DUBLIN SCHOOLS JUN FC ‘B’ FINAL
ST DAVID’S CBS………………………… 7-12
COLAISTE EANNA……………………. 3-16
By Daire Walsh
It was a real goal feast on the Castle Pitch in UCD yesterday, as St David’s CBS came out on top of a thrilling Dublin Schools Junior Football ‘B’ decider with Colaiste Eanna in the Dublin 4 venue.
However, despite what the final scoreline might suggest, it was actually a tight and compact game in the opening half, as both sides were getting used to the nature of the pitch in Belfield. Eanna were putting the David’s rearguard under plenty of pressure, and picking off some nice scores, but the dead-ball accuracy of Conor Donoghue, and a goal each from Aaron McGowan and Lloyd Buckley, meant that the north Dublin school held a 2-4 to 0-7 mid-way advantage.
The game started to open up in the second period, however, and following a brace of goals from the Ballyroan school, David’s found themselves facing into a four-point deficit as the final quarter of play quickly approached.
David’s came up with the appropriate response when required, though, as two majors in quick succession helped them to regain their lead.
Eanna continued to cause David’s plenty of problems whenever they got their hands on the possession, but the formidable midfield duo of Eoin O’Donnell and Eoin Bunton (who contributed 1-1 each to the final David’s tally) helped to settle the David’s nerves, as they emerged with a hard-earned eight point victory in the end.
Aside from O’Donnell and Bunton, the reliable Donoghue finished the game as David’s top scorer with a total of 1-6 (1-2 coming from general play), while the always dangerous McGowan and Buckley both ended the contest with 2-1 to their name.