Today in the Leinster GAA Br Bosco Cup there were big wins for Marist Athlone and St Pat’s Navan.

Marist Athlone 2-12 St mary’s SS Edenderry 0-15

Marist welcomed the visit of St Mary’s SS Edenderry and the home side started very sluggish with the visitors racing into an early lead. This was thanks in no small part to a substantial prevailing wind and sharp shooting from their forwards, in particular that of corner forward Josh O’Donoghue. They would go into the half time break 0-11 to 0-04 up.

The wind and momentum changed in the second half. The Athlone side pushed up on the opposition kickout and started to exert some much needed territorial advantage. This was reinforced when Sennan Baker fired his opening goal 13 minutes into the half, this brought them back to within 1 as the second water break approached.

However, despite this home side pressure the win appeared to be going the way of Edenderry as the gap remained going into the closing stages. Then up popped Baker once more, deciding to take matters into his own hands. he grabbed possession outside the 45 and went on a barnstorming run past numerous Edenderry defenders before finishing to the net. This proved to be the deciding blow despite the best efforts of Edenderry’s Leo Cullen who very nearly equalised late on but for a fine save from Andrew Stuart Trainor. It finished 2-12 to 0-15

St Pat’s Navan 2-12 Athlone CC 0-10

The second game of the day saw St Pat’s Navan open their Br Bosco campaign with a win over Athlone CC.

The opening gambit of this encounter was a far more cagey affair with only a solitary point between them going into the first half water break 0-04 to 0-03 in favour of the Meath men. The telling moment of the first half came when St Pat’s were awarded a penalty which was duly slotted home by Ciarán Cox following a foul on him. They would then go into the half time break 1-07 to 0-07 up.

From here they would go on to assert their dominance. A second goal before the second half water break would put 7 between the sides and ultimately send Navan on their way. Daniel Keenan fought bravely for Athlone and was one of many fine performers for the losing side. However, St Pat’s proved to just have too much on the day with stand out displays from the likes of wing back Louis Collins and full forward Con Smith who finished with a personal tally of 1-06.

This now sets the Royal men up nicely for the year ahead and they can now wait patiently on the sidelines while Athlone face off against reigning champions St Josephs Rochfortbridge.