GAELIC GAMES – LEINSTER JUNIOR HURLING ‘A1’ FINAL: COLAISTE EOIN 2-14 MOUNTRATH CS 1-9
SAME AGAIN, PADRAIG!
After Dub win, O Luinneachain delivers in Leinster decider
Daire Walsh
PADRAIG Ó Luinneacháin produced an outstanding display at Ballykelly GAA on Tuesday afternoon when Colaiste Eoin secured the Leinster Schools Junior ‘A1’ ‘Rest Of Leinster’ title with an eight-point victory (2-14 to 1-9) over Mountrath CS.
Ó Luinneacháin was scorer-in-chief for Eoin during their Dublin Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship success against Ardscoil Ris last Monday week, and after Gearoid Williams had opening the scoring for Mountrath, he responded with a brace of points in the Kildare venue.
Their Laois counterparts were making waves in attack during the opening period, however, and well-worked efforts from Adam Kirwan (two) and Noah Quinlan helped Mounrath to create a two-point advantage.
Eoin looked set to enter the interval in arrears, but when an Ó Luinneacháin free drifted all the way into the back of the opposition net, they developed a slender 1-4 to 0-6 cushion. This three-pointer came as a timely boost, and with Ó Luinneacháin and Dara Puirséil becoming prominent figures, Eoin started to create some daylight between themselves and Mountrath.
The excellent Kirwan offered a ray of hope to the O’Moore County outfit with a 1-2 salvo inside the final-quarter, but Colaiste Eoin were able to regain their composure. Ó Luinneacháin finished with a personal haul of 1-6, and wing-forward Darach Mac Giolla Bhride completed a memorable day for the Booterstown boys with a final-minute goal.
Scorers – Colaiste Eoin: P O Luinneachain 1-6 (1-3f, 0-1 ’65’), D Puirseil 0-3, D Mac Giolla Bhride 1-0, C O Tuathaill, O Mac Gearailt 0-2 each, C O Ceirin 0-1. Mountrath CS: A Kirwan 1-6 (0-4f), G Williams (’65’), N Quinlan, K Kirwan 0-1 each.
COLAISTE EOIN: D Mac Gabhann; C Mac Mathuna, B Mac Sithigh, C O Grainne; C O Cathasaigh, I O hEithir, F O Murchu; R O Maoileann, D Mac Duinnsleibhe; O Mac Gearailt, P O Linneachain, D Mac Giolla Bhride; C O Tuathaill, S O Suanaigh, D Puirseil. Subs: C O Suilleabhain for Mac Mathuna (2), C O Ceirin for Mac Duinnsleibhe (14), Dl Mac Duinnsleibhe for O Grainne (38), C de Poire for O Cuanaigh (59).
MOUNTRATH CS: C Breen; G O’Neill, B Bredin, B Shore; D Tobin, G Williams, J O’Brien Holmes; C Walsh, E Egan; K Kirwan, A Connolly, T Cuddy; A Kirwan, F McWey, N Quinlan. Sub: N Bennett for McWey (51).
Referee: D Coady (Kildare).