Foley proves the best for Benildus
Centre-forward’s haul helps seal deal in semi battle with Aidan’s
DUBLIN POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS JUV HURLING ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE…………………………. 4-10
ST AIDAN’S……………………………………………. 2-05
By Daire Walsh
CENTRE-forward Eoin Foley was the star performer at Naomh Olaf in Sandyford yesterday afternoon, as his impressive haul of 2-7 helped St Benildus College cruise through to the juvenile Hurling decider following a comprehensive victory over St Aidan’s.
The Kilmacud school had enjoyed a dream start to the contest, as corner-forward David Keogh finished to the net inside the opening 60 seconds after Aidan’s netminder Ciaran McHugh had failed to deal with Foley’s speculative shot from distance.
This was certainly a set-back for the north Dublin side, but they did respond well initially with a fine point from play by full-forward Glen McCarthy.
The Benildus were playing with plenty of confidence, though, and a 1-2 haul by the increasingly-influential Foley (his major being a terrific effort from 25 metres) was added to by a third goal courtesy of Brian Smith from a tight right-hand angle. This moved Benildus into a 10-point advantage with just seven minutes gone, but the Collins Avenue boys were not to give in just yet.
Despite falling further behind as a result of Benildus scores from Foley and Keogh, they gave themselves a lifeline when McCarthy pulled sharply past Fiachra McLoughlin after 16 minutes for his team’s first goal of the tie.
Unfortunately, the Aodhain defence were coming under constant pressure during the opening period and, inevitably a fourth Benildus three-pointer arrived
nine minutes before the interval when the excellent Foley fired home from close-range.
The inspirational No11 also added three points before the half’s end, but with Aidan’s corner-forward Aaron Lawlor finishing smartly to the net on the 25th minute mark, and McCarthy once again finding the target, the Benildus cushion was reduced to nine (4-7 to 2-4) by the midway point.
This did offer Aidan’s some encouragement upon the resumption, and they certainly had their fair share of possession in the early moments after the restart. But try as they might, they simply weren’t able to breach the opposition rearguard in the manner they would have hoped.
Indeed, it was Benildus who eventually opened the half’s scoring thanks to a fine point on the turn by the lively Smith, and with Foley contributing his final score of the afternoon almost immediately, Aidan’s were left with a mountain to climb moving into the final quarter.
To their credit, they did continue to take the game to Benildus as much as they possibly could, and were given a potential avenue back into the reckoning when referee Eoin Roche signalled for an Aidan’s penalty with 10 minutes of play remaining.
Michael Noonan effort’s on goal was turned away by McLoughlin, though, which came as a major sigh of relief to Benildus.
Darragh Bergin did finally register Aidan’s first score of the period from a tricky free a couple of minutes later, but they weren’t able to add further to their tally during the closing stages, and with James Grimes splitting the posts with a routine free in the 59th minute, Benildus were able to ease over the line.
They will now face Ardscoil Ris in the final after they defeated Colaiste Eanna 4-13 to 3-2.
Scorers – St Benildus College: E Foley 2-7 (0-4f, 0-1 ’65’), B Smith, D Keogh 1-1 each, J Grimes 0-1 (f). St Aidan’s: G McCarthy 1-2, A Lawlor 1-0, D Bergin (f), L McCarthy, C O’Connor 0-1 each.
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE: F McLoughlin; S Mulvany, B Thornton, S Roe; C Power Kelly, D Dagg, T McGuirk; J Grimes, S Flynn; C Shelly, E Foley, S O’Callaghan; D Keogh, J Dalton, B Smith. Subs: L Doran for Keogh (41), M Kelly McDonald for Dalton (48), C Brady for O’Callaghan (56).
ST AIDAN’S: C McHugh; G Sheehan, L McArthur, R Fahy; R Keirns, L McCarthy, E O’Donnell; D Ryan, D Bergin; J Walsh, C O’Connor, O Sheridan; A Lawlor, G McCarthy, M Noonan. Subs: O Fitzgerald for Lawlor (h-t), D Cooling for Sheridan (47), K Ward for McCarthy (47), C McLoughlin for Fahy (59).
REFEREE: E Roche (Faughs).