Two county titles in two days went to Avondale Community College Rathdrum this week. On Wednesday they defeated Colaiste Chill Mhantain in the minor hurling B final while on Thursday they go the better of Colaiste Chraobh Abhann Kilcoole in the senior camogie B final.
HURLING
A skilful, determined Avondale side were too strong for Col Chill Mhantain in Avondale. The Wicklow town school scored first as Avondale took some time to settle. However the home team soon took control and went on to have a good lead at half time.
Chill Mhantain battled well in the second half and got some fine scores but Avondale went on to win comfortably.
The winners now go on to play Colaiste Bhride Carnew in the A final in this competition confined to first and second year students.
Their top scorer was full forward Rory O’Kelly with Craig Byrne also to the fore. Kevin O ‘Halloran and Daniel Owens did well at midfield while Johnny Tobin also impressed.
Colaiste Chill Mhantain had fine players in David Nicholson, Ronan Manley, George O’Connor, Conor O’Brien and Ciaran Bloomfield.
Referee was Ciaran O’Shea Tinahely.
Avondale CC: David Conroy, Conor Sheehan, Owen Heffernan, Stephen Cullen, Elliot Robinson, Liam Kinsella, David Byrne, Kevin O’Halloran, Daniel Owens, Conor Byrne, Johnny Tobin, Mark Keenan, Eanna Owens, Rory O’kelly, Craig Byrne. SUBS Tyrone Byrne, James Murphy, Ryan Bolton, Cormac Forlut-Byrne.
Col Chill Mhantain: Garry Walker, Blake McEniff, David Nicholson, Peter Dickenson, A Dickenson, Ronan Manley, Robert Browne, George O’Connor, Conor O’Brien, Ciaran Bloomfield, George O’Brien, Cal Connolly, James Kavanagh, Andy Moorehouse, Paul Robinson.
CAMOGIE
Avondale Community College 4-6 Colaiste Chraobh Abhann Kilcoole 2-6
This senior B final was played in Kilcoole with Cathy Forde, Arklow, as referee.
The first half was closely contested with the lead changing hands a number of times. At the interval the home team led by 2-4 to 2-2.
Chraobh Abhann had wind assistance in the second half. However an Aoife Clarke goal in the 10th minute sent Avondale into the lead. They maintained an advantage from there to the end despite a huge effort by the Kilcoole school.
A key factor in the Avondale win was the defensive display of goalkeeper Emma Townsend and backs Shannon O’Toole and Claire Begley. Aoife Clarke and Katie Muldow worked hard in midfield while Emily O Dowd was very dangerous in attack.
Stars for the Kilcoole school included Aisling McCabe, Emily Jennings and Carissa O’Toole but the whole team impressed.
After the game Jim Murphy of Coiste na nIarbhunscoileanna presented the trophy to the Avondale captain Claire Begley.
SCORERS: Avondale : Emily O’Dowd 3-0, Aoife Clarke 1-3, Katie Mundow 0-3. Chraobh Abhann : Aisling McCabe 1-3, Carissa O’Toole 1-2, Aoife Gaffney 0-1
AVONDALE CC: Emma Townsend, Shannon O’Toole, Claire Begley, Siobhan Toomey, Tanya Carter, Aoife Clarke, Mairead Dunne, Dara Byrne, Shannon Kearns, Katie Mundow, Emma Byrne, Emily O’Dowd. SUB Lauren Burke for E Byrne
CHRAOBH ABHANN KILCOOLE: Sinead Kinsella, Dara Lacy, Holly Neary, Laura Broughan, Sarah Byrne, Aisling McCabe, Emily Jennings, Laura Flood, Carissa O’Toole, Aoife Gaffney, Laura Gammell, Rachel Finnegan. SUBS: Lorna Fanthom, Alanna Bellamy, Leanna Carlin Hannon, Alana Dole, Ciara Cunningham.
