GAA: LEINSTER ‘A’ JUVENILE HURLING
Dublin North secure win over Good Counsel
Daire Walsh
DARRAGH McLoughney and Cian Duggan helped themselves to a brace of goals at Alfie Byrne Park last Friday afternoon, as Dublin North continued their strong start to the Leinster Schools Juvenile Hurling ‘A’ League with a 5-10 to 3-10 victory over Good Counsel, New Ross.
North had kick-started their campaign with an impressive triumph against Kilkenny CBS, and with the defensive duo of Jack Keogh and Matt Dooley in fine form, they limited the Good Counsel attack during the opening exchanges at the Clontarf Road venue.
The puck-outs of goalkeeper Matthew McMahon offered the Metropolitans a strong attack platform, and thanks to the excellent scoring contributions of McLoughney, Craobh Chiarain’s Duggan and Luke Swan, they had developed a 14-point lead by half-time. Three goals in the opening period had left Good Counsel with a mountain to climb upon the resumption, and with the two-goal salvos from McLoughney and Duggan being supplemented by Swan’s outstanding 1-5 haul, Paraic Tierney’s charges were always one step ahead of their opponents.
Centre-forward Kevin Byrne also provided strong leadership to the North attack, while Conor Chalk was once again an influential presence for the hosts. A late flourish from the visitors did yield a tally of 1-4, though, and this significantly reduced the gap between North and their Slaneyside counterparts.
However, this wasn’t enough to deny Dublin North a second successive win in this competition, and they can now look forward to next week’s clash with Castlecomer Community School in a confident mood.