LEINSTER SF ‘A’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Aidan’s in outstanding form to make the last eight
Daire Walsh
JOHN Foley, Jordan Leonard and Lee Gannon all helped themselves to a hat-trick of goals during St Aidan’s CBS’ comprehensive victory over St Mel’s College in the Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship on Tuesday.
This was the second win in as many games for the Collins Avenue side in Group A of the provincial competition, and as a result, they have safely secured their place in the knock-out stages. A 1-19 to 1-10 success against Patrician, Newbridge last Wednesday week set-up a winner-takes-all encounter with Mel’s in Whitehall, and thanks in no small part to goals from Leonard and midfielder Sergei Runin, Aidan’s took firm control of the action in the first-quarter.
With Dublin minor star James Doran once again proving to be a focal point in attack, the hosts brought a 4-12 to 0-4 lead into the break. It was a case of damage limitation for Mel’s when the action resumed, and despite the best efforts of Cian Dooner and Daire O’Brien, Aidan’s continued to be the dominant force in the game.
The dynamic full-forward line of Foley, Gannon and Leonard (two) added goals for the rampant Dubliners, while Runin maintained the impressive standards he had set prior to the interval. He finished with a personal tally of 1-5 in an astonishing 10-20 to 0-9 triumph, and Aidan’s will now progress to the quarter-finals alongside the other five group winners and two teams from the combined schools section.