Ó Ruairc goal opens floodgates for Coláiste Eoin

Coláiste Eoin 1-16 Patrician Newbridge 0-8: A goal early in the second half from Dublin minor hurler Oisín Ó Ruairc proved decisive at Bray Emmets GAA grounds yesterday afternoon, as Coláiste Eoin eased their way into the next round of the Leinster Colleges Senior Football ‘A’ Championship with an emphatic victory against Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge.

The Booterstown school had an enjoyed an impressive start to the contest, as four points from dynamic corner-forward Conn Ó Ceallachain, and one each from Ó Ruairc and netminder Seán Ó Braonain (’45’), gave them a five-point lead after 20 minutes of play.

The south Kildare school did finally settle into the tie with three unanswered scores from Peter Howard, Ben McCormack (his second) and Cian McConnell, but a second successful ‘45’ from Ó Braonain ensured that the Dublin Gaelscoil had three points to spare over their Lilywhites counterparts at the midway point (0-7 to 0-4).

Much like the opening period, Eoin were quicker out of the blocks after the re-start, with an Ó Ceallachain free on 33 minutes being added to immediately by Ó Ruairc’s clinical goal from close range.

This helped to open the floodgates, with Eoin taking an 11-point advantage into the final quarter following a brace of points from Ó Seanain and Ó Braonain, the latter ending with 0-4 to his name.

Patrician’s only scores in this period came through the industrious McCormack, who also found his range on a couple of occasions late on, but with Ó Seanain and Ó Ruairc responding, Coláiste Eoin were able to ease over the line.

Colaiste Eoin: S O Braonain (0-4, 2 ’45’, 2f); C O Riain Broin, E O
Naoire, B O Falluin; F O Riain Broin (0-1), C O Dualachain, C O
Duibhir; C O Croinin,
R Mac Giolla Bhride; C O Neill, C O Seanain (0-3), C O Duinnsleibhe; D
O Caomhanaigh, O O Ruairc (1-2), C O Ceallachain (0-6, 4f).

Sub: E O Maolalaidh for O Falluin (55).

Patrician Newbridge: TJ Carroll; A Scully, T Aspell, S Healy; S
Dempsey, D Hartley, C Scanlon; C Hartley, C Kavanagh; B McCormack
(0-6, 4f), C McConnell
(0-1), K Lynch; D Dempsey, P Howard (0-1), C Troy.

Subs: C Earley for Lynch (h-t), R Brady for Dempsey (44), A Burke for
McConnell (46), D McHugh for Troy (54).

Referee: P Kehoe (Carlow).