LEINSTER COLLEGES SFC A: St Peter's, Wexford 0-12 Athlone CC 0-7: ST PETER'S of Wexford were the dominant force in this Leinster Colleges' SFC A tie at the Carlow Hurling Club grounds yesterday, deservedly advancing at the expense of a fancied Athlone Community College side.
Throughout the field St Peter’s held the edge over their opponents. They fielded better and their passing and distribution was of a high order. And in left-half forward Rhys Clarke they had a top marksman – he hit 0-7, 0-3 out of play.
St Peter’s led 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval due mainly to the midfield dominance of Kevin Whelan and Eddie O’Byrne.
Despite some surging second-half runs from Athlone players they could not penetrate a very solid defence in which centre-back Con O’Donnagáin and left-half back A J Lehane excelled, while goalkeeper Jack Sheridan was called upon to make two superb second-half saves.
Twice in the second half Athlone cut the arrears to three points but they could not push on despite the best promptings of Conor Daly, James Shaughnessy, Emmett Kenny and Shane Blackweir.
Clarke was best supported in attack by left-corner forward Craig McCabe, who chipped in with three fine points from play as the Wexford college advanced to the next round, eliminating an Athlone team which had accounted previously for St Mel’s of Longford.
ST PETER'S:J Sheridan; S Carroll, M Eviston, P O'Leary; B Hughes, C O'Donnagáin, A J Lehane; K Whelan (0-1), E O'Byrne; J O'Dowd (0-1), T Furlong, R Clarke (0-7, 0-5 frees); N Rossiter, G Murphy, C McCabe (0-3). Subs: R Crosbie for Rossiter (47); L Rochford for Furlong (injured) (52).
ATHLONE CC: M Keenan; J Donoghue, J Woods, C Hermbusche; B Shaughnessy, C Daly (0-1), D Donnelly; P Corbett, J Shaughnessy; O Milton, E Kenny (0-2, 0-1 free), D Brookes (0-1); S Blackweir (0-1), R Connellan (0-2, both frees), T Ryan. Subs: R Daly for Ryan (37); C Sheeran for Donnelly (40); G Ware for Milton (48).
Referee:P Kehoe (Carlow).
