DUBLIN SCHOOLS JUVENILE HURLING ‘B’ CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Castleknock claim ‘B’ crown despite brave fightback by Benildus
Daire Walsh
CASTLEKNOCK CC held off a late rally from St Benildus College at the National Games Development Centre yesterday to claim the Dublin Schools Juvenile Hurling ‘B’ title on a scoreline of 3-9 to 3-7.
A late goal by corner-forward Ronan Cullen had offered Benildus a glimmer of hope, but with centre-back Conor Murray contributing an impressive personal tally of 1-4, Castleknock had done enough to come away with top honours.
Playing on an all-weather surface at the Abbotstown venue, Castleknock enjoyed a dream start to the play – when full-forward Keith O’Donoghue found the Benildus net in the opening minute.
They enhanced their advantage with points from Murray and Rian Buckley, before Benildus stormed into the contest with goals by Darragh O’Brien and Peter Keane.
Castleknock didn’t panic, though, and after a second O’Donoghue goal was supplemented by Buckley and Murray points, they developed a 2-4 to 2-2 half-time cushion. Benildus regained the lead with unanswered scores by Cullen, Keane and O’Brien upon the resumption, but Castleknock responded with a 0-2 Murray haul.
A Murray three-pointer from a long-distance free increased Castleknock’s lead to seven points (3-9 to 2-5) in the 56th-minute, and even though a brace of scores from Brian Keogh was followed by Cullen’s injury-time finish, they held their nerve during a frantic finale.