TOM QUINLAN CUP FINAL: COLAISTE EOIN 5-5 ST FINTAN’S HS, SUTTON 2-8
EOIN HIT BACK OF NET TO RETAIN THE CROWN
Gaels coil hold off the spirited challenge of St Fintan’s in First Year showpiece at Abbotstown
Daire Walsh
A COMMANDING final-quarter display paid dividends for Coláiste Eoin at Abbotstown last Thursday afternoon, as the gaelscoil retained their Tom Quinlan Cup title with a six-point victory over St Fintan’s HS, Sutton.
Oisin Ó Grádaigh broke the deadlock for the Booterstown school with a free from close-range, before half-forward Jack Basquille broke free for a superb 10th-minute goal.
Fintan’s prospects were then boosted by a calmly-converted penalty from Mark Sheridan just two minutes later, but Eoin continued to attack with great purpose.
An excellent point by wing-back Charlie Ó Maoilmheana was supplemented by a goal from the impressive Seán Ó Drisceoil, as Eoin dominated possession for large periods of the first half.
Yet, after holding firm in defence, three points without reply through Ciaran O’Daly (two) and Aaron Comerford (free) reduced the Fintan’s deficit to two (2-2 to 1-3) just in time for the break. They certainly had reason to be optimistic heading into the second period, but they suffered a further set-back in the form of a second goal by Ó Drisceoil on 34 minutes.
The Dublin Road outfit soon settled with back-to-back scores from Sean O’Reilly and the excellent O’Daly, before Sheridan was in the right place to restore parity with a 41st-minute three-pointer.
FINALE
This set-up the tie up for a grandstand finale, and even though a fourth goal, courtesy of Conor Ó Meara, moved Eoin back into the ascendancy, unanswered scores by Emmet Mythen, substitute Sean Ó Maoinigh and O’Daly, ensured that Fintan’s were still in the shake-up heading towards the final 10 minutes.
A clinical Ethan Ó Cnáimhsí goal (with his first touch of the game) offered vital breathing space to Eoin, however, and subsequent points from Ó Grádaigh and Ó Craidhin sealed their second consecutive Tom Quinlan Cup success.
Scorers – Colaiste Eoin: S Ó Drisceoil 2-0, J Basquille, C Ó Meara, E Ó Cnáimhsí 1-0 each, O Ó Grádaigh 0-3 (2f), C Ó Maoilmheana, C Ó Craidhin 0-1 each. St Fintan’s HS, Sutton: M Sheridan 2-0 (1-0 pen), C O’Daly 0-4, A Comerford (f), E Mythen, S O’Reilly, S Ó Maoinigh 0-1 each.
COLAISTE EOIN: S Ó Gallachoir; R Mac Giolla Phádraig, L Ó Lochlainn, B Ó Faoláin; C Ó Maoilmheana, L Ó Síocháin, A Aherne; O Ó Grádaigh, S Ó Drisceoil; J Basquille, M Mac Mathúna, C Ó Craidhin; C Ó Meara, C Ó Donaill, C Mac Suibhne. Subs: E Ó Cnáimhsí for Ó Meara (51), L Ó Broin for Mac Giolla Phádraig (54).
ST FINTAN’S HS, SUTTON: J McCarthy; M Sharry, P Doyle, O Fitzpatrick; C Gibney, H Nolan, B Dunne; J Gleeson, E Mythen; A Comerford, C O’Daly, S O’Reilly; P McKeon, M Sheridan, J Greene. Subs: S Ó Maoinigh for O’Reilly, S Whelan for McKeon (both 49), K McGloin for Comerford (54).
Referee: D Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).