LEINSTER SF ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL
Eoin narrowly defeated by Marist
Daire Walsh
A 44TH-MINUTE goal from Ryan Gaffey was decisive at Johnstown on Saturday afternoon, when Colaiste Eoin suffered an agonising defeat at the hands of Marist College in a tense Leinster Schools’ Senior Football ‘A’ Championship quarter-final.
The 2014 champions received a hammer blow inside the opening 60 seconds of play, as Marist corner-forward Michael McGloin coolly-converted a penalty. However, Eoin settled into the proceedings thanks to fine scores by Niall O Ceallachain and Micheal O Croinin (who contributed a combined tally of 0-9), and following a neat three-pointer from substitute Tomas Mac Aoidh, they held a slender cushion (1-7 to 1-6) during the interval.
Mac Aoidh’s goal was a timely boost for the Booterstown side heading into the second period, and when McGloin was issued with a straight red-card, they held a numerical advantage in the closing stages of play. Yet, after Gaffey’s major breathed fresh life into their challenge, Marist College squeezed over the line with points from Gaffey and Conor McCormack.