DUBLIN SENIOR ‘B’ FOOTBALL FINAL: CLONKEEN COLLEGE 1-12 MALAHIDE CS 1-11
QUINN STANDS FOR QUALITY
Forward displays nerves of steel as Clonkeen boys edge past Malahide in Senior ‘B’ decider
Daire Walsh
CORMAC Quinn was the hero at the GAA National Games Development Centre last Friday afternoon, as his stoppage-time point helped Clonkeen College to secure the Dublin Schools Senior ‘B’ Football title at the expense of Malahide CS.
Quinn contributed a personal haul of 1-6 during the course of the contest, and even though fine performances by Sean Hawkshaw and Daniel Brennan had placed Malahide in a winning position for much of the second half, they ultimately came up short on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-11.
Clonkeen (who are managed by former Dublin footballer Enda Sheehy) were aiming to add to the Dublin Senior ‘C’ crown they claimed last year, and corner-forward Liam Murphy opened the scoring in the third minute.
Malahide’s Brennan levelled matters after Dylan Davis had turned away his initial attempt on goal, but Clonkeen responded with back-to-back points by Cormac Quinn and Kevin Quinn. In heavy rain at the Abbotstown venue, Malahide initially struggled to build momentum – until Jack Whelan (free) and full-forward Sean Hawkshaw found the target in quick succession.
PROSPECTS
Indeed, they significantly boosted their prospects at the end of the first quarter, because even though Whelan had a penalty saved by Davis, he eventually found the net from his follow-up effort.
This was a set-back for Clonkeen, who had a subsequent Cormac Quinn point cancelled out by Hawkshaw. Yet, the southsiders maintained their composure, and unanswered scores courtesy of Cormac Quinn (two), Murphy and Kevin Quinn gave them a slender 0-8 to 1-4 interval advantage.
Clonkeen had certainly found their feet on the immaculate all-weather surface, but after Malahide restored parity with a well-struck Whelan placed ball upon the resumption, it was quickly supplemented by another fine score from Brennan.
Kevin Quinn split the posts for Clonkeen after executing a sharp turn on 42 minutes, but thanks to three points without reply from Hawkshaw (two) and Brennan, Malahide had firmly moved themselves into the driving seat heading towards the closing moments of the proceedings.
Yet, their opponents received a lifeline eight minutes from time, as a speculative shot from distance by Cormac Quinn slipped through the grasp of Malahide netminder Sean O’Connor, before landing in the back of the net. This meant the sides were once again inseparable with just eight minutes remaining.
Although Cormac Quinn and Jim Kennedy found the range, Malahide replied on both occasions through Jamie Kennedy and Brennan.
Extra-time was now looming large, but after McDonald was fouled 25 metres from the goal, Cormac Quinn displayed nerves of steel to swing the final outcome in Clonkeen College’s favour.
Scorers – Clonkeen College: C Quinn 1-6 (0-4f), K Quinn 0-3, J Murphy 0-2, J Kennedy 0-1. Malahide CS: J Whelan 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), S Hawskhaw, D Brennan 0-4 each, J Kennedy 0-1.
CLONKEEN COLLEGE: D Davis; G Sheehan, J Keating, E Keating; R Fitzpatrick, L Flatman, P Norlin; J Murphy, J Kennedy; C Spain, C Quinn, K Quinn; S McDonald, E Kennedy, L Murphy. Subs: E Murphy for Norlin (47), C Finn for E Kennedy (51), C Gillen for K Quinn (57).
MALAHIDE CS: S O’Connor; J Quinn, M Dowling, B Murray; B Redmond, E McLoughney, A Lynch; O Dullaghan, D Denneher; J Whelan, L Hughes, J Kennedy; S Daly, S Hawkshaw, D Brennan. Sub: C Miskelly for Murray (h-t).
Referee: D Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).