NORTH OFF IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
First-quarter goal blitz paves way for victory over Eoin in Leinster opener
LEINSTER SH ‘A’ LEAGUE
DUBLIN NORTH………………………………………… 4-20
COLAISTE EOIN…………………………………………. 1-7
By Daire Walsh
A STUNNING first-half performance set the foundations for Dublin North at UCD yesterday afternoon, as the representative outfit kick-started their Leinster Senior Hurling ‘A’ League campaign with a comprehensive victory over Colaiste Eoin.
With several players in their team that had been involved in the business end of the Dublin Schools Senior ‘A’ Championship, North were the sharper side during the early moments.
The versatile Donal Burke was twice on target from the left-wing, and it was his precise pass that provided the platform for Colin Currie to record the opening goal of the game six minutes in.
As a result of this three-pointer, North’s confidence was sky high, and following quick-fire goals from Eoghan Conroy and the aforementioned Currie, they had an astonishing 13-point advantage at the end of the first-quarter.
The struggling gaelscoil finally got their account up and running from an 18th minute Micheal de Roiste free, but despite adding further scores from Fergal de Fuitleigh and de Roiste (free), well-taken points courtesy of Matthew Oliver, wing-back Shane Howard and Conroy gave North an unassailable 3-9 to 0-3 lead heading into the second period.
North opted to make a total of seven changes for the restart, but despite conceding a point to de Roiste, unanswered contributions from Paul Kelly (two), Conroy and substitute Seafra Fitzgerald created even greater daylight in the contest. Eoin were given reason to be cheerful 13 minutes into the half, though, as Barney Sultan finished neatly past Eoin Skelly after Niall O Ceallachain had been denied by the upright. Unfortunately, this only offered them temporary respite, and ten minutes from time, Peter Feeney clinically secured North’s fourth goal of the day.
Points from Sultan, Stiofan O Dubhuir and Daniel O Coakley did enable Eoin to finish in a more positive frame of mind, but with Johnny McGuirk, captain Cian O’Sullivan and Burke also accurate from distance, Dublin North were emphatic winners.
SCORERS – Dublin North: C Currie 2-0, E Conroy 1-2, D Burke 0-4, P Feeney 1-0, C O’Sullivan 0-3 (1f, 1’65’), M Oliver (1f), J McGuirk (1f), P Kelly, S Fitzgerald 0-2 each, G King (f), S Howard, T Flaherty 0-1 each. Colaiste Eoin: B Sultan 1-1, M de Roiste 0-3 (2f), S O Dubhuir, F de Fuitleigh, D O Coakley 0-1 each.
DUBLIN NORTH: E Skelly; C Ryan, D Gray, D Butler; S Howard, C O’Sullivan, O Langan; S Hickey, G King; P Kelly, M Oliver, D Burke; P Feeney, E Conroy, C Currie. Subs: M Hayes for Gray, P Buggy for Langan, C Doran for Butler, S Hartford for Hickey, T Flaherty for King, S Fitzgerald for Oliver, J McGuirk for Currie (all h-t), Butler for Conroy (44).
COLAISTE EOIN: T O Murchu; C O Ceallaigh, S Mac Giobuin, E Mac Sithigh; B O Bruadair, I O Riabhaigh, E Mac Cormaic; S O Duibhir, P O hEithir; B Sultan, F de Fuitliegh, O Mac Maolaoin; M de Roiste, F O Conchuir, D de Poire. Subs: D O Coakley for Mac Maolaoin, F O Drisceoil for O Conchuir (both h-t), D O Tuama for Mac Giobuin (37), N O Ceallachain for de Roiste (41), S Maas for de Poire (49), T O Siochain for Sultan (58), J Bal for O Duibhir (59), S O Mathuna for O Drisceoil (60).
REF: T McCarthy (St Vincent’s).