Goals from O’Keeffe and Clerkin help Ardscoil scale the heights
GAELIC GAMES: DUBLIN SH ROUND-UP
By Daire Walsh
SECOND-HALF goals from Mark O’Keeffe and Ruadhan Clerkin were crucial in Ballyroan yesterday afternoon, as Ardscoil Ris progressed to the semi-final of the Dublin Schools Senior Hurling ‘A’ competition with a five-point victory (2-16 to 2-11) over Colaiste Eanna. The Griffith Avenue school had entered this game on the back of a morale-boosting league triumph over St Fintan’s HS, which helped to secure their place in the ‘A’ Championship.
Both sides have enjoyed a healthy rivalry in recent years, and although conditions on Eanna’s home patch were not ideal, another entertaining encounter was played out between the two teams. However, Fiachra Colgan’s Ardscoil were always one step ahead during the opening half of a game that acted as a re-match of the 2012 decider (which finished in Eanna’s favour).
With dead-ball specialist Colin Currie displaying unerring accuracy, they developed a 0-10 to 0-5 interval lead.
Upon the resumption, Eanna remained firmly in contention, but when O’Keeffe and Clerkin registered goals mid-way through the second period, an Ardscoil triumph seemed inevitable.
To Eanna’s credit, they forced their way back into the reckoning with a brace of quick-fire goals, but with full-forward Currie contributing a final tally of 0-10 (and Franklin O’Sullivan also chipping with four points), it was the visitors who ultimately booked their place in the final-four.
Meanwhile, in River Valley, Swords last Friday afternoon, Coláiste Choilm recorded a facile success over St Joseph’s, Drogheda in the quarter-final of the Dublin Post-Primary Schools SH ‘C1’ Championship.
Though heavy rainfall made life difficult for both sets of players, a 2-5 haul from Marc Smith kept the scoreboard ticking for Choilm.
Conor Halpin joined Smith in raising a brace of green flags, while a goal apiece from Ryan Groves and Mark Cullen helped to seal the local team’s semi-final place on a scoreline of 6-17 to 2-6.