FLEURY ON THE DOUBLE
Goals prove vital for Marino men
DUBLIN JHC ‘B’ FINAL
ST VINCENT’S…………………………………….. 3-12
FAUGHS…………………………………………….. 2-7
Daire Walsh
A BRACE of second-half goals from corner-forward Podge Fleury proved crucial at O’Toole Park on Sunday afternoon, as St Vincent’s claimed the Dublin Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship title with a well-earned victory over Faughs.
With Ciaran O’Shea and Conor McCann leading by example, Faughs had moved into the ascendancy on the stroke of 40 minutes, but thanks to the attacking prowess of Fleury, Seamus McHugh and Shane Kiernan, it was Vincent’s who ultimately emerged victorious.
The two sides had shared the spoils during their Group 1 encounter in this competition back in April, and even though Faughs midfielder David Donohue opened the scoring with a point from play, it was quickly cancelled out by a similar effort from Vincent’s corner-forward Liam Burns.
Both sides were guilty of wasting possession at times in the opening period, but courtesy of unanswered scores by Eoghan McGrane, McHugh and Cian McGrane, Vincent’s created some daylight between themselves and their Templeogue counterparts.
Faughs remained in contention throughout the first-half, though, and David Donohue and McCann were able to find the target in the 14th and 19th minutes respectively.
Contributions from Kieran (free) and Risteard Brennan restored order for Vincent’s, but with the powerful McCann raising white flags either side of a spectacular point from distance by opposition half-back Eoin O’Neill, Faughs cut their deficit to two points (0-7 to 0-5) in time for the interval.
This gap remained in place when Colm Glynn and Kiernan traded points after the restart, but the opening goal of the contest fell the way of Faughs in the 36th-minute. The athletic O’Shea discovered room inside the Vincent’s defence to fire past Paddy Clarkin, but Vincent’s quickly responded with a three-pointer of their own from McHugh.
However, a point for Faughs by half-time substitute Dean Gibbons was quickly supplemented by a rebounded finish from O’Shea (for his second goal of the game), and this seemed to place Faughs in the driving seat at the perfect time.
Yet, it was Vincent’s who discovered an extra gear, and after Cian McGrane split the posts from the left-wing, an outstanding flicked goal arrived from Fleury in the 43rd-minute. The game was now beginning to open up, and after Burns broke free inside the final-quarter, he picked out Fleury with a neat pass – and the dynamic Vincent’s attacker made no mistake.
As a result of this scoring blitz, the northside men were now firmly in the driving seat, and in spite of the best endeavours from a spirited Faughs side, late points by Eoghan McGrane and Kiernan (two) helped Vincent’s to claim the silverware on offer.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – St Vincent’s: P Fleury 2-0, S McHugh 1-1, S Kiernan 0-4 (2f, 2 ’65’), E McGrane, C McGrane 0-2 each, E O’Neill, R Brennan, L Burns 0-1 each. Faughs: C O’Shea 2-0, C McCann 0-3, D Donohue 0-2, C Glynn, D Gibbons 0-1 each.
ST VINCENT’S: P Clarkin; A Brennan, E Clarkin, C Davis; G O’Meara, S O’Neill, E O’Neill; S Lynch, E McGrane; S Kiernan, R Brennan, C McGrane; P Fleury, S McHugh, L Burns.
Subs: C Brennan for R Brennan (13-14 & 19-21, blood), C Brennan for R Brennan (59).
FAUGHS: T Donohue; D Murnane, K O’Driscoll, T Murnane; E Fitzgerald, A Ryan, D Burke; D O’Shea, D Donohue; C McGroarty, P Donohue, T Clifford; C O’Shea, C McCann, C Glynn.
Subs: D Gibbons for McGroarty (h-t), A Byrne for Glynn (58).
MENTORS – ST VINCENT’S: Frank Brady, Pat Gilheany, Fintan Curley, Fergal Curley FAUGHS: Shane Brew, Jerry Hearne, Tony Spellman, PJ Donohue, Trevor Donohue.
REFEREE: Mark Ryan (St Patrick’s, Palmerstown).
WIDES – St Vincent’s: 9 (6+3). Faughs: 13 (8+5).
CONDITIONS: Dry and bright conditions throughout, with sunny spells.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Podge Fleury (St Vincent’s).