DUBLIN JUNIOR ‘B’ HURLING FINAL: CASTLEKNOCK CC 5-11 SALESIAN COLLEGE 3-14
BOYLE-ING POINT FOR ‘KNOCK
Super second-half seals title for the CC crew
Daire Walsh
A CIAN Boyle-inspired Castleknock Community College produced a magnificent second-half display to secure the Dublin Schools Junior ‘B’ Hurling title at Abbotstown last Friday.
Three points from centre-forward Aaron Browne edged Salesians in front early on, and after Conor Treacy found the back of the Castleknock net, a quick-fire 1-1 from Browne helped the north Kildare school to develop a nine-point advantage (2-6 to 0-3). Castleknock fired back with a much-needed Tom Maher three-pointer, and subsequent singles by Boyle (two) and Maher brought them back into the frame.
However, courtesy of an outstanding opening period haul of 1-9 by the excellent Browne, Salesians entered the interval with a 2-11 to 1-8 cushion. Yet, after Boyle claimed his first goal of the contest straight from the restart, a remarkable scoring blitz moved Castleknock into the ascendancy.
A brace of Boyle points narrowed the gap between the sides, before scrambled finishes by Cian Brannigan and Michael Bohan suddenly gave them a four-point lead (4-10 to 2-12). Salesians didn’t panic, though, and points by Browne and Colman O’Donovan, either side of Sean Hancock goal, swung the pendulum back in their direction.
This was the cue for Boyle to once again stamp his authority on the game, and following a superb goal nine minutes from time, he secured a narrow victory for his side by increasing his personal haul to 2-8 in the closing moments.
Scorers – Castleknock CC: C Boyle 2-8 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65’), T Maher 1-2, C Brannigan, M Bohan 1-0, R Buckley 0-1. Salesian College: A Browne 1-11 (0-7f), S Hancock, C Treacy 1-0 each, C O’Donovan 0-2, T Halpin 0-1.
CASTLEKNOCK CC: T Igoe; C Sheerin, S Andrews, K Murray; J Kelly, C Murray, E McSherry; B Bergin, R Buckley; B Harding, C Boyle, T Maher; M Bohan, C Brannigan, E Sawyer. Subs: S Hogan for Sheerin (h-t).
SALESIAN COLLEGE: A Hancock; H Lyons, L Moran, M Browne; N O’Regan, C O’Donovan, C Hancock; J Owens, S Gleeson; R Maycock, A Browne, K Callaghan; S Hancock, T Halpin, C Treacy. Subs: C O’Sullivan for Maycock, K Quigley for M Browne (both 43), S Howley for Lyons (50), Maycock for Halpin (55).
Referee: J Buckley (Setanta).