DUNNE STARS FOR VINS
Marino boys edge out Isle’s in well-contested semi-final shootout
DUBLIN U15FC ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL
ST VINCENT’S 0-15
ERIN’S ISLE 0-11
Daire Walsh
ST VINCENT’S will face Kilmacud Crokes in the Dublin U15 ‘A’ Football Championship decider, after they defeated Erin’s Isle at Gaelscoil Ui Earcain last Thursday.
This victory for the Marino side owed much to a powerful performance by full-forward Aaron Dunne – who ended the game with a personal tally of six points.
Daniel Peel also stepped up to the mark on the resumption by contributing a 0-4 haul, and while midfielder Temitope Akinleye spearheaded a spirited display from their opponents, Vincent’s proved to be worthy winners on the night.
ATTACK
With Tadgh Gorman deployed as a sweeper in front of their full-back line, Isles sought to limit the supply line of Tony Dunne’s visitors. However, it was an impressive Vincent’s who broke the deadlock courtesy of a fourth-minute Dunne free.
A subsequent attack also produced a point for half-forward Bill Costello, before Aaron Duff was picked out by Evan Murray for an Isles score.
Although the play was quite tentative at times, Dylan Kelly and Dunne edged Vincent’s into a three-point lead with back-to-back efforts.
Having initially struggled to broke through an opposition defence that was well marshalled by Sean Brady, Isles stormed into the contest during the second-quarter.
Unanswered points courtesy of Alex Matthews (free) and Adam Lanagan (two) cancelled out the Vincent’s lead, and traded scores between Paddy Gilroy and Isles centre-forward Ryan Thornton ensured the sides remained on level terms at the end of normal time in the opening half.
Yet, thanks to Dunne’s two-point salvo in stoppage-time, Vincent’s brought a 0-7 to 0-5 buffer into the interval. Isles still possessed a live chance of coming out on top and they cut the deficit to a minimum with a Lanagan free on the resumption.
Thanks to the increased prominence of Akinleye in the middle sector, the Finglas side drove forward in the early stages of the second half. Their profligacy in front of the goal was beginning to count against them, though – seven wides in a nine-minute spell preventing them from restoring parity.
Vincent’s eventually responded through Peel, only for Thornton to also raise a white flag at the opposite end. Vinnies ultimately found their best form either side of the third-quarter mark, as Dunne, Peel (two) and Josh Kelly hit four points without reply.
Isles were not prepared to ‘throw in the towel’, however, especially in front of a passionate home support. After Luke Dunne had a goal-bound shot tipped over the crossbar, Matthews added his second point of the proceedings.
This closed the gap to three points, keeping the final outcome up for discussion. Swapped efforts between Kelly and Isles centre-back Kian Burke ensued, but Peel and Dunne (free) looked set to seal the deal for Vinnies.
Though Thornton added his third point during a lengthy period of stoppage-time, it wasn’t enough to halt Vincent’s charge to Sunday’s final at Parnell Park.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – St Vincent’s: A Dunne 0-6 (3f), D Peel 0-4 (1f), J Kelly 0-2, B Costello (f), P Gilroy, D Kelly 0-1 each. Erin’s Isle: R Thornton (2f), A Lanagan (1f) 0-3 each, A Matthews 0-2 (2f), K Burke, A Duff, L Dunne 0-1 each.
ST VINCENT’S: A Smyth; A Reynolds Hand, J Henry, S Brady; D Keating, P Gilroy, B Moorhouse Carroll; D Kelly, J Kelly; B Costello, S Ryan, T Keenan; T Redmond, A Dunne, D Peel.
Subs: O Mulcahy for Keenan (24), H Kirwan for Costello (h-t), P McDermott for Keating (34), O Fitzpatrick for Redmond (59), A Nolan for Kelly (63, BC).
ERIN’S ISLE: D Hunt; A Diac, S Coffey, C Murray; K Duffy, K Burke, C Mullins; T Akinleye, A Duff; L Dunne, R Thornton, A Lanagan; E Murray, A Matthews, T Gorman.
Sub: J Duddy for Gorman (54).
MENTORS – St Vincent’s: Tony Dunne, Liam Mac Cruic. Erin’s Isle: Robbie Mullins, Alan Duff, Brian Lanagan, Damian Lawlor.
Referee: Derek Doran (St Colmcille’s).
WIDES – St Vincent’s: 7 (2+5). Erin’s Isle: 11 (2+9).
CONDITIONS: Bright and breezy with sunny spells.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Aaron Dunne (St Vincent’s).