GAELIC GAMES: TOM QUINLAN CUP
Fintan’s are extra strong in 16-goal blockbuster
ST FINTAN’S HS, Sutton will contest this year’s Tom Quinlan Cup decider, after they had eight points to spare over defending champions Colaiste Eoin in an extraordinary 16-goal thriller at Pairc de Burca on Tuesday.
Extra-time was required in order to separate the teams in this engrossing semi-final encounter, but it was the north Dublin side that eventually secured a 10-11 to 6-15 triumph.
The two schools had met in the Dublin Juvenile Football ‘A’ showpiece before Christmas, when Eoin enjoyed a commanding success. However, Eoin had only two survivors from that game in the Stillorgan venue, whereas the Fintan’s team contained several players who featured on that occasion.
HECTIC
This meant that the Sutton outfit weren’t going to be lacking motivation, and during a hectic opening period of normal time, attacker Cathal Brennan was making a massive impact from the edge of the square.
Fine work from Seamas O Fiachna and Padraig Mac Lochlainn offered the Booterstown boys a one-point advantage on the half-hour mark, but there was a determination about Fintan’s upon the resumption.
Thanks to Brennan’s keen eye for goal (he finished with an impressive tally of 4-1), and a strong contribution by substitute Matthew Nolan, they held a seemingly insurmountable nine-point cushion five minutes from time.
The resilience of Eoin shone through, however, and courtesy of goals from O Fiachna and Conal O Tuathail, parity had been restored by the end of regulation time (5-13 to 7-7).
Indeed, O Fiachna, Ian O Heither, Harry Bal and Cian O Cathasaigh continued to take the fight to their opponents during the additional periods, but valuable scores from Jack Dylan Kelly, Jack Moylan, Jack Kelly and Cian Mulligan helping Fintan’s to move back into the ascendancy.
Captain Eoin Bridgeman formed an outstanding midfield partnership with Kevin Byrne, and with the lively Nolan completing his hat-trick before the conclusion of the action, Fintan’s sealed a hard-earned win.