DUBLIN SHC ‘B’ FINAL: ST FINTAN’S HS 3-14 CLONKEEN COLLEGE 3-11
Fab Fintan’s complete schools hurling double
Daire Walsh
LIAM Dunne and Cillian Costello were in sublime form at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown last Friday afternoon, when St Fintan’s HS, Sutton held off a brave second-half fightback from Clonkeen College to claim the Dublin Schools’ Senior Hurling ‘B’ Championship crown.
Dunne had featured for Fintan’s in their Junior Hurling ‘B’ success over Lucan CBS in the same venue just three days earlier, and even though Clonkeen displayed much of the quality that helped them to secure a comprehensive semi-final victory against St Declan’s College, Fintan’s ultimately sealed a schools hurling double.
Clonkeen did cause problems for the Fintan’s in the opening period, but thanks to three superb solo goals by the excellent Dunne, the northside outfit were holding an edge over their Blackrock counterparts.
The dead-ball accuracy of Costello was also crucial for Greg Bennett and Peter Ryan’s side – who brought a 3-5 to 0-7 cushion into the second-half.
MEMORABLE
Fintan’s were now on course to complete a memorable week for the school, but to their credit, Clonkeen worked their way back into contention. They had equalled Fintan’s goal tally from the opening half by the 50th minute of the contest, which left the bare minimum between the teams.
However, alongside dependable performers like Conor Gibson, Luke Mitchell and George Bodor, Costello proved to be a major driving force for Fintan’s in the closing stages.
He finished with an incredible personal haul of 0-14 (0-5 from play), and as a result of this hard-earned triumph, the Dublin Road side will now compete in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Hurling ‘C’ Championship after the Christmas break.