DUBLIN JHC ‘B’ FINAL
Madden inspires Colmcille’s to final victory in extra-time
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s star James Madden produced an outstanding display at St Brigid’s GAA last Thursday, as St Colmcille’s CS finally overcame St Declan’s College (after extra-time), winning the Dublin Schools’ Junior Hurling ‘B’ title by 3-9 to 0-9.
Played in wet and windy conditions, scores were very much at a premium, but with Conor Carbery, David Phelan and Kevin Burke all in fine form, Declan’s held a marginal advantage (0-3 to 0-2) at the mid-way point in normal time.
There was little to separate the sides after the restart, however, and with James Madden leading the way for Colmcille’s at centre-back, it came as no surprise to see them on level terms at the end of regulation time.
This set-up a nail-biting additional 20 minutes of action in Tom Russell Park, and with the sides remaining scoreless for the opening half of extra-time, the silverware was still very much up for the grabs. Yet, Madden was an inspirational figure for Colmcille’s in the closing ten minutes of play, as he switched from defence to full-forward.
Indeed, he registered a morale-boosting goal for the southside school, and with Eoin Kennedy and Pearse Christie also contributing three-pointers, St Colmcille’s finished the game with nine points to spare.