Lack of scorers costs Counsel dearly
opening half were three points up, all from frees by full-forward Ciarán Doyle, by the tenth minute. .
But Good Counsel were still well in the hunt until they conceded a soft goal at the beginning of the second quarter when a cross from the right corner by Doyle found Philip Campion unmarked in front of goal, and he tapped to an empty net despite the best efforts of the advancing goalie
This helped the Kilkenny college to a 1-6 to 0-3 half-time lead, with all three of the New Ross scores from frees by their accurate midfielder, Mark Mansfield.
Although they matched their opponents on the scoresheet in the second-half with 0-4 each, the end result was never in doubt from an early stage.
The nearest Good Counsel came to scoring a goal was when Tony French had a hard and low attempt from a close-in free blocked down by a solid Kilkenny defence midway through the second-half at a stage when the New Ross team were 1-9 to 0-3 in arrears.
Scoring power was the big problem for Good Counsel, with just one point from Peadar Cody coming from their forward division over the entire hour.
Five of their remaining points came from their midfield free-taker Mark Mansfield, with their only other score being a tremendous effort from play by corner-back Garrett Bennett from beyond midfield entering the final quarter.
Ciarán Ryan at centre half-back was by far the best Good Counsel player on view, but it was up front that they lacked the ability to make any great impression.
Kilkenny C.B.S.: Darragh Holohan; Shane Cassin, Eoin Cody, Cathal Mcgrath; Mason Clifford, Eoin Mcgrath, Niall Mullin; Darragh Sheehan, Jack Langton (0-1); Kevin Kenny, J.P. Treacy (0-1), Eoin Fennelly; Robert Fitzpatrick, Ciarán Doyle (0-8, 6 frees), Philip Campion (1-0). Subs. - Denis Bailey for Treacy, Eamonn Cantwell for Campion, Shane Tynan for Sheehan.
Good Counsel: John Walsh (Rathgarogue-cushinstown); Shane Doherty (Glenmore), Patrick Malone (Mullinavat), Garrett Bennett (St. Mullins, 0-1); Michael Redmond (Rathnure), Ciarán Ryan (The Rower-inistioge), Jack Murphy (Taghmon-camross); Rúairí Tubrid (Fethard), Mark Mansfield (Mullinavat, 05 frees); Paudie Barden (Adamstown), Peadar Cody (Rathgarogue-cushinstown, 0-1), Tony French (Adamstown); Mark Aylward (Glenmore), John Tubritt (Fethard), Eoin Kelly (Geraldine O'hanrahans). Subs. - Liam Hennessy (Glenmore) for Kelly, Shane Murphy (St. James') for Redmond, Cathal Bolger (The Rower-inistioge) for Aylward.
Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois).
