GAELIC GAMES: DUBLIN SH ‘A’
Wanna into the decider by the narrowest of margins
Daire Walsh
COLAISTE Eanna will face either Colaiste Eoin or St Fintan’s HS, Sutton in the Dublin Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship decider, after they recorded a narrow semi-final victory over Ardscoil Ris on Tuesday afternoon.
Their Griffith Avenue counterparts enjoyed the brighter start to the action at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn, but with skipper Ben Kelly leading by example in midfield, they were just two points in arrears (1-7 to 0-8) at the break.
Indeed, a Ciaran McDonnell goal upon the resumption moved Eanna into the ascendancy, and when goalkeeper Jack Lambert produced a superb penalty save for the second game in sucession, they sensed that a place in the final was within their sights.
The impressive scoring hauls of Ciaran Cashman (0-7), McDonnell (1-2) and Malachy Codd (0-3) were complemented by late points from Dan O’Riordan and Jonny O’Donoghue. Ardscoil did fire back with a goal in the closing stages, Eanna but held out for a hard-earned 1-17 to 3-10 triumph.
Fintan’s will provide the opposition to reigning champions Colaiste Eoin in the second semi-final following their commanding 2-23 to 3-9 win over St Benildus College on Monday at Pairc Barrog.
The Sutton school’s magnificent Senior ‘B’ success of 2016 allowed them to progress to the top-tier competition, and with Sean O’Flynn, Liam Dunne, Chris Dunne, Kevin Byrne and Sean Grenham all finding the target in the opening period, they developed an impressive 1-17 to 1-2 interval lead.
Captain Jack Fagan and Ryan Alexander drove the team forward from the half-back line, and although a determined Benildus added a brace of goals after the restart, an Aidan Hall three-pointer completed a memorable afternoon for St Fintan’s.