On Saturday in Hyde Park, the Pres qualified for the All-Ireland Colleges SFC C final and again the manner of its achieving will live long in the memory.

In all my years watching games I cannot remember an ‘hour’ with a similar scoring trend to this amazing All-Ireland semi-final. 0-7 to no score Pres led at the break, then kicked four fabulous points inside seven minutes of the restart to go a whopping 0-11 to no score clear.

Unbelievably, with four minutes to go gritty Glenamaddy had reduced the arrears to a single point, having outscored the Carlow boys 1-8 to 0-1 over the previous 20 minutes. That single Pres point, lofted over by Paul Broderick in the 25th minute, following good work by Andrew Byrne was to prove oh so crucial.

Indeed, the Pres boys, having ‘gone asleep’ after playing some magnificent football, have to be applauded for the way they resurrected their game towards the end. When a Declan Murphy intercept and quick pass put Tomás Curtin through for the games only goal four minutes from the end, the momentum was firmly with the Galway school and one was preparing to pen a piece about one of the great football rally’s of all-time.

But the Pres ‘dug-in’, defended with gusto and Jamie O’Farrell, who missed the Leinster final through injury, got on one absolutely vital ball near the ‘death’. Paul Broderick also got Pres out of trouble late on while Jason Murphy’s winning of a throw-ball on his own 20m line and Andrew Byrne’s clever one-handed back-flick to prevent a mid-field line ball were two other crucial ‘plays’ in the heart-stopping closing exchanges.

The blue and white bedecked and extremely vocal Presentation supporters, the players and mentors experienced mixed emotions at the final whistle. Sheer delight at reaching the All-Ireland final, pure relief to have survived a stunning rally.

While the story to emerge from this game was the Glenamaddy recovery, it should not be allowed to overshadow the fact that the Carlow boys played some outstanding football to build up that huge 0-11 to 0-0 advantage. The early exchanges gave little hint of a likely rout, the game going nine minutes without a score, Glenamaddy probably having more chances than the Pres.

However, once Paul Broderick kicked the opening point in that 9th minute, having been placed by Shane O’Neill - wing-back Pauric Bolton involved twice earlier in the ‘move’ - the Pres got into their stride.

The combination football and accurate shooting that hallmarked their Leinster final success was again in evidence. Ray Walker thumped over two fine points in the 12th and 15th minutes, the ‘assists’ down to Barry Ryan and Alan Curran. In the 20th minute Pres were unlucky not to find the net, Paul Broderick hanging a ball into the goalmouth, Shane O’Neill’s boxed effort coming back off the crossbar.

Then enter centre-stage Andrew Byrne who kicked two terrific points from the left wing in the 24th and 27th minutes, Paul Broderick setting him up for the first, Shane O’Neill and Barry Ryan involved in the approach work for the second.

In the 29th minute Shane O’Neill, having been placed by Alan Curran, hoisted a high shot between the posts and a minute into injury-time Andrew Byrne popped over a free awarded for a foul on Barry Ryan.

0-7 to 0-0, then, at half-time and when Ray Walker raced through for a brilliant individual score within 20 seconds of the restart it sparked a spree of Pres points. Jason Murphy clipped over a 4th minute point, then Walker landed two more in the 5th and 7th minutes of the half.

0-11 to 0-0 and even Carlow supporters were pleased when Michael Purcell finally opened Glenamaddy’s account with a good point in the 8th minute. Still no real hint of a rally, the losers goalkeeper Brendan Geraghty taking a long ball from Ray Walker off the line in the 9th minute.

However, ‘Glen’ began to play some brisk football, Tomás Curtin kicking two good points in the 11th and 12th minutes, Aidan Kitt quickly following up with another a Declan Murphy free had altered the scoreboard to a manageable 0-11 to 0-5.

Curtin set up Michael Molloy for a 17th minute point, Declan Murphy pointed a free in the 20th minute, the Galway boys having a chance of a goal before the ‘foul’ and the margin was down to three (11-8) when Murphy put Aidan Kitt through for a good point.

The Glenamaddy supporters were in full voice, but their heroes impetus was interrupted just a little when Paul Broderick kicked the 25th minute point that will go down in Presentation folklore.

The game, though, was far from over, the lively Tomás Curtin netting in the 26th minute to leave a single point between the sides. A Glen forward had a chance of the equalizer but his shot sailed narrowly wide.

Every ball was very, very important at this stage and Jamie O’Farrell and Paul Broderick got their hands on invaluable possession as the game moved into ‘lost time’, the final whistle of Gerry Kinneavy sweet music to Presentation ears at a venue that will host a Don McClean/Beachboys concert in July.\

While all 16 Pres players will be hailed as heroes, the Pat O’Hanlon/Frank Nolan trained Askea college had some outstanding individuals. Alan Quigley was an alert goalkeeper, Mark Doran had a powerful game at full-back, PJ Lawler, too, was a sticky defender while Pauric Bolton enjoyed a useful outing at wingback. Further afield Ray Walker played a wonderful game, Wally’s contribution of five points from play central to the Pres victory.

Christopher Bolger and Jason Murphy too, put in industrious showings in the middle of the park while Andrew Byrne and Paul Broderick were sparking in attack.

“We are blue, we are white, we are... dynamite” sang the Pres supporters as the school began preparations for an historic first ever appearance in a Gaelic football All-Ireland final against the Ulster champions Rathmore from Belfast on the last Saturday of the month.

Presentation Carlow: Alan Quigley (O’Hanrahan’s); David O’Rourke (O’Hanrahan’s), Mark Doran (Tinryland), Paraic Bolton (Killeshin); Colm McInerney (Eire Og), PJ Lawler (Eire Og), Jamie O’Farrell (O’Hanrahan’s); Christopher Bolger (Eire Og) Capt., Ray Walker (O’Hanrahan’s) 0-5; Alan Curran (Eire Og), Jason Murphy (Eire Og) 0-1, Andrew Byrne (Eire Og) 0-3 (1f); Paul Broderick (Tinryland) 0-2, Shane O’Neill 0-1 (Tinryland), Barry Ryan (Killeshin). Sub: Andrew Murphy (Tinryland) for O’Rourke (inj).

Glenamaddy CS: Brendan Geraghty (Williamstown); John Keaveney (Glenamaddy), James McHugh (Glenamaddy), Keith Cunniffe (Glenamaddy); Shane Mannion (Glenamaddy), Jason Warde (Kilkerrin-Clonberne); Michael Purcell (Glenamaddy) 0-1, Tomás Curtin (Glenamaddy) 1-2, Aidan Kitt (Kilkerrin-Clonberne) 0-2; Jason Fannon (Glinsk), Declan Murphy (Kilkerrin-Clonberne) Capt. 0-2 (2f). Sub” Aaron Hynes (Glenamaddy) for Jennings.

Referee: Gerry Kinneavy (Roscommon)

 

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