DUBLIN SHC ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL: COLAISTE EANNA 1-19 ST AIDAN’S CBS 2-14 (AET)
EANNA PROVE EXTRA SPECIAL
Cashmans and Codd steer Southsiders to dramatic win
Daire Walsh
THEY had to dig deep on their home patch, but Colaiste Eanna eventually booked their place in the semi-final of the Dublin Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship with a narrow extra-time victory over St Aidan’s CBS yesterday afternoon.
Eanna had raced into an early three-point lead with scores from Ben Kelly (’65’), Enda Cashman and half-back Cillian Wall, but even though Aidan’s centre-back Lee Gannon (a Dublin U17 and minor hurler this year) had a penalty saved by opposition netminder Jack Lambert, singles by Michael Noonan (two) and Enda O’Donnell helped his side to level matters on the stroke of 10 minutes.
BOOST
Eanna then received a massive boost just three minutes later – when Malachy Codd’s attempt at a point from the left wing drifted into the back of the Aidan’s net. This three-pointer was supplemented by white flag efforts from Enda Cashman and Codd, before Aidan’s worked their way back into contention with a 0-2 Noonan salvo.
The Aidan’s centre-forward added to his tally before the end of the half, but with Codd and Kelly finding the target either side of Noonan’s fifth, Eanna found themselves four points in front (1-7 to 0-6) at the midway stage in the contest.
Their Northside counterparts weren’t out of sight just yet, though, and unanswered scores by Enda O’Donnell, Gannon and Noonan cut the gap to a minimum after the restart.
Eanna briefly regained their composure with Ciaran Cashman’s first of the day, before Aidan’s moved into the ascendancy for the very first time with consecutive efforts from Noonan, Josh Thorpe and O’Donnell.
The Whitehall Colmcille star also added a brilliant individual score on the hour, but with Ciaran Cashman (0-3) and Codd (0-2) discovering their top form, Eanna looked set to claim a spot in the final-four.
There was still time for some late drama, though, and when Gannon flicked a stoppage-time Noonan free beyond the reach of Lambert, the sides were tied at 1-13 apiece.
This meant that 20 minutes of additional play were required, and although Ciaran Cashman and Codd combined to give the hosts a two-point advantage on 70 minutes, Sean Lowry finished neatly from close-range to hand the Collins Avenue outfit another slender cushion.
Yet, their momentum was halted by Ciaran Cashman (two) and Dan O’Riordan scores, and though the impressive Noonan set up a tense finale, Cashman’s eighth point from a long-distance free finally secured Eanna’s progression.
Scorers – Colaiste Eanna: C Cashman 0-8 (8f), M Codd 1-5, B Kelly (1f, 1 ’65’), E Cashman 0-2 each, C Wall, D O’Riordan 0-1 each. St Aidan’s CBS: M Noonan 0-8 (6f), L Gannon 1-1, E O’Donnell 0-4, S Lowry 1-0, J Thorpe 0-1.
COLAISTE EANNA: J Lambert; L McDonnell, J Dalton, J McDonnell; C Wall, R Hester, J Kenny; T Glynn, B Kelly; D O’Riordan, J O’Donoghue, E Cashman; C McDonnell, C Cashman, M Codd. Sub: C Corcoran for C McDonnell (40).
ST AIDAN’S CBS: C McLoughlin; B Daly, Cian Murphy, D Noonan; K Doran, L Gannon, Ciaran Murphy; E O’Donnell, J Thorpe; E Flaherty, M Noonan, S Lowry; S Finn, C Gleeson, K O’Sullivan. Subs: C Sheridan for O’Sullivan (16), T Gleeson for Daly (36), A Moran for Finn (44), N Power for Flaherty (53), R Fahey for C Gleeson (76).
Referee: D Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).