LEINSTER ‘A’ SHC: DUBLIN NORTH 1-13 BORRIS VS 0-12
NORTH STILL HEADING THE RIGHT WAY
Murphy to the fore as Dubs see off hosts Borris to make semis
Daire Walsh
DUBLIN North booked their place in the semi-final of the Top Oil Leinster Post-Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship with a hard-earned victory against Borris VS at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday afternoon.
Ardscoil Ris attacker Micheal Murphy amassed an impressive personal tally of 1-8, and in spite of the best efforts of Ciaran Whelan and substitute Ciaran Kavanagh for Borris the Metropolitans progressed from this winners’ section encounter with four points to spare (1-13 to 0-12).
Whelan broke the deadlock for the hosts with an outstanding individual point early on, before the alert Murphy flicked a Liam Foley delivery into the left-hand corner of the Borris net in the seventh-minute.
Borris responded to this set-back with a Jack Ryan effort, and even though unanswered scores by Murphy (two) and Conor Berrigan followed for North, Borris reduced the gap again through Whelan (two) and Jason O’Neill. However, in addition to another 0-2 salvo from Murphy, a Foley single ensured that North held a 1-6 to 0-5 interval cushion.
Billy Ryan and Berrigan points reinforced their superiority after the break, and while Borris’ prospects were boosted by Whelan and Kavanagh scores, North assumed control during another dominant purple patch.
Including an expertly-struck ’65, Murphy registering three points in succession, and this offered North a commanding seven-point cushion heading towards the final quarter.
Borris weren’t prepared to throw in the towel, though, and the combined forces of Whelan (two) and Kavanagh kept them within touching distance of their opponents. Yet, North largely remained in control of their own destiny, and back-to-back scores, courtesy of centre-forward Sean Clerkin and Murphy (free), effectively secured their place in the last-four of this provincial competition.
Scorers – Dublin North: M Murphy 1-8 (0-7f, 0-1 ’65’), C Berrigan 0-2, S Clerkin, L Foley, B Ryan 0-1 each. Borris VS: C Whelan 0-7 (6f), C Kavanagh 0-2, D Sheehan, J Ryan, J O’Neill 0-1 each.
DUBLIN NORTH: J Sammon; S Beirnes, A Dunphy, J Fagan; T Kinnane, K Burke, D Phelan; L Gannon, S Foran; C Derwin, S Clerkin, L Foley; B Ryan, M Murphy, C Berrigan. Subs: L Dunne for Foran (42), C Hayes for Fagan (46), S Farrelly for Foley (51), D Breslin for Ryan (55), E Gleeson for Berrigan (59).
BORRIS VS: J Kavanagh; C Malone, D Connors, I Foley; T Lawlor, E Kavanagh, D Tobin; C Whelan, M Kavanagh; D O’Toole, J Nolan, D Sheehan; E Hosey, J Ryan, J O’Neill. Subs: C Kavanagh for M Kavanagh (37), T Daly for O’Toole (42).
Referee: D Coady (Kildare).