GOOD COUNSEL College blitzed St. Mel's with a stunning secondhalf display in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Wednesday last to capture the Leinster Juvenile 'A' football championship title for the first time since 2002.

Within two minutes, Mel's had raced into a 1-1 to no score lead and they completely dominated the first quarter, with the full-forward proving very hard to handle.

Good Counsel slowly began to get a foothold with some great work from Lee Norris who defended well and drove out with the ball on a number of occasions. The winners' first score came in the form of a free from Aaron Diskin who at this stage was deployed as an extra man in defence to curb the threatening Mel's forwards.

This score settled the nerves and they finished the first-half strongly. Captain Dylan Carty-Walsh started to exert his influence around midfield and made a couple of very strong runs, with one rewarded with a fantastic individual goal on 22 minutes.

Three minutes later, Good Counsel scored their second major after great work by midfielder Seán Stafford who found Michael Bolger, and he finished to the net in sublime fashion. Good Counsel led by 2-1 to 1-3 with the first-half drawing to a close, when referee Noel Cooney awarded St. Mel's a soft free. This was taken short, and the dangerous full-forward kicked for a point but, after a mix-up on the Counsel goal-line, the ball ended up in the net. Mel's went in at half-time leading by 23 to 2-1.

Good Counsel didn't take long to get into their stride on the resumption. They had three quick chances but put all three wide before St. Mel's broke upfield and scored a good point. At this stage one would not believe what was about to unfold.

Good Counsel's defence completely sniffed out any threat Mel's threw at them, with all six fantastic. Midfielders Carty-Walsh and Stafford were driving forces, while the forwards' workrate and tackling was a joy to watch, and this was matched with some cool finishing.

Ten minutes into the half, Michael Bolger was on the end of a long ball to flick it to the net. This tonic really kicked Good Counsel into gear. Within three minutes Pierce Doyle and Aaron Diskin had two good points, and it was all one-way traffic at this stage.

Mel's troubles were further compounded when the opportunist Liam Fennelly scored another one of his trademark goals. St. Mel's could not get out of their own half at this stage as Good Counsel really piled on the pressure.

They raised another green flag five minutes later with a wonderful piece of skill from full-forward Cathal Bolger who beat his man with style and finished to the net.

At the stage the large Good Counsel following were ecstatic in the stands. However, this was shortlived as St. Mel's number 13 scored a good goal to leave the score 5-7 to 3-5.

This score only proved to drive Good Counsel on again. They responded with brilliant points from the hard-working Pierce Doyle and Adam Diskin, and the pick of the points was Michael Bolger's great finish after a wonderful pass from Aaron Diskin. In the final two minutes, Good Counsel completely finished the game as a contest when Dylan Carty-Walsh scored his second goal and Cathal Bolger rounded of the scoring with the seventh.

Following the final whistle, Good Counsel's large following rushed onto the pitch to embrace the newly-crowned Leinster champions after a heroic secondhalf display.

To name out individuals for their performances would be unfair as all of Good Counsel's players can be very proud of the fine display. Team captain Dylan Carty-Walsh was presented with the Blackthorn Cup.