HURLING: DUBLIN JUVENILE ‘D’ SEMI-FINAL
Kiernan Chanel-s winning spirit for Colaiste Choilm
Daire Walsh
COLAISTE Choilm of Swords will contest the Dublin Schools’ Juvenile Hurling ‘D’ Championship decider, following their comprehensive semi-final victory over Chanel College at Parnell’s last Thursday afternoon.
All of Choilm’s players hail from the local Fingallians club, and although Chanel produced a spirited effort on the day, the Swords outfit will advance to a showpiece encounter against Colaiste Chiarain of Leixlip next Monday.
Chiarain booked their place in the final with emphatic wins against St Joseph’s, Drogheda and Moyle Park College, while Choilm had a recorded a 6-16 to 1-13 quarter-final success over Lucan Community College in mid-April. The momentum they developed in that fixture was maintained for their penultimate round clash. With Brian McManus leading by example, they created a nine-point cushion just five minutes into the action.
They had a strong wind advantage at their disposal in the opening period and with Darragh Power, Cillian Murphy and Liam Kiernan also making impressive scoring contributions, they brought a commanding leading into the interval.
With the Dublin Feile taking place just a couple of days later, Choilm opted to make a number of switches to their team after the restart. They remained in the ascendancy throughout the second-half, though, and McManus (who finished with an outstanding personal tally of 3-2) was proving to be a real thorn in the side of Chanel College.
Chanel persevered with their challenge, but with the aforementioned Kiernan in sublime form in the crucial midfield area, Choilm ultimately secured a 8-13 to 1-2 triumph.