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History makers! Westmeath side celebrate first Leinster senior A schools football title

St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge defeated Naas CBS.

aaron-kelleghan-arrives-with-the-trophy St Joseph's Rochfortbridge celebrate their Leinster senior football title win. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

WESTMEATH’S ST JOSEPH’S Rochfortbridge are celebrating their first ever Leinster senior A schools football title after triumphing in today’s final 2-13 to 0-15 against Naas CB in Tullamore.

The competition had been delayed since the semi-finals took place in early March and was the first major GAAA match since the return of action after the Covid-19 enforced lockdown.

Kildare side Naas CBS were chasing three-in-a-row and had contested last year’s Hogan Cup final but lost out by four points in today’s decider. With crowd restrictions in place at the Offaly venue due the current rules on outdoor gatherings, the game was streamed live by Leinster GAA.

Leinster GAA / YouTube

St Joseph’s got off to a dream start start with Devon Hill blasting home a superb strike in the opening minute to the Naas CBS net. The title holders rallied during the first half but still trailed St Joseph’s 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time.

Naas enjoyed a strong period in the third quarter to go ahead 0-13 to 1-9 by the 44th minute before St Joseph’s hit a string of crucial scores. Josh Gahan pointed to level the game, Brandon Kelly put them ahead before a 51st minute goal from a penalty by Kelly left them ahead 2-11 to 0-13.

The champions tried to rally with Mikey McGovern and James Dalton notching points for Naas to leave them two adrift but the loss of Alex Byrne when he was shown a red card was a major setback. They couldn’t draw any closer though with two points from Jack Torpey clinching the success for St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge.

Earlier the Leinster senior B football crown was lifted by Offaly’s Coláiste Choilm of Tullamore as they defeated Longford’s Cnoc Mhuire of Granard by 4-5 to 2-7 in Mullingar.

 

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