GAELIC GAMES – TOM QUINLAN CUP FINAL: Colaiste Eoin 9-10 St Aidan’s CBS 3-3
EXCELLENCE FROM EOIN
Binley and O Donnabhain in fine form
Daire Walsh
COLAISTE Eoin produced a ruthless display of attacking football against St Aidan’s CBS at Abbotstown last Thursday afternoon to secure a third consecutive Tom Quinlan Cup crown.
Despite the best efforts of Aidan’s attacker Sean Boyne, the scoring prowess of Evan Binley, Ciarán Ó Donnabháin and Jamie Ó Conaire ensured the Gaelscoil – winners of School of the Year at the Herald’s recent School Sports Awards ceremony – finished the season on a high. While Eoin started as they meant to continue with unanswered scores from Ó Donnabháin (two) and Ó Conaire, Aidan’s found themselves in the driving seat on nine minutes.
Following a fine point by Paul Daly, Boyne rattled the back of the opposition with a clinical left-footed strike. Yet, thanks to a brace of palmed three-pointers courtesy of Ó Conaire, Eoin found themselves in command once again.
Binley’s opening score of the contest boosted their tally, before Boyne added his second goal for the spirited Aidan’s. They suffered another set-back on the stroke of half-time, however, as Ó Donnabháin dispatched a penalty beyond the reach of netminder Luke O’Connor.
This latest effort provided Eoin with a 3-5 to 2-3 interval cushion, which was immediately enhanced on the restart by excellent Ó Donnabháin (free) and Ó Conaire points. Binley’s two-goal salvo in the space of three points substantially enhanced their lead, but Aidan’s were offered a glimmer of hope when Byron Preston raised a green flag midway through the half.
Eoin were hell-bent on retaining the title they secured in the same venue 12 months earlier, though. The ever-impressive Ó Donnabháin added another point and Binley completed his hat-trick at the end of a subsequent move.
Indeed, after Ó Conaire split the posts, Eoin added three goals in quick succession to place the outcome beyond any doubt. Prior to Binley’s fourth of the game, Ó Donnabháin contributed 2-0 in the space of 60 seconds to propel his side towards a resounding victory.
Scorers – Colaiste Eoin: E Binley 4-1, C Ó Donnabháin 3-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), J Ó Conaire 2-3, D Ó Dulaing, R Ó Conchubhair 0-1 each. St Aidan’s CBS: S Boyne 2-0, B Preston 1-0, C Madigan 0-2 (2f), P Daly 0-1.
COLAISTE EOIN: R Ó Duibhghiolla; J de Bhulbh, E de Sátún, D Ó Fionnán; O Ó Raghallaigh, D Ó Dulaing, A Inglis; O Mac Anna, D Ó Cinnéide; J Ó Conaire, C Mac Gabhann, L Breathnach; C Ó Donnabháin, E Binley, J Ó hAmaill. Subs: E Ó hAodha, H Ó Crotaigh, R Ó Riain, A Mac Aonasa, N Ó Caollai, R Ó Conchubhair.
ST AIDAN’S CBS: L O’Connor; J Maguire, D Fanning, G Lynch; T Kerins, S Saba Lauskas, D McGowran; P Daly, M Burke; S Boyne, C Madigan, R Falls; A Neville, L Deans, D Farrell. Subs: L Deans, P Redmond, C Butler, M Rumgay, A Runin, L Kelly, J Brown, I Finlay, L Maher, E Donnelly, C Redmond, S Kenny, B McGuire, B Preston.
Referee: Dave Feeney (Parnell’s).