Champs Maynooth stay on course to keep title
GAELIC GAMES: DUBLIN SF SEMI-FINALS
By Daire Walsh
TITLE holders Maynooth Post-Primary will play St Aidan’s CBS in the final of the Dublin Schools Senior Football ‘A’ Championship after the north Kildare school dug deep to secure a 0-16 to 1-10 victory over St Fintan’s HS at Moyglare Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams were aiming to bounce back from first round losses in the Leinster SF ‘A’ competition, and after wing-back Michael Hogan was denied by Fintan’s shotstopper Devon Connolly, Peadar Murray kicked Maynooth into the lead.
Fintan’s responded with a fine point from midfielder Andrew Foley, and even though Paddy Hever and Fergal Stack added to Maynooth’s tally, the Fintan’s charge gathered pace with a brace each from half-forwards Andrew Feeney and Brian Howard.
However, thanks to a 0-3 haul by the impressive Hever, and one from full-forward Johnny Flattery, Maynooth brought a 0-7 to 0-5 lead into the second period.
A committed Fintan’s cancelled out this advantage with a brace of Howard frees upon the resumption, before Maynooth’s challenge was galvanised by two quick-fire points from 40th minute substitute Shaun Flynn.
Moving into the final-quarter, points by Andrew Kelliher, Hever, Flattery and Brian Travers open up a five-point gap, but an outstanding goal by raiding defender George Bodor offered Fintan’s a new lease of life on the hour. Yet, Maynooth’s triumph was eventually secured when Flynn added an injury-time insurance score.