Newport cruise into All-Ireland final

GAA: Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘D’ Hurling Semi-Final

St Mary’s Secondary School, Newport 4-18

Presentation Secondary School, Killina 0-6

Report: Joe Scully at Fethard Town Park

St Mary’s Secondary School Newport qualified for the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘D’ Hurling final in emphatic fashion with a 24-point dismantling of Leinster champions Presentation Killina from Offaly on Saturday.

Two goals in as many minutes from Callum Toole and Brian Tobin midway through the first half set them on their way to victory, with the game had been even up to this point, with the sides level at three points apiece.

However, after that the Tipperary side took complete control with their forwards running rampant, in particular Darren Collopy and Brian Tobin who hit 2-16 between them.

A strong defensive performance also played its part, as the defence lead by Cathal Hannon and Colm Kennedy gave the Killina forwards very little to work with.

Newport were in complete control and their dominance was added to by having fifty shots on goal compared to their opponents fifteen.

The puckout was another area where Newport were on top winning ten of twelve of their own puckouts, while also winning 62% of the Killina puckout.

One area where Newport will be disappointed with though was their finishing at times as they hit some poor wides and went for goal a lot when the opportunity was there for an easy point, and the winning margin could have been an awful lot bigger by the full-time whistle. However, overall, the management team of David Minogue and Paddy Kelly will be delighted with their side’s performance as they build up to the All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s weekend.

The first fifteen minutes was an even game with the sides trading six scores each, with Daniel Ryan putting Newport ahead in the second minute. The Offaly side reacted with two scores through Alex Gleeson and Eoghan Neville. St Mary’s hit back through two scores from Darren Collopy, before Neville drew his side level once again from a free, but that would be as good as it got for his side as Newport would take complete control from this point on.

Starting with a goal from Callum Poole after being set up by Shane Flanagan. The Munster champions were in for a second just two minutes later, this time through Brian Tobin. Newport would then put the foot on the pedal with Collopy hitting three unanswered points, before Dan Scully replied with an effort for the Faithful County side. Once again, Newport reacted strongly and hit 1-1 before the break with a point from Tobin and then a brilliant individual goal from Collopy after a strong solo run and great finish from thirty metres, to leave the score at the break 3-7 to 0-4.

Any worries of any complacency on the part of St. Mary’s at the start of the second half were quickly laid to rest when they hit 1-2 inside the opening five minutes, with Tobin and Collopy hitting points before Cillian Collins got his sides fourth goal to put any remaining doubt about the result to bed.

Newport continued to pile on the misery for Killina with further points from Collopy and Tobin. Killina finally hit their first score of the second half in the 45th minute when MacDara Mitchell pointed, but once again the Newport response was swift and emphatic and would hit six unanswered points with Collopy hitting three in a row, and then Shane Flanagan getting himself on the scoresheet, before Collopy added to his own personal tally with a great point from play. Fittingly it was Brian Tobin who hit his sides final score in the 58th minute to finish off a great individual performance. Killina who to their credit kept going all through the and never gave up would hit the final score in added time through the impressive Conor Egan. t Mary’s of Newport are now just an hour away from All-Ireland glory and on this performance, they will be very confident going into the clash against Galway outfit Coláiste Éinde.

Player of the Match: Darren Collopy (St. Mary’s SS, Newport)

St. Mary’s Secondary School, Newport: Evan Duffy (Murroe-Boher 6); James Anderson (Ballinahinch 7), Cathal Hannon (Newport 8), Keith Hogan (Newport 6); Darragh Meaney (Newport 7), Colm Kennedy (Sean Treacys 8), James Tobin (Newport 6); Daniel Ryan (Newport 7), Jamie Long (Murroe-Boher 6); Tommy Cusack (Murroe-Boher 6), Brian Tobin (Newport, 1-4, 9), Darren Collopy (Murroe-Boher, 1-12, 0-8f, 9); Shane Flanagan (Newport 0-1, 7), Cillian Collins (Newport 1-0, 7), Callum Poole (Newport 1-0, 7).

Subs: Cathal Sheridan (Murroe-Boher 6) for Cusack (43); Eoghan Flynn (Newport 6) for Collins (47); Daire Cantillon (Newport 6) for Tobin (53); Darragh Gavin (Newport 6) for Flanagan (56); Fintan Sheridan (Murroe-Boher) for Hogan (57).

Presentation Secondary School, Killina: David Gibbons (7), Michael Grennan (6), Eoin Corcoran (6), Conor Thornton (6), Adam O’Meara (6), Niall Kelly (6), Brooke Healion (6), Conor Egan (7) (0-1), Dan Scully (7) (0-1), Morgan Bennett (6), Alex Gleeson (7) (0-1), Evan Monaghan (6), Eoghan Neville (7) (0-2 1f), MacDara Mitchell (6) (0-1), Eoghan Meacle (6).

Subs: Fionn Corcoran (6) for M Bennett (h/t), Sean Kenny (6) for M Grennan (36 mins), David Coughlan (6) for E Monaghan (41 mins), Daithi Guinan (6) for C Thornton (53 mins), Liam Grennan (n/r) for D Scully (59 mins).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).