HURLING: DUBLIN SENIOR ‘A’ FINAL
‘A’ CROWN UP FOR GRABS
Eoin aiming to halt Ardscoil’s three in-a-row bid as both schools will be perfectly primed
Daire Walsh
ARDSCOIL Ris will be hoping to secure a third consecutive Dublin Schools’ Senior Hurling ‘A’ Championship title when they take on Colaiste Eoin in a hotly-anticipated decider.
Though there has been a delay in a number of schools fixtures, it is expected this tie will take place in the next week or so – and when you consider the impressive form of both teams en route to the final, it would come as no surprise if this game went down to the wire.
Because of their involvement in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Hurling ‘A’ League (they reached the semi-final stage of the competition in 2015), Colaiste Eoin haven’t played the Griffith Avenue school at the senior grade in recent years, but the recent meeting of the two schools in the Junior ‘A’ showpiece did prove to be a compelling encounter.
A 1-11 haul by Liam McGovern for Ardscoil was decisive on October 20 as, in spite of the best efforts from Eamon Mac Giobúin and Sean Ó Cinnseallaigh for Eoin, it was the Northside school who finished with two points to spare (1-15 to 0-16).
Alongside Cian Mac Daibheid and Padraig Puirseil, Mac Giobúin and Ó Cinnseallaigh are also members of the senior squad – and the latter two had significant roles to play in the gaelscoil’s dramatic semi-final success over Colaiste Eanna at Silver Park.
REGULAR
Ó Cinnseallaigh contributed two points from corner-forward, while Mac Giobúin’s half-time introduction allowed regular goalkeeper Dara de Poire to switch to midfield for the second period of the game.
This move proved to be a masterstroke, as a 0-4 haul by De Poire helped Eoin to overturn a seven-point interval deficit (1-11 to 0-7). They eventually emerged on the right side of a 1-21 to 2-13 scoreline.
Ardscoil defeated Eanna in last year’s decider, and with Shane O’Leary, Andrew Gilroy and Mark Sweeney included from their junior ranks, they will be aiming to secure a hurling double in schools. Indeed, Sweeney played a significant role for Fiachra Colgan’s outfit in their penultimate round encounter with near neighbours St Aidan’s CBS – which took place in Pairc Naomh Uinsionn.
In addition to goals by 2016 Dublin minor hurling duo John Walsh and Sean Currie, a three-pointer by the elusive Sweeney propelled Ardscoil towards a 3-17 to 1-12 triumph.
This will be the fourth game of the competition for both sides, who gained automatic qualification to the last four as a result of finishing at the summit of their three-team groups.
Ardscoil overcame Terenure College and St Aidan’s in Roinn 1, whereas Eoin defeated Colaiste Eanna and St Benildus College – who are coached by All-Star Kilkenny hurler Walter Walsh – in Roinn 2.
Having to play Aidan’s and Eanna for a second time was a tough obstacle for Ardscoil and Eoin to negotiate, but they will nevertheless be perfectly primed for a titanic battle.