The breakthrough came halfway through the 35 minutes when on a sortie into the Wesley circle Billy McEnery swept the ball into the net. 1-0 to the home side and game on.
Seconds later Kilkenny hit the post almost making it a second but it was not to be.
The two sides continued to be locked in combat and with the minutes ticking down Wesley crowded the Kilkenny defence with 10 men into their opposition’s 25. George Smith was outstanding as keeper and parried everything Wesley threw at him.
Finally, with a famous victory in sight and only two minutes to go, Wesley broke through and cracked home an equaliser.
At 1-1 it was into extra time and within the first few minutes Wesley took the lead for the first time. Memories of near victories in previous battles were echoing defeat with similar past scenarios. By now the occasion was rising to fever pitch and the match boiling up to a grandstand finish. All 22 players were working at full stretch, nobody on either side was allowed to hold on to the ball for any length. Wesley used all their know-how to wrest the match from their opposition, but Kilkenny just would not give up. Everyone harried and hassled and no one was left with any space.
Then just before the end of the first section, Ben Wallace had the chance of a shot on goal and it deflected off a Wesley player into the net. All square again!
The final ten minutes were nail-biting for all watching as everyone urged on the players to seek a result. But at the end of long afternoon of hockey the final result was a draw and the opportunity of a replay in Wesley College on 4th February.
The ghosts of such equally great occasions in the past were recalled as this encounter which must go down as a classic. So much might have been won, so much might have been lost, in the end the winners were hockey, sport and that great supporting spirit which is Kilkenny College at its very best.
Squad: G. Smyth (GK), A. Corrigan, B. McEnery, S. Willis, S. Bradley, B. Wallace, A. Hopkins, P. Barrett, J. Lannon, S. Charles, E. Finnegan, H. McDonnell, E. Matthews, E. Healy, C. Harper, B. Dore, J. Duncan. Coach: R. Willis.