RED-HOT CURRIE FOR RIS
Ardscoil forward keeps Northsiders on track for back-to-back titles at Eanna’s expense
DUBLIN SCHOOLS JHC ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL
ARDSCOIL RIS………………………….. 1-19
COLAISTE EANNA…………………….. 3-08
By Daire Walsh
FRESH from his exploits in Na Fianna’s successful Dublin Under-15 ‘A’ Championship campaign, Colin Currie was once again scorer-in-chief at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn on Tuesday afternoon as Ardscoil Ris overcame a strong challenge from Colaiste Eanna to keep their dream of securing back-to-back Dublin Schools Junior Hurling “A” titles very much alive.
Ardscoil had made a bright start to this penultimate round fixture, but they were proving to be somewhat wayward with the early opportunities that came their way, and roving Eanna corner-forward Eoin Kelly was on hand to open the scoring with an excellent point from distance six minutes in.
Indeed, when corner-forward Aidan Mellet secured the first goal of the game with a terrific finish past Ardscoil netminder Darragh Levins just four minutes later, it appeared that everything was going according to plan for the Ballyroan outfit, but the Griffith Avenue school did eventually settle into the proceedings with unanswered scores from half-forward Ben McHugh and Currie (two). A contentious 17th-minute Robert Donohue point for Eanna did briefly halt the momentum of the north Dublin boys, but even though midfielder Luke Corcoran converted a tricky free for the southsiders, Ardscoil had edged in front by the 22nd minute thanks to efforts from Ruadhan Clerkin, Conor Burke, John Walsh and Currie (free).
Matters became even rosier for Ardscoil just a minute later when Currie raised a green flag with a clinical finish from an awkward angle.
POSITIVE
But Eanna did produce a positive response, as points from Luke Donoghue, Mellet and Shane Kennedy helped to reduce the gap to two points (1-8 to 1-6) at the mid-way stage after the increasingly impressive Burke had grabbed his second score for Ardscoil.
This set up a potentially intriguing second period of hurling, but Ardscoil dramatically increased the tempo upon the resumption with six consecutive points in the space of 11 minutes.
Five of these strikes arrived via Currie placed-balls, but just when it looked like they were ready to coast towards victory, Ciaran Ryan brought Eanna back into the reckoning by flicking past Levins from a long Corcoran delivery.
This was something of a wake-up call for the holders, and they required a seventh pointed free from reliable full-forward Currie to give themselves some breathing space. A superb Mellet point from play, and a majestic long-range free from defensive stalwart James Holland, ensured that Eanna were still in contention moving into the final 10 minutes, but Ardscoil were always capable of increasing their level of performance, and four points without reply by the outstanding Currie (three) and McHugh proved crucial in keeping their opponents at bay.
A neat, low finish to the net from distance by Holland two minutes from the end did briefly raise hopes of a mini-revival by Eanna late on, but a stoppage time point from the elusive Currie (bringing his final tally to 1-12) confirmed Ardscoil Ris’ passage to the competition’s showpiece event, where they will face St Aidan’s who defeated St Benildus 9-14 to 7-17 after extra-time.
Scorers – Ardscoil Ris: C Currie 1-12 (0-10f), C Burke, B McHugh, R Clerkin 0-2 each, J Walsh 0-1. Colaiste Eanna: A Mellet 1-2, J Holland 1-1 (0-1f), C Ryan 1-0, L Corcoran (f), S Kennedy, R Donohue, L Donoghue, E Kelly 0-1 each.
ARDSCOIL RIS: D Levins; E O’Sullivan, C Ryan, S Baxter; R Maher, M O’Keefe, B Davis; T O’Flaherty, J Higgins; M Colfer, C Burke, B McHugh; R Clerkin, C Currie, J Walsh. Subs: E O’Neill for Colfer (40), Colfer for Walsh (61).
COLAISTE EANNA: O O’Carolan; T Glynn, J McDonnell, H Keller; C Fallon, J Holland, B Lyons; S Kennedy, L Corcoran; R Donohue, L Donoghue, M O’Brien; A Mellet, C Ryan, E Kelly. Sub: K Lalor for O’Brien (38).
Referee: E Mullarkey (Lucan Sarsfields).