DUBLIN JFC ‘A’ FINAL: COLAISTE EOIN 3-12 ST AIDAN’S CBS 0-9
Goals give Booterstown boys energy in victory over Aidan’s
Daire Walsh
FIRST-HALF goals from Cuan Ó Maoileoin and Donal Mac Duinnsleibhe helped Coláiste Eoin to claim the Dublin Schools Junior Football ‘A’ Championship title on Tuesday afternoon.
Their opponents, St Aidan’s CBS, produced a game display throughout, but they couldn’t halt the Booterstown outfit’s march towards a commanding success in the National Games Development Centre. A James Doran-inspired Aidan’s defeated Eoin in the 2016 decider at this grade, and they impressed en route to this encounter.
However, backboned by a large contingent of players from Kilmacud Crokes and Cuala, Eoin hit the ground running on the Abbotstown astro pitch. Cliodhna Nic Daibheid’s charges had already established their credentials in victories over St Benildus College, Maynooth PP and St Fintan’s HS, Sutton.
A pointed free by Cian Ó Cathasaigh settled any pre-game nerves, while Dara Puirséil also chipped in with a number of scores.
An Ó Maoileoin penalty was supplemented by Mac Duinnsleibhe’s fisted finish, as Eoin entered the interval with a 2-10 to 0-3 buffer.
The southsiders were in pole position to secure a magnificent Junior ‘A’ Championship double, hot on the heels of their hurling final success against Ardscoil Ris last November. Iain Ó hEithir was a solid presence at centre-back on that occasion, and played a key role as captain in his school’s latest county triumph. Scores were harder to come by for Eoin after the break, but thanks to a second Ó Maoileoin spot-kick, they had 12 points to spare in the end (3-12 to 0-9).
They will now progress to a Leinster decider, where their opponents will be the winners of a provincial semi-final clash between Naas CBS and Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar.