DUBLIN SCHOOLS’ JHC ‘B’ FINAL: ST FINTAN’S, SUTTON 7-13 LUCAN CBS 1-12
Hat-trick hero Kevin leads Sutton lads to convincing victory
BYRNE ON FIRE FOR ST FINTAN’S
Daire Walsh
KEVIN Byrne claimed a hat-trick of goals for St Fintan’s HS in Abbotstown on Tuesday afternoon, when the Sutton school secured the Dublin Schools’ Junior Hurling ‘B’ Championship title – following a comprehensive triumph over Lucan CBS.
With Roscommon hurler Jason Kilkenny amongst their management team, Lucan broke the deadlock courtesy of a second minute point by centre-forward Matthew Dunne.
Indeed, despite conceding points to John Sammon and Conor Ryan, further scores from the excellent Dunne (two) and midfielder Conor Walsh helped CBS to develop an early two-point cushion.
However, it was at this point that Fintan’s kicked into gear – with skipper Adam Kenny’s 15th minute goal acting as a major catalyst.
A brace of points from the influential Sammon supplemented clinical Cian Mulligan and Ryan goals, and in spite of later contributions from Dunne (two) and Evin Dowling, Lucan were facing into a 3-6 to 0-7 interval deficit.
Fintan’s maintained their momentum upon the resumption with a close-range goal by Byrne, and even though Lucan’s Dunne cancelled out a Sammon point, Byrne recorded an unanswered haul of 2-2 to place the outcome beyond doubt.
It was becoming a damage limitation exercise for Lucan, but to their credit, they did respond with hard-earned points from the ever-industrious Dunne and centre-back Herkus Sviglinskas.
Fintan’s midielder Liam Dunne found his range from open play, but Lucan finally claimed a goal through a Matthew Dunne free on 47 minutes.
Yet, along with points by Sammon and Byrne, a 1-1 Liam Dunne salvo enhanced the Dublin Road outfit’s advantage. Matthew Dunne brought his personal haul up to 1-9 with a point two minutes from the end, but it couldn’t dampen the spirits of the victorious St Fintan’s.
Scorers – St Fintan’s: K Byrne 3-4, J Sammon 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65’), L Dunne 1-2, C Ryan 1-1, A Kenny, C Mulligan 1-0 each. Lucan CBS: M Dunne 1-9 (1-3f), H Sviglinskas, C Walsh, E Dowling 0-1 each.
ST FINTAN’S HS: A Coulter; B Roberts, M Hart, E Hart; E Kelly, E Forbes, N Hannon; L Dunne, L Mitchell; K Byrne, A Kenny, C Mulligan; M Murphy, J Sammon, C Ryan. Subs: E Bridgeman for Roberts (49), L Moreau for Byrne, J Kennedy for Mulligan, S Alexander for Ryan (all 53), F O’Connell for Forbes (55).
LUCAN CBS: J Mooney; D Lawlor, A McNulty, C Shanaghan; H Keogh, H Sviglinskas, J Joseph; C Behan, C Walsh; E Dowling, M Dunne, B O’Sullivan; A Lambe, J Lawless, O Ryan. Subs: D Kelly for Ryan (h-t), T Heffernan for Lawlor (39).
Referee: D Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).