GAELIC GAMES – DUBLIN JUV ‘A’ HC: COL EOIN 5-12 ST BENILDUS 2-9
O TUATHAILL HITS BACK OF NET
Daire Walsh
CONALL Ó Tuathaill was in devastating form at UCD on Tuesday afternoon, when Colaiste Eoin retained the Dublin Schools’ Juvenile ‘A’ Hurling Championship crown with a comprehensive victory over St Benildus College.
Eoin secured last year’s title in emphatic style against Colaiste Eanna at O’Toole Park, and with a strong breeze at their backs, they developed a six-point cushion with 17 minutes gone on the clock.
After the impressive Ciaran Foley had broken the deadlock for Benildus, unanswered points courtesy of Pádhraic Ó Luineacháin (three), Odhrán Mac Gearailt (two), Conall Ó Tuathaill and centre-back Iain Ó hEithir created significant daylight between the teams.
Ó Tuathaill also registered his first goal following a defensive mix-up from Benildus, before their Kilmacud counterparts (who are coached by Kilkenny star Walter Walsh) settled back into the proceedings with the help of a 0-3 salvo by Foley.
Yet, despite also adding a point through midfielder Aaron O’Toole, Ó Tuathaill claimed another three-pointer prior to the interval. As a result, the gaelscoil brought a 2-9 to 0-5 lead into the break, and just five minutes after the restart, Ó Tuathaill sealed his hat-trick with the deftest of touches past Benildus netminder Sean Doyle.
It was becoming a damage limitation exercise for the challengers, and after Mac Gearailt had swapped points with his opposite number, Foley, half-time substitute Breandán Ó Scanláin bagged Eoin’s four goal with a simple finish from close range.
Benildus did gain some solace in the form of a scrambled finish by O’Toole, but after an Ó Luineacháin ’65’ had been batted away, Eoin’s Mac Gearailt fired home his side’s fifth 11 minutes from time.
Ó Luineacháin added to his own personal tally with a 54th-minute pointed free, and although Benildus’ Foley produced the goal that his performance deserved, Colaiste Eoin were full value for their 12-point triumph.
Scorers- Colaiste Eoin: C Ó Tuathaill 3-1, O Mac Gearailt 1-3, P Ó Luineacháin 0-5 (4f), B Ó Scanláin 1-0, I Ó hEithir, L Ó Fiachna, T Ó Braonáin 0-1 each. St Benildus College: C Foley 1-5 (3f), A O’Toole 1-3 (0-1f), C Mooney 0-1 (’65’).
COLAISTE EOIN: H Ó Broin; C Mac Mathúna, B Mac Sithigh, L Mac an Bhaird; F Ó Murchú, I Ó hEithir, C Ó Gráinne; D Mac Duinnsléibhe, R Ó Maoileoin; O Mac Gearailt, P Ó Luineacháin, C Ó Tuathaill; L Ó Fiachna, D Mac Giolla Bhríde, H Bál. Subs: B Ó Scanláin for Ó Fiachna (h-t), C Ó Cathasaigh for Bál (40), T Ó Braonáin for Mac Giolla Bhríde (51), C Ó Súilleabháin for Ó Tuathaill, Louis Mac Diarmada for Ó Gráinne (both 52), O Ó Lideadha for P Ó Luineacháin (54), P Mac Giobuin for D Mac Duinnsléibhe (58).
ST BENILDUS COLLEGE: S Doyle; S Cullinan, C Lyndon, R O’Mahony; C Flood, C Mooney, L Murphy-Guinane; A O’Toole, J Feehan; C Foley, D Naylor, A Mezynski; B Kehoe-Smith, G Veale, J Power. Subs: D Kenny for Kehoe-Smith (38), D Cassidy for Power (51).
REFEREE: A Keating (Setanta).