Colleges football / Colaiste Eoin 1-10 Knockbeg College 0-12: Kevin Doogue's 56th-minute goal proved decisive as Carlow Schools overcame St Joseph's in an exciting and fiercely contested Leinster Colleges senior football A qualifier at Rochfortbridge yesterday.
The goal came just moments after Carlow's influential midfielder Mark Corcoran was dismissed on two yellow cards.
Despite having had wind advantage, Carlow trailed 0-4 to 0-5 at half-time. Joseph's pulled three points clear early in the second period but, inspired by Doogue and full forward Pádraig Amond, Carlow turned the screw.
A pinpoint pass by substitute Denis Quinlan gave Doogue the goalscoring chance. That gave Carlow a five-point lead, but they still had to withstand intense pressure as the home side threw everything at their opponents in an effort to salvage extra-time.
The victory earns Carlow a place in the quarter-finals against Good Counsel of New Ross.
CARLOW SCHOOLS: J Hennessy; L Fitzpatrick, R Keane, D McInerney; D McGee, D Kinsella, S Gannon; M Corcoran (0-3, two frees), D Lowry; N Hogan, K Doogue (1-2), J Gilligan; P Townsend (0-1), P Amond (0-3, two frees), E McKenna. Subs: J Ruth for McGee (34 mins), D Quinlan for McKenna (50 mins).
ST JOSEPH'S: L Fox; D Murphy; F O'Reilly, N O'Reilly; A Maguire, J Hogan, G Keegan; S Cole, R Doyle (0-1); F Kelly, R Leavy (0-1), J Hayes (0-1, free); G O'Connor, D Quinn 0-3 (one free), A Giles 0-3 (two frees). Subs: N Keegan for Hayes (47 mins), S Treacy for Maguire (50 mins), N Judge for Kelly (59 mins).
Referee: P O'Reilly (Longford).
