No luck for Knockbeg as St Peters come out on top in thrilling encounter

A very cold Crettyard GAA club was the venue for the Leinster Senior football schools preliminary round between Knockbeg and St Peters of Wexford. The match was originally fixed for Dr. Cullen Park but a late pitch inspection left both sides with no option but to change the venue. 

There were still doubts right up to throw in at one o'clock on whether or not the game would go ahead, but we got underway in questionable conditions. The chill in the air didn't stop both sets of fans from being very vocal and drums and boomboxes were going ninety from minute one. The atmosphere was incredible, something that's rarely seen at a GAA match. But it was a welcome addition and provided a fantastic support act to the main show. 

The match itself was an absolute cracker. Both sides were hungry for success. There was smart football on a show that was way beyond the years of those on the pitch. Thoroughly enjoyable affair. 

Knockbeg 1-10

St Peters 2-11

Knockbeg started the game quickly and took the lead early on as Bergin pointed his first free. After a scrappy few moments, Peters got the equaliser in the form of Luke Murphy's first free. 

Knockbeg regained their point advantage after a handy short-range free opportunity presented itself to Bergin. It became clear that Bergin had the shooting boots on and shortly he would convert his third free from as man attempts 

The first score from play came after fifteen minutes. A lovely outside-of-the-boot effort from Luke Murphy brought the gap back to one. It was an intense opening quarter and neither team was getting the upper hand on their opponent. 

Jack Brady extended Knockbeg's advantage to three with his side's first from play and Begins fourth free put the men in blue and white three up. 

Padraig Power settled the ship for St Peters with a lovely score from a tight angle before Talisman Murphy got his third to leave just one point between the teams once again. 

John Phiri chipped in with a score, he was having a phenomenal game for Knockbeg from wing back, really standing out as a top-class talent for the future. 

Jack Doyle and Murphy traded scores before Keelan Brady extended Knockbegs lead to three right on the cusp of halftime. 

St Peters started the second half with intent - pinning Knockbeg back and releasing the sweeper from his duties. Their first two scores of the second half came courtesy of talisman Murphy.

What followed in the next ten minutes was quite an intense period with neither team able to break down either defence. Finally, fifteen minutes into the second half Murphy got his seventh point for St Peters to level the scores.   

A huge period for the men in white with the green slash came five minutes late. St Peters took control of the game with two quick goals in succession courtesy of Hennessy and Cooney, leaving them five in front. 

The Wexford college kicked on and scores from Devereux and Murphy solidified the Peters lead as we approached the closing stages. A late Knockbeg goal didn't come soon enough and Peters claimed the victory.