GAELIC GAMES: DUBLIN PP SCH JUV H ‘A’ QF
Eanna deliver the goods after hitting higher gear against Ris in second half
COLAISTE EANNA……………………………………. 2-9
ARDSCOIL RIS…………………………………………. 0-3
Daire Walsh
A STRONG second-half display paved the way for Colaiste Eanna yesterday afternoon, as they progressed to the semi-final of the Dublin Schools Juvenile Hurling ‘A’ Championship following a comprehensive triumph over Ardscoil Ris.
However, in spite of what the final scoreline might suggest, they did take their time to fully-establish supremacy on their home pitch.
Ardscoil centre-forward David O’Sullivan and Eanna’s Adam Kellegher traded points during the early exchanges, and although they were wasteful at times during the first-quarter, a successful ‘65’ by centre-back Jacques Dalton (who featured for Dublin South in the Leinster Juvenile Hurling ‘A’ League two days earlier), moved the Ballyroan side into the ascendancy on the stroke of 15 minutes.
Ardscoil looked set to receive a lifeline five minutes later when the towering Eimantas Davalis was fouled inside the square, but the subsequent penalty from Mark Sweeney was brilliantly turned away by Eanna netminder Matthew Nolan.
This was certainly a missed opportunity from Ardscoil’s point of view, and owing to a well-worked Malachy Codd goal on the half-hour mark, Eanna brought a 1-2 to 0-1 lead into the second period.
Ardscoil initially remained within touching distance after the restart when an Eoin Bradley point for Eanna was cancelled out by Liam McGovern’s free, but a third-quarter purple patch from the southsiders effectively placed the tie beyond their reach.
Unanswered points from Dillon Dunleavey (two), Codd, Dalton, Kellegher and Enda Cashman created a ten-point gap between the teams, and even though the industrious McGovern added his second of the contest, Kellegher’s terrific 55th-minute goal completed a memorable performance from Colaiste Eanna.