DUBLIN SCHOOLS’ SFC ‘B’ FINAL
KEVIN’S PROVE BEST BAR-R NONE
Second-half penalty crucial score in ‘B’ decider against St Declan’s
ST KEVIN’S CBS………………………………… 1-10
ST DECLAN’S CBS……………………………….. 1-8
Daire Walsh
FRANKIE Barr’s successful second-half penalty was crucial at the DCU Sportsgrounds on Tuesday afternoon when St Kevin’s CBS secured a narrow victory over St Declan’s CBS in the Dublin Schools’ Senior Football ‘B’ decider.
With a strong wind advantage in the opening period, Kevin’s were hoping to build a strong platform against their northside counterparts. However, even though corner-forward Barr doubled the Kevin’s lead, after midfielder Conor Carney had broken the deadlock, Declan’s (who are coached by former Dublin footballer Senan Connell) opened their account with an excellent individual point by midfielder Conor Bresnan.
Kevin’s eventually settled into their stride, though, with unanswered scores from Daragh McHugh (two), Aaron Delaney, Carney (free) and centre-back Eoin O’Dea creating daylight between the teams. Tadhg Stone and Daire Finn almost claimed goals for the under pressure Declan’s, but Kevin’s brought a 0-7 to 0-1 cushion into the interval.
Yet, with Dublin underage hurler Donal Burke introduced to the action, Declan’s gathered momentum with three consecutive points from Finn, Sean Bugler and Oisin Bresnan after the restart. Kevin’s full-back Darragh Conlon disrupted this scoring sequence with a magnificent pont on the run, before back-to-back Declan’s scores – courtesy of Conor Bresnan and Bugler – set-up a nail-biting final-quarter.
Kevin’s did look set to seal the silverware on offer when Barr coolly converted a 48th-minute spot-kick, but after much persistence, the outstanding Conor Bresnan cancelled out this score with a neat three-point finish beyond the reach of Evan Comerford.
Bugler was on hand to reduce their deficit to a minimum, but following efforts from Delaney and Carney either side of a Conor Bresnan point, St Kevin’s finished with two points to spare.
Scorers – ST KEVIN’S CBS: F Barr 1-1 (1-0 pen), C Carney 0-3 (2f), A Delaney, D McHugh 0-2, D Conlon, E O’Dea 0-1 each. ST DECLAN’S CBS: C Bresnan 1-3, S Bugler 0-3, D Finn, O Bresnan 0-1 each.
ST KEVIN’S CBS: E Comerford; N Matthews, D Conlon, S Lawlor; R Pepper, E O’Dea, M Lynch; M Victory, C Carney; C Howard, A Delaney, D McHugh; C Deegan, S Perkins, F Barr. Sub: B Graydon for Howard (46).
ST DECLAN’S CBS: P Newti; C Barrett, C Carberry, K Burke; A Keating, D Curley, S Ashton; C Bresnan, B McDonnell; R Carrick, S Bugler, A Carey; T Stone, D Finn, O Bresnan. Subs: D Burke for Carrick (h-t), S Clerkin for Carey (42), D Phelan for Keating (49).
Referee: D Feeney (Parnell’s).