ALL-IRELAND ‘C’ HURLING FINAL: ST FINTAN’S SUTTON 0-10 ST AUGUSTINE’S 1-16
Fintan’s leave themselves too much to do
Daire Walsh
CILLIAN Costello was in superb scoring form at Thomastown last Friday, but it wasn’t enough to prevent St Fintan’s HS, Sutton’s 0-10 to 1-16 reversal against St Augustine’s, Dungarvan in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling ‘C’ Championship final.
Magnificent triumphs over Clonkeen College and Boyne CS, in Dublin and Leinster showdowns respectively, had already ensured it was a trophy-laden school season for the northside boys. However, they were playing against a strong breeze in the first half of this encounter, and found themselves trailing 0-8 to 0-0 with 20 minutes gone on the clock.
Costello eventually opened their account with a well-judged free, but after a hatful of scores from skipper Neil Montgomery were supplemented by a Tom Looby goal, the Waterford side developed a 1-10 to 0-3 cushion at the midway point in the Kilkenny venue.
Fintan’s have shown plenty of resilience on a remarkable journey to this decider, though, and Costello (one of six players from Naomh Barrog in the Fintan’s starting line-up) narrowed the gap to seven points in the opening stages of the second period.
Paul Tolan, Liam Dunne and Kevin Byrne were also on target, but even though Costello finished with 0-7 to his name, the Abbeyside duo of Montgomery and Darragh McGrath ultimately inspired Augustine’s to their first-ever All-Ireland hurling title.