By Daire Walsh

Thursday January 26 2012

FOLLOWING a hard-fought and low-scoring encounter, Coláiste Eoin became the first Dublin side to progress to the quarter-final of the Leinster Colleges Senior Football ‘A’ Championship on a scoreline of 1-5 to 1-4.

Played in extremely hazardous conditions in New Ross, the Gaelscoil side from Booterstown held a narrow 0-2 to 0-1 lead heading into first-half injury-time, but good approach work from Darragh Doyle and Mark Aylward released Good Counsel corner-forward Pauraic Conway, who finished calmly to the back of the Eoin net.

This gave the New Ross school plenty of confidence heading into the second period and with Conway to the fore they edged four points in front with 20 minutes remaining.

Decisive

Eoin refused to lie down, though, and full-forward Daithí ó Cathamhaoil came up with the decisive score of the game on 48 minutes, when he fisted the ball to the net from close-in.

This gave fresh impetus to the challenge of the South Dublin boys, and a subsequent point from industrious half-forward Ruairí ó Meachair proved crucial in swinging the game in the direction of Eoin, who had Dublin minor hurling stars Colm ó Cróinín and Oisín ó Ruairc in their ranks.

Elsewhere, Malahide Community School will be hoping to emulate the recent heroics of their soccer side when they make the journey up to Dr Cullen Park, Carlow to take on local side Knockbeg College tomorrow (throw-in 12.15pm).

Having defeated Scoil Dara, Kilcock in the opening round, the North Dublin school will feel that they have a great chance of joining Eoin the last-eight, but they will face a stiff test against Knockbeg.

– Daire Walsh