HURLING: LEINSTER SCHOOLS’ SENIOR ‘A’ LEAGUE
North face holders in tough Leinster league opener
Daire Walsh
THERE has been some disruption to their opening fixture in the competition, but Dublin North are expected to get their Leinster Schools’ Senior Hurling ‘A’ League campaign underway in the coming weeks.
Industrial action led to the postponement of their game with St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny (which was due to take place yesterday), and when you consider that the Noreside school are holders of both the league and championship titles at provincial level, this outcome of this tie will have a hugely significant bearing on their overall progress.
The past season was a productive one for North, as they contested the final of the Leinster SH ‘A’ League in December of last year, before reaching the penultimate round of the Championship two months later. They fell just short against Kieran’s on both occasions, but with the likes of 2016 Dublin minor hurlers Sean Currie and John Walsh potentially at his disposal, North coach Mike O’Dwyer will be eager to hit the ground running.
They will also be facing Castlecomer Community School and St Brendan’s, Birr in the group stages, and with just one team from each section qualifying for the knockout rounds, every game will prove to be important for this representative side – who have been drawn against Offaly Schools in the opening round of the provincial championship.