Never-say-die St Benildus retain title

DUBLIN SCHOOLS SF A FINAL: St Benildus College 3-9 Salesian College 2-11: LATE GOALS from substitute Paul Connolly (two) and midfielder David Byrne proved pivotal in Mobhi Road yesterday as St Benildus College secured back-to-back Dublin titles after a remarkable comeback.

Two points from Shane Cunningham gave Benildus a good start but scores by Ronan Byrne and Shane O’Flynn brought Salesians level by the 15th minute. The Kilmacud school opened up a three-point lead after 25 minutes with points from the excellent Cunningham (two) and Byrne.

Salesians hit back with points from captain Patrick Brophy (two) and O’Flynn and a goal in stoppage time from Shane Ryan to lead l-5 to 0-5 at the interval.

Byrne and O’Flynn added points for Salesians but Benildus responded with three unanswered points from second-half substitutes Connolly and Eamonn Allen and Cunningham. Salesians looked victory-bound when 1-3 from Byrne and a point by Craig Mooney gave them a 2-11 to 0-9 lead. But late goals from Connolly and Byrne threw St Benildus a lifeline and when Allen was fouled in the area in injury time, Connolly fired home a crucial penalty goal.

ST BENILDUS COLLEGE: S Murtagh; A Kennedy, C Dolan, E Murphy; C Conway, R McGowan, S Mulvanney; D Byrne 1-1 (one free), D Butler; E Coffey, N Hanley, B Reilly; D Coen, B Horan, S Cunningham 0-6 (2f). Subs: P Connolly 2-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1f) for Coen (half-time); E Allen (0-1) for Reilly (34); M Mannion for Hanley (52).

SALESIAN COLLEGE: S Holmes; B Nolan, E Conaty, B Flynn; T Doolin, D Corcoran, R Feehan; P Brophy 0-2 (one free), J Doran; C Mooney (0-1), S Ryan (1-0), T McGoldrick; R Byrne (1-5), S O’Flynn 0-3, J Costello.

Subs: R Harding for Ryan, R Cheasty for McGoldrick (both 51); S Moore for Flynn (58).

Referee: D Feeney (Dublin).