Victory for Marist in battle of Dundalk schools to win Lennon Shield

In the battle of the Dundalk schools, it was the Marist who took home the Lennon Shield and bragging rights, as they withstood a late Coláiste Rís fightback at the DKIT Grounds on Wednesday evening last to claim a two point win.

Rian McDonnell’s second half goal proved the difference maker, as the Marist took a six point lead at one stage, and despite a late revival from Coláiste Rís, it was the side who showed slightly more composure in front of the posts, who won out in the end.

The Marist were more economical in front of the posts, accruing 1-9 from 16 shots over the hour, compared with Coláiste Rís’ 0-10 from 24 shots, with the team in blue undoubtedly missing the influence of key forward Tony McDonnell, who was unable to start due to illness.

Heading into that final quarter, the Marist, managed by Donal Hegarty and Ben Mulligan led by 1-8 to 0-5, a team who featured five starters from that Lennon Cup final defeat to Ardee CS last year.

Such players included captain Cian Farrell who was excellent all game, alongside keeper Adam Cassidy, who was there when called upon to produce key saves in that second half.

In that quarter, Colaiste Rís outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-1 to set up a grandstand finish, following McDonnell’s introduction.

In that second half, Coláiste Rís pushed up on the Marist kickout, winning 7 out of 10 on their kickouts, with Tadgh Fitzgerald, Sean Lambert, Michael O’Brien, Finn Carter, Patrick O’Connell, and Padraic Tinnelly seeing plenty of possession, with Tinnelly finishing with 32 possessions in this game.

Impressive scores from Niall McCreesh (2), Patrick O’Connell, Tony McDonnell and Michael O’Brien brought Coláiste Rís back into the game, closing the gap to two points on a few occasions.

Despite this, the Marist held on to take the Lennon Shield spoils, with keeper Adam Cassidy deserving credit for smothering a Michael O’Brien goal bound parry of the ball in the square late on.

Last year’s Lennon Shield winners Coláiste Rís started brightly, to take a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes.

Aaron Donnelly who recently won player’s player of the year for the Dundalk FC under 17 side, opened the scoring with a free.

This lead was doubled a minute later, thanks to a glorious strike by Niall McCreesh who impressed throughout.

The Marist who threatened a goal moments earlier when Rian McDonnell’s pass across the square was scrambled clear by the CBS defence, soon opened their account through Kayden Fisher, following a foul on the excellent Cian Farrell. Fisher was another player who featured in last year’s Lennon Cup final for the Marist.

Sam Kierans then set up Michael O’Brien to fire over from long range to give the Coláiste Rís that 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

But last years’ winners were guilty of costly unforced errors, with several kick passes going astray in the final third, as the Marist got on top, grabbing four points in a row to take a two point lead into the break.

Ben McKeown drove at the opposition at every opportunity alongside Cian Farrell, and the Joes man landed a terrific point from the angle, before an equally impressive strike from Cooley’s Ben O’Hare levelled things up at 0-3 each by the end of the first quarter.

Kayden Fisher (f) gave the Marist the lead for the first time, before the Marist went close to grabbing green flag again, when Ben McKeown seized on a loose Coláiste Rís kickout, before setting up Oisin Reidy.

But much to the relief of Coláiste Rís, Reidy only found the side-netting, with his left footed shot on the angle.

Ruairi Carpenter sent a left footed shot over the bar for a spectacular Marist point, to leave it at 0-5 to 0-3 in their favour at the break.

(Colin Heaphey Chairman Post Primary Schools presenting the Lennon Shield to Cian Farrell Marist College captain. Picture by Arthur Kinahan)

Second Half:

St Josephs’ duo Adam Dullaghan and McKeown (45) increased that lead to four, just two minutes into the second half, with Naomh Fionnbarra’s Niall McCreesh (f) ending Coláiste Rís’ 25 minute wait for a score either side of half time.

The key score arrived when a slick move through the hands involving Geraldines’ pair Sean McKenna and Cian Farrell, which saw the latter’s pass parried to the net from close range by Rian McDonnell to give them a 1-7 to 0-4 lead after 37 minutes.

Coláiste Rís almost hit back straightaway when a stinging Sam Kierans shot was parried over the bar by Marist keeper Adam Cassidy.

Ben McKeown (f) increased the Marist’s lead back to six by the end of the third quarter.

However, Coláiste Rís refused to throw in the towel, throwing the kitchen sink at the Marist in that final quarter.

Getting on top on kickouts, the Jack Mac Namee/Brendan Griffin managed outfit managed to make inroads on the scoreboard. A sweetly struck effort with the outside of his right boot by Dundalk Gaels’ Patrick O’Connell, was arguably the score of the game.

O’Connell soon turned provider for Niall McCreesh to convert from play moments later. After winning a Marist kickout, Michael O’Brien clipped over to leave just three between the sides with 7 minutes remaining.

Tony McDonnell pointed moments after his introduction to eat into that deficit even more.

But crucially in all this, the Marist pinched a score on the break, through sub Cillian McDonnell, twin brother of goalscorer Rian, following great work by Ben O’Hare.

A late free from Niall McCreesh kept his side in the final, as Coláiste Rís continued to put the pressure on.

However, the Marist, thanks to Adam Cassidy who made that save from his clubmate Michael O’Brien, along with impressive showings from Ben McKeown and Cian Farrell, held on to win the Lennon Shield, to go some way to easing the pain of last year’s Lennon Cup final defeat.

St Marys College: Adam Cassidy; Calum Fitzsimons, Cian Farrell, Thomas Kindlon; Jack Greene, Ben McKeown (0-3) (one ’45) (1f), Sean McKenna; Ben O’Hare (0-1), Ruairi Carpenter (0-1); Oisin Reidy, Adam Dullaghan (0-1), Conor Sharkey; Conor Oliver, Kayden Fisher (0-2) (2f), Rian McDonnell (1-0).

Subs: Joseph Lynch for Fisher (HT), Dylan Ward for Fitzsimons (40), David Clune for Shardkey (54), Cillian McDonnell (0-1) for Rian McDonnell (59).

Coláiste Rís: Robbie Conlon; Sean Marron, Patrick O’Connell (0-1), Sean Boyle; Sean Hoey, Padraic Tinnelly, Tadgh Fitzgerald; Sean Lambert, Finn Carter; Sam Kierans (0-1), Michael O’Brien (0-2), Thomas McCahill; Niall McCreesh (0-4) (1f), Aaron Donnelly (0-1) (1f), Finnán Crawley.

Subs: Tony McDonnell (0-1) for Kierans (42), Eoin McCooey for Conlon (47).

Referee: Stephen Devlin (Naomh Fionnbarra).