Good Counsel make better finishing pay

They left it as late as it gets but Good Counsel of Wexford eventually came good to win their All-Ireland Colleges' semi-final in Parnell Park yesterday.

Without the slightest let up in pace for the hour, it took a few minutes of injury time before the outcome was decided and it will be no consolation to St Michael's that their spirited and determined performance was finally overcome by the better finishing of Good Counsel late in the second half.

The Enniskillen side worked tirelessly to build the advantage and then equally hard to sustain it, although the uncharacteristic squandering of chances in the end probably cost them.

With the scores level at 1-11 to 2-8 and the game moving into added time, Good Counsel captain Barry Byrne fired over the deciding point from his left boot after the St Michael's forwards had lost four chances in succession to do something similar at the other end of the field.

There was still time for Edward Galavan to add another, but St Michael's at that point were well and truly crushed.

It was obvious from the first couple of minutes that this was going to be a real battle. Niall Keenan gave St Michael's the lead after four minutes with Colm Bradley and Gary Maguire soon extending it.

Good Counsel were slow in responding, but it was significant when they did. Eric Bradley set up Byrne for a well-placed goal on 12 minutes and soon after Philip Doyle claimed a second. He took a chance from across the goal and, fortunately, found Shane McCabe in the wrong position to deflect the ball into the net.

That put the Wexford side four points up, but St Michael's then increased the tempo further. Paul Melanaphy, Paddy O'Flanagan and Maguire brought them level with an impressive display of scoring before Bradley pushed Good Counsel back in front from the penalty spot. Corner back Ciaran Smith had made a long run towards the goalmouth, but he was crowded and eventually pulled down. Bradley made no mistake and soon afterwards Fearghal Donnelly extended the lead to 1-8 to 2-2 right on half-time.

The gradual domination and consistency of Good Counsel after the restart, however, brought them back into contention. Byrne and Doyle were controlling midfield while St Michael's seemed to run out of steam. The accuracy of Shane Cullen and Michael Phelan kept the momentum going before Doyle claimed the equaliser that set up Byrne's winner.

GOOD COUNSEL (Wexford): D Keohane; C Hyland, W Delaney, R Mageen; J Finn, K Madigan, N Murphy; E Bradley, E Galavan (0-1); P Doyle (1-2), B Byrne (1-2); T Ely, S Cullen (0-2, both frees), M Phelan (0-1), P Gleeson (0-2). Subs: G Conway for Gleeson, 50 mins.

ST MICHAEL'S (Enniskillen): D McKeogh; C Smith, B Owens, G McManus; F Donnelly (0-1), N Keenan (0-1), C Moane; M McGrath, C Boyle; G Maguire (0-3), C Monaghan (0-1), P O'Flanagan (0-1); S McCabe, C Bradley (1-2 free), P Melanaphy (0-1). Subs: K McCaughey for Smith, 34 mins.

Referee: S McCormack (Meath).