Kenny leads the way in fine victory for Kilbeggan side

Mercy SS, Kilbeggan 3-18, Moyne CS 1-7

A dominant performance secured a resounding victory for Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, over Moyne CS in the Leinster PPS Second Year football quarter-final, at Dovida Lakepoint Park on Thursday.

Wing forward Aaron Kenny led the way in an impressive display as Mercy Secondary School stormed into a big lead of 1-14 to 0-2 by half-time before going on to win comfortably.

On a wintry morning, Aaron Kenny got the opening point, following good work from Adam O’Connor, Lee Monaghan and Caiden Hogan. Kenny’s fine run led to a point for full-forward Daire Jackson and the same pair combined for the third point - Kenny’s clever pass inside finding the unmarked Jackson, who shot over.

With five minutes played, Lee Monaghan’s strong run led to a point and Moyne CS were certainly on the backfoot. Corner-forward Eoin McNally had a couple of chances, but Sean Kelly was equal to them in the Kilbeggan goal and pretty soon, Kenny had added another point. Jackson took a pass from Donnacha Scally and shot over in the ninth minute, while Andrew Feery set up Kenny, who went for goal, but his effort skimmed the crossbar and flew over.

When Moyne attacked, Ben Dobson was dispossessed at the vital time by the Kilbeggan defence and in the 14th minute, Kenny converted a free. Moyne CS got off the mark after 17 minutes when Andrew Conefrey shot over, following Louis Davis’ pass, but midfielder Adam O’Connor exchanged passes with Lee Monaghan and slotted over for Kilbeggan.

O’Connor then notched a second minor and Kenny set up Caiden Hogan for a neatly-taken score. Callum Looram followed up with another Kilbeggan point and, after 24 minutes, Scally’s pass found Andrew Feery, who finished well to the net for the opening goal.

A long delivery found Jackson who shot over for the leaders as they moved 15 points clear. Moyne CS replied with a long-range point from the impressive Tiernan O’Reilly in the 26th minute, but a Hogan point ensured Mercy Secondary School finished the half well on top.

Seven minutes after the restart, corner-back Matthew Maloney joined the end of a move and finished low to the Moyne net. Charlie Heffernan and Hogan were involved in the attack as Kilbeggan moved 2-14 to 0-2 clear, before Kenny added a neat point.

Tiernan O’Reilly reduced the deficit with a pointed free and he then pounced for Moyne’s only goal of the match, finishing low to the net when the ball was fed inside from a sideline kick. However, a lovely score by Kenny got Kilbeggan back in the groove (after Hogan’s pass).

Moyne were enjoying greater possession as a raft of substitutions entered the fray. After 22 minutes, Tiernan O’Reilly scored a quality point with the outside of the boot, showing great skill. Kenny responded with a Kilbeggan point, though, before Hogan slotted over a free.

After O’Reilly’s free gave Moyne their fifth point, Andrew Conefrey shot over from play to add to the tally. Good work by Donnagh Martin led to O’Reilly pointing again for the Longford side, but a late Kilbeggan goal put the seal on a fine victory. Kenny was involved in the move, setting up Caleb McGivney, who rolled the ball to the bottom corner.

The semi-final promises a much tougher test for Mercy Secondary School, but for now they can be well pleased with this victory.

Scorers - Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan: A Kenny 0-8 (1f), M Maloney, A Feery and C McGivney 1-0 each, C Hogan 0-3 (1f), D Jackson 0-3, A O’Connor 0-2, L Monaghan and C Looram 0-1 each.

Moyne CS: T O’Reilly 1-5 (0-1f), A Conefrey 0-2.

Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan: Sean Kelly; Matthew Maloney, Matthew Moloney, Jamie Cheetham; Sean McLoughlin, Oliver Awarsk, Charlie Heffernan; Cillian Daly, Adam O’Connor; Aaron Kenny, Caiden Hogan, Lee Monaghan; Andrew Ferry, Daire Jackson, Donnacha Scally. Rest of panel: Callum Looram, Caleb McGivney, James Moore, Shay Seery, Ryan Farrell, Diarmuid Keegan, Cian Clarke Grennan, Ross McNamara Kelly, Thomas Lynam, Abed Abdo, Oisin Clarke, Eamon Moore, Scott McDonagh, Patrick Moran, Tom Regan, Jamie Moore.

Moyne Community School: Gerard Walsh; Daniel Smyth, Cathal Tully, Philip Hoang; Cian Burke, Joe Sheerin, Ross McGinley; Tyler Noble, Ben Dobson; Andrew Conefrey, Louis Davis, Harry Miney; Eoin McNally, Tiernan O’Reilly, Donnagh Martin. Rest of panel: Mark Cunningham, Cillian Davis, Daire Farrell, Cathal Tully, Daniel O’Reilly, Cian Kavanagh, Sam Davis, Finn Mulligan, CJ O’Reilly, Conor Kearney, Restislav Pokuta, Martin McDonagh, Darragh Callaghan, Jack Gormley, Philip Mullins.

Referee: Marius Stones (Offaly).