DUBLIN SCHOOLS’ SENIOR HURLING ‘C’ FINAL
Cooney brace earns Malahide title victory
Daire Walsh
A BRACE of Eoin Cooney goals were crucial in the DCU Sportsgrounds on Monday afternoon, as Malahide CS held off a strong second-half fightback from Portmarnock CS to secure the Dublin Senior Hurling ‘C’ Championship crown with a 2-13 to 2-12 scoreline.
Malahide had defeated Lucan CBS with eight points to spare (2-14 to 0-12) in their penultimate round clash, but following Portmarnock’s 0-10 to 0-8 success over Clonkeen College at the last-four stage, they knew that a strong performance was required in the third-tier decider.
Indeed, a well-worked goal helped Portmarnock to develop an early two-point cushion, but with reliable free-taker Daniel Murphy and the excellent Eamon McLoughney leading by example, Malahide held a slender advantage (0-7 to 1-3) at the mid-way point in the contest.
However, although the sides were delicately poised at the resumption, Malahide looked set to claim the silverware on offer when Cooney produced a two-goal salvo in the third-quarter. Portmarnock refused to throw in the towel, though, and thanks to an outstanding display from centre-back Mark Phelan, they worked their way back into contention.
A series of points moved them to within touching distance of their northside rivals, but even though they added another three-pointer in second-half stoppage-time, Malahide ultimately recorded a triumph.