LEINSTER PP SCH SH ‘A’ GROUP TEAMS RD 1: OFFALY SCH 0-13 DUB NTH 1-11
McHugh proves to be super sub as North edge out Offaly
Daire Walsh
DUBLIN North will face Wexford Schools in the second round of the Leinster Schools’ SH ‘A’ Group Team Section this Saturday, following their narrow victory over Offaly Schools at Killeigh last weekend.
North were defeated by eventual All-Ireland champions, St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, in the semi-final of last year’s provincial competition, but they were facing into a 0-6 to 0-1 deficit 20 minutes into their away meeting with the Faithful County representatives.
However, thanks to the dependable scoring prowess of Micheal Murphy and corner-forward Jason Byrne, they had cut the gap to three points in time for the break. Centre-back Kevin Burke and skipper Eoin O’Neill were also producing inspirational displays for the visiting team.
Although they were without the services of injured duo Sean Currie (a 2016 Dublin minor) and Enda O’Donnell, they eventually restored parity after the restart. With a combined tally of 0-9, Murphy and Byrne were key figures for the Sky Blues, but it was the 1-1 second-half salvo from substitute Ben McHugh (of Raheny) that ultimately proved decisive in a tightly-contested game (1-11 to 0-13).