Aidan’s secure superb double
Collins Avenue side too strong for Benildus
DUBLIN SCH JUNIOR ‘A’ FOOTBALL FINAL
ST AIDAN’S CBS………………………………………….. 1-16
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE……………………………….. 0-07
By Daire Walsh
THERE were joyous scenes for St Aidan’s CBS at Sean Moore Park on Tuesday afternoon, as the Collins Avenue side secured the Dublin Schools Junior Football ‘A’ title with a commanding triumph over St Benildus College.
This completes a memorable couple of weeks for the school following their success in the Senior ‘A’ decider last week, and it also meant that they claimed the Junior crown for a second year in succession.
A routine free from influential half-forward Keith Campbell got the ball rolling for Aidan’s early on, and following a superb goal by raiding midfielder Brian Ashton, unanswered points by Campbell (two) and Enda O’Donnell increased their advantage to seven points with just nine minutes gone.
Corner-forward Tom Keane finally opened the southside team’s account with a 13th minute free, but Aidan’s responded with a couple of superb scores from wing-forwards Campbell and Dylan Constantine.
The reliable Keane did add three points during a more fruitful second-quarter showing by Benildus, but another Constantine score ensured that Aidan’s led by six (1-7 to 0-4) at the mid-way stage.
A fifth Keane point kept the Benildus challenge alive as the action resumed, but the introduction of Jordan Leonard to the action proved to be a decisive move from the Aidan’s management. A Leonard brace, either side of Constantine’s third, offered Aidan’s an insurmountable nine-point cushion 11 minutes from the end.
With their confidence now sky high, Leonard (two), Tony McCaul and Adam Keogh all found the target during the closing moments, and even though Benildus’ Joseph Rafferty finally lifted some of the scoring burden from Keane, a fifth contribution from superb sub Leonard capped a tremendous performance from Aidan’s.
Scorers – St Aidan’s CBS: J Leonard 0-5 (1f), K Campbell 0-4 (3f), B Ashton 1-1, D Constantine 0-3, T McCaul, E O’Donnell, A Keogh 0-1 each. St Benildus College: T Keane 0-6 (5f), J Rafferty 0-1.
ST AIDAN’S CBS: C McHugh; R Kelly, L Gannon, B Daly; R Kerins, D Ryan, R Harte; B Ashton, E Murphy; K Campbell, T McCaul, D Constantine; J Doran, M Moran, E O’Donnell. Subs: J Leonard for Kelly (39), A Keogh for Constantine (55), A McCaul for Campbell (57), C McCormack for O’Donnell (60), C O’Connor for Doran (61).
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE: A O’Callaghan; Gavin Soraghan, D Dagg, C Tobin; D Keogh, L Doran, B Carr; A Bradshaw, P Flaherty; B Morton, J Rafferty, A Kelly; T Keane, Glenn Soraghan, N Byrne. Subs: A Murdock for Kelly (53).
REF: D Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).