Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior C Hurling Michael Cusack Cup Final – Salesian College Pallaskenry (Limerick) 1-9 Wexford CBS (Wexford) 1-6

Salesian College Pallaskenry (Limerick) defeated Wexford CBS (Wexford) by 1-9 to 1-6 in the Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior C Hurling Michael Cusack Cup Final on Saturday March 22nd at Leahy Park Cashel.

Click to view photos from the game

Cliff edges out Wexford as Salesian leave it late

Salesian College 1-9 Wexford CBS 1-6 All-Ireland PP Sch SH ‘C’ final

Report from the Irish Independent newspaper

THREE points in the closing six minutes helped Salesian College to edge out Wexford CBS in this Michael Cusack Cup decider at a rain-soaked Leahy Park, Cashel.

Wexford CBS led 0-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes through the accuracy of Stephen Kearney and Sean Stafford. But the eventual winners finished the half strongly, with a point from an Andrew Cliff free and a goal from substitute Evan McCarthy leaving them 1-3 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

Early second-half points from Cillian Gavin and Cliff extended the lead, but Wexford CBS produced a Sean Stafford goal and point to get back in front. But Cliff’s point brought the sides level, before Salesian edged ahead through a Robert Davoren point, and Cliff put the seal on victory in the closing minutes.

SCORERS – Salesian College: A Cliff 0-7 (3fs), E McCarthy 1-0, C Gavin, R Davoren 0-1 each. Wexford CBS: S Stafford 1-5 (0-3fs), S Kearney 0-1.

Salesian College – C Hedderman; C Quinn, E Considine, P O’Connor; R O’Grady, R Griffin, J Adams; L Doran, C Gavin; G McKeogh, A Cliff, T J O’Connor; D O’Connell, M Davoren, R Davoren
Subs: E McCarthy for M Davoran (blood sub), M Davoren for McCarthy, T O’Shea for McKeogh, B Nolan for P O’Connor, S Gloster for T J O’Connor.

Wexford CBS – B Cohen; D Lynch, E Dunbar, J Hamilton; J Redmond, C Kirwan, J McBride; J McDonnell, N Lawlor; S Stafford, E Roche, C Fenlon; I Moran, S Kearney, R Donnelly
Subs: M Coleman for Donnelly, L Barry for Roche.

REF – J McGrath (Westmeath)

Match Preview

From GAA.ie

A host of big names will also be in attendance at Cashel this Saturday hoping to see their old schools emerge victorious in the Masita Michael Cusack Cup (Senior Hurling ‘C’) final between Wexford CBS and Salesian College Pallaskenry.
Past pupils of CBS hurling and football fame include Paul Carley, Eoin Quigley and Richie Kehoe as well as recent presidential candidate and former Leinster Council chairman Sheamus Howlin. The mastermind behind Dublin’s hurling success, Michael O’Grady, is a former principal at the school while current deputy principal John Hegarty played football and hurling for the county for many years. Other big names to pass through the corridors include Brendan Howlin the Minister for Expenditure and Public Reform, playwright Billy Roche the playwright and author Eoin Colfer.
On Saturday, however, it will matter little who has gone before. It all comes down to who is there now – and how they play this weekend.
“The challenge of winning is massive,” says team mentor Donal Howlin. “But we have a great set of lads – ten of them were part of the Wexford Schools Combined squad that played in the Leinster SHC ‘A’ championship and hopefully that will stand to us. The combined team reached the quarter-final and has played a significant role in the progress of Wexford CBS this year.”

They have worked exceptionally hard to get to this stage. They defeated Ramsgrange CS, Colaiste Bride Carnew, New Ross, Wicklow Schools, Scoil Mhuire Clane and St Colmcille’s CS from Dublin as well as St.Patrick’s, Downpatrick. Pallaskenry have also endured rough terrain to reach the final. They beat Mitchelstown, Tramore, Killenaule, St Augustines, Scarriff CC and St Enda’s of Galway to make the last two.
The Limerick school also boast a number of high profile former students and staff members, including Denis Ógie Moran who taught there in the late 1970’s. Meanwhile past pupils include former Limerick defender Steve McDonagh and athletics recovery expert Ger Hartmann.
“The team has gone down the wire on many occasion to get here but they have shown serious spirit and determination when it was needed,” says school mentor Pat Windle.
“It’s huge for the area; we are backboned by local clubs like Kildimo/Pallaskenry, Ballybrown, PatricksWell and Mungret. There is a definite Clare imprint on the squad as well with coaches Brian Chambers and an All-Ireland winner in Colin Ryan putting in huge work with the boys since the start of the year.”
There have been countless entertaining clashes between Limerick and Wexford over the years and this game promises to be another with the sides really evenly matched.