LEINSTER SEN ‘B’ FC FINAL
Lucan turn game on its head to take home top honours against Gallen CS
Daire Walsh
A STUNNING second-half display helped Lucan CBS claim the Leinster Schools Senior Football ‘B’ Championship title in spectacular style at St Loman’s, Mullingar on Tuesday afternoon.
Just four days on from their Dublin SF ‘B’ triumph over St Joseph’s, Rush (on a scoreline of 3-7 to 0-13 at St Brigid’s GAA), Lucan were facing Gallen CS, Ferbane in a provincial showpiece at the impressive Westmeath venue. Their Offaly counterparts looked set for victory when they led by 2-6 to 1-5 at the midway stage in the contest.
This was until Emmet Allen and Herkus Sviglinskas hit top form for the Ballydowd outfit, who ultimately secured the silverware with all of nine points to spare (5-10 to 2-10). In a lively opening to the proceedings, Gallen hit the front with a 10th-minute goal by Sean Flynn.
Lucan centre-forward Matthew Dunne found the target at the end of a subsequent attack, but a second Gallen goal by Offaly senior panelist Cian Johnson placed them in an ominous position. There was enough time for CBS to work themselves back into contention prior to the interval – a superb Luke Walshe significantly reducing the gap between the sides.
Indeed, by the third-quarter mark, Lucan had turned the game completely on its head. After the excellent Allen levelled matters four minutes into the second period, Sviglinskas’ two-goal haul provided the Metropolitans with a commanding cushion of 4-7 to 2-7.
There was still enough reason for Lucan to be wary of their Ferbane opponents, particularly when Flynn was in such sparkling form. He kicked three points without reply during a dominant spell for his side, bringing his personal tally to 1-7.
The full-forward was then presented with a chance to add a third goal on 54 minutes, following a foot block on Johnson’s goal-bound effort. However, much to the relief of Lucan, his ensuing penalty drifted past the target and away to safety.
The ever-reliable Allen had greater joy at the opposite end, as his spot-kick on the hour mark was coolly slotted beyond the reach of Gallen custodian Jack Cullinan. Though the margin of victory flatters them to a degree, Lucan emerged as deserving winners on the day.
In addition to the attacking firepower of Allen, Sviglinskas and Dunne – which yielded a combined total of 4-7 – there were also strong performances from 2017 Dublin minor hurler Ben Coffey and influential CBS skipper Daire Newcombe.