Leinster Colleges SFC A quarter-finals/ Knockbeg College 1-10; St Peter's 1-4: Knockbeg College, Carlow, got off to a lightning start that saw them score 1-1 within two minutes of the throw-in at Dr Cullen Park yesterday, which helped see them through to the semi-finals for the first time in 30 years.
Knockbeg's David Conway pointed after just 30 seconds and in the second minute full forward Ian Fleming collected a long free from Stephen Murphy before scoring his side's only goal of the game.
St Peter's responded well but failed to exploit their territorial dominance and had kicked half-a-dozen wides by the end of the first half.
The Carlow side finished the half with another flourish with Laois minor stars Donie Brennan and Colm Begley hoisting over points that were complemented by a Seán O'Shea score to leave it 1-6 to 0-4 at the break.
Peter's enjoyed a terrific start to the second half, substitute David Kenny drilling a low shot to the net with three minutes gone following good approach work by Alan Doyle and Andy Griffith. But that was to be the Wexford side's last score of the game though they again racked up six wides in that period.
Knockbeg, in contrast, kicked just five wides throughout the game and David Conway but over three priceless points in the second half. Colm Doran's 50th-minute point from a free sealed the win for Knockbeg.
The fact that seven players contributed to the Knockbeg scoresheet, six from play, while the St Peter's starting 15 managed just a single point from play illustrates the difference between the sides.
The St Peter's midfield pairing of Rory Quinlivan and Ibar Murphy were prominent but the arrival of Knockbeg's Ian Fleming to this area, plus the winners excellent short-passing combination play, counteracted this dominance.
Knockbeg, trained by new Laois captain Chris Conway, were also impressive in defence where Paddy Kelly, Kevin O'Neill and Begley excelled
KNOCKBEG COLLEGE, CARLOW: C Munnelly; K O'Neill, P Kelly, M Stapleton; D Lynskey, C Begley (0-1), B Cox; S Murphy, S O'Neill; C Doran (0-2, frees), D Brennan (0-1), A Delaney (0-1); S O'Shea (0-1), I Fleming (1-0), D Conway (0-4, two frees). Subs: J Tierney for Delaney, B O'Shea for Brennan, B Byrne for Tierney.
ST PETER'S, WEXFORD: D Redmond; C Murphy, B Malone, A Murphy; C Quinn (0-2, frees), P Roche, O Quigley; I Murphy, R Quinlivan; D O'Sullivan, A Doyle, T Bannon (0-2, one free); D O'Connor, A Griffith, C McGovern. Subs: J Codd for O'Connor, D Kenny (1-0) for Codd, S Cadogan for McGovern.
Referee: S McCormack (Dublin)
