Lucan hold aces as Eoin lose out
BY DAIRE WALSH – 27 NOVEMBER 2014 02:30 PM
A MASTERFUL display from Ben Coffey was the key for Lucan CBS last Thursday afternoon in Sancta Maria College, where the dynamic midfielder helped himself to a personal haul of 0-11 in his side’s 1-22 to 3-9 triumph over Terenure College in the Dublin Schools Junior Hurling ‘B’ showpiece.
Ahead of their senior team’s outing in Monday’s ‘C’ final, ‘Nure were aiming to kick-start a memorable few days of on-field action. Seven of the senior squad featured in this decider (played in heavy fog), but following well-worked scores by Daire Newcombe, Cian McHugh, Harry Ladd, Emmett Allen and Coffey (two), they were facing into an early six-point deficit.
Points from captain Jake Moore andcentre-back Philip Jordan did ease some of the pressure on the ‘Nure defence, and although Coffeycontinued to display pin-point accuracy from placed-balls, John Quirke’s 28th-minute goal kept the Templeogue Road outfit in contention.
However, when Ladd fired past Luke Basquel seven minutes after the restart, Terenure’s chances of success werehampered. Indeed, when Jordan was issued with a straight red-card 14 minutes from time, the result appeared beyond doubt.
Terenure, however, did force their way back into the reckoning with three-pointers from full-back Jack Cadell and David Croke, before interventions by Coffey and Ladd made sure of the victory for CBS – who have been aided greatly by Lucan Sarsfields in the development of their players.
This defeat came as a disappointment to Terenure, but they will have a third post-primary final to look forward to after their 1-9 to 0-2 success over St Declan’s CBS in the Dublin Schools Juvenile Football ‘B’ Championship on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, at UCD on Monday evening, Coláiste Eoin brought the curtain down on their Leinster Schools SH ‘A’ League campaign with a 5-19 to 2-11 reversal against the physically-imposing Antrim Schools.
The Saffron representatives didn’t dominate proceedings from start to finish as the southside gaelscoil more than held its own for long periosd. Iarlaith Mac Gabhann, and Tadhg ó Murchú chipped in with some excellent scores, while Jack Bal (who featured as a late substitute in their opening day defeat to Dublin North) also made an impression.
Bal and Fionn ó Drisceoil both got inside the Antrim cover to register goals, but thanks to a strong platform at midfield, their northern opponents were able to pick off scores when required.
Eoin were missing more than ten players, leaving them significantly depleted for the clash. Despite falling short in all three of their group games, the league has given the Eoin management an opportunity to evaluate options available for the upcoming Championship.