A week to forget for BGS, but silverware still to play for

Bandon Grammar are enduring a tough week on the schools cups front after their senior boys succumbed to Ashton 5-3 while the girls had a chastening opening day at the Kate Russell All-Ireland Championships. The west Cork school had home advantage in a repeat of last year’s Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup final, this time the schools meeting in the last four with Midleton College awaiting the victor. And David Hobbs’ troops flew out of the blocks, as Gary Wilkinson and Richard Lynch had the Cork City school cruising at 2-0 but goals from Cork senior hurler Darren Sweetnam and Aidan Walsh levelled it up. However, Philip Brownlow and Simon Wolfe restored Ashton’s two-goal advantage and although Bandon closed the gap again through Walsh for 4-3, Peter Daunt hit the insurance strike for the visitors.

They will now lock horns with Midleton in next Thursday’s (March 29) decider at Garryduff, which has a 2pm hit-off. Bandon do have a chance for some instant revenge at a different level, as they meet Ashton today (Friday) in the Munster Junior Schoolboys Cup final at the Cork city school (2pm). Up at Ulster school Ballyclare HS, Bandon Grammar never recovered from a quickfire pair of Coláiste Iognáid goals which helped the Connacht champions to a 3-1 win. Following a scoreless first period, Ingrid Murphy got both to put Caroline McHugh’s side with a mountain to climb midway through the second half. Sarah Sullivan’s goal seven minutes from time gave Bandon hope but Aoife Codyre finished the job for the 2009 champions. Colaiste Iognaid got the better of Bandon GS 3-1. The win was built on a pair of goals within five minutes midway through the second half from Ingrid Murphy which pushed the Galway girls clear. Sarah Sullivan pulled one back with seven minutes to go but the Jes – winners in 2009 – closed out the tie with Aoife Codyre on the mark. Bandon were then on the receiving end of the day’s most one-sided victory as hosts Ballyclare won 7-0, with youth international Amy Cooke – set to join Munster’s Rebecca Barry at the University of Richmond next season – netting three of them. As the only side with two wins from two after day one, Leinster kingpins Alexandra College are in pole position to annex their first ever title. Bandon will face them today and will also meet South East representatives Kilkenny College. Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championship, Ballyclare HS. Alexandra College 3 (Amber Gleeson, Erika Hinkson, Anna Roopnarinesingh) Ballyclare HS 0; Colaiste Iognaid 3 (Ingrid Murphy 2, Aoife Codyre) Bandon GS 1 (Sarah Sullivan); Alexandra College 2 (Hannah McDermott, Anna Roopnarinesingh) Kilkenny College 0; Ballyclare HS 7 (Amy Cooke 3, Amy Jones 2, Victoria White, Rebecca Quinn) Bandon GS 0; Kilkenny College 2 (Margaret Byrne 2) 2 Colaiste Iognaid 1 (Michelle Carey) Standings: 1. Alexandra College 6pts (+5) 2. Ballyclare 3pts (+4) 3. Colaiste Iognaid 3pts (+1) 4. Kilkenny College 3pts (-1) 5. Bandon GS 0pts (-9) Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup semi-final: Bandon Grammar 3 (A Walsh 2, D Sweetnam) Ashton 5 (G Wilkinson, R Lynch, P Brownlow, S Wolfe, P Daunt)