DUBLIN NORTH……………………… 2-15
ST BRENDAN’S, BIRR……………… 0-12
By Daire Walsh
CORNER-FORWARDS Graham Williams and AJ Murphy were the star performers for Dublin North on St Brigid’s Astroturf pitch yesterday afternoon, as they contributed 2-8 between them to help their side see off the strong challenge of St Brendan’s, Birr in this lively Leinster Senior Colleges opening-round fixture.
In a tight yet competitive game played in the home of the newly-crowned Dublin SFC Champions, it was Dublin North who got the scoring underway with two points inside the opening eight minutes from full-forward Cian Boland and midfielder Paul Graves.
Brendan’s corner-forward Darragh Cleary did force an excellent save from Jack Higgins on eleven minutes, before they finally opened their account with a long-range free from Emmett Nolan three minutes later.
It was Dublin North who reacted better to this score however, as Williams, of St Kevin’s CBS in Ballygall, score three points from play in the space of six minutes, with his third score being an excellent effort under pressure just moments after Nolan had registered his second point from a 65.
Mount Temple’s Murphy and Sean T O’Connor went on to swap points, before a brace of scores from Nolan and Cleary left the bare minimum between the sides heading into first-half stoppage time.
Boland was able to find space for his second point of the game in time added on though, which meant that Dublin North took a two-point advantage (0-7 to 0-5) with them into the second period.
It was really anyone’s game at this point, but the outcome was effectively decided inside the opening five minutes after the re-start, as an opening minute goal from Williams (finishing to the net from close-range), was followed three minutes later by another major from Murphy, after good approach work from Karl Rogers.
This was soon added to by three points on the trot from Murphy, Williams and centre-forward Conor McHugh, increasing Dublin North’s advantage to 11.
Great credit must go to Brendan’s though, as they registered four points without reply from Nolan (2) and Sean T O’Connor, which brought the margin back down to seven heading into the final quarter.
Unfortunately, it was always going to be a big ask for the Birr men (who have former inter-county star Barry Whelehan as part of their management team) to cut further into their opponent’s lead from here, especially as they had been reduced to 14 men after 39 minutes, when corner-back Conor Walsh was given a second yellow card for a wild pull on Murphy.
The Midlanders battled bravely from here until the finish, and they tacked on some nice scores through Sean T O’Connor, Colm Mulrooney and Nolan, but Dublin North always looked comfortable as points from Murphy (2), Rogers, Boland and Adam Rooney helped them towards a nine-point victory in the end.
SCORERS: Dublin North: G Williams, AJ Murphy (0-1f) 1-4 each, C Boland 0-3, P Graves 0-2, C McHugh, A Rooney 0-1 each. St Brendan’s, Birr: E Nolan 0-6 (0-3, 0-1 ‘65’), ST O’Connor 0-3, D Cleary 0-2, C Mulrooney 0-1.
DUBLIN NORTH: J Higgins; C Dolan, M O’Dea, L Carey; C McDonald, G Burke, J Collins; P Graves, E Howard; K Rogers, C McHugh, A Rooney; AJ Murphy, C Boland, G Williams. Subs: C Memery for Carey (30), F McGibb for McHugh (42), M Duda for Rogers (42), M Kavanagh for Graves (51), K Hetherton for Boland (53).
ST BRENDAN’S, BIRR: K O’Connor; K Donovan, B Connors, C Walsh; C Fitzgerald, E Hayes, E Pilkington; E Nolan, C Mulrooney; J Molloy, C Guilfoyle, S O’Conner; ST O’Connor, K Dunne, D Cleary. Subs: P Mullins for O’Conner (42), C Doughan for Pilkington (52), C Donnelly for Nolan (57).
REFEREE: F McGreevy (St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh).