LEINSTER SH ‘B’ FINAL: COLAISTE EOIN 0-6 NAAS CBS 1-7
Mac Eochaidh on fire but Eoin can’t overcome Naas
Daire Walsh
THERE was disappointment for Colaiste Eoin at Blanchardstown IT last Friday, when they were defeated by Naas CBS in the Leinster Schools Senior Hurling ‘B’ decider.
Tomás Mac Eochaidh was in typically assertive form for the gaelscoil, but even though they kept within touching distance of the south Kildare school for the vast majority of the play, they ultimately suffered a 1-7 to 0-6 reversal.
Eoin have been a regular fixture in the provincial ‘A’ grade in recent seasons, but following their Dublin final success over Ardscoil Ris last month, they progressed to this encounter with Naas. Mac Eochaidh was one of six players from Kilmacud Crokes in the Eoin starting line-up and he opened his account with a well-worked score in the early exchanges.
Mac Eochaidh claimed an impressive haul of 2-2 in the county final, and another brace from the elusive corner-forward helped them to create a one-point cushion. Eoin received a hammer blow in the form of a Naas goal, but courtesy of another Mac Eochaidh score they were trailing by the bare minimum (1-2 to 0-4) at the midway stage.
Naas advanced to this competition as a result of their ‘Rest of Leinster’ triumph over Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown, and they maintained an edge over their Metropolitan counterparts upon the resumption.
Points by Mac Eochaidh and St Vincent’s midfielder Dara de Poire kept Eoin’s hopes alive until the final whistle, but it was Naas CBS who secured the silverware on offer.