DUBLIN JUN ‘A’ HURL LEAGUE
Eoin triumph over Cilles
Daire Walsh
DEFENDING champions Coláiste Eoin began the defence of their Dublin Schools Junior ‘A’ Hurling crown with a hard-fought 3-9 to 3-5 victory against St Colmcille’s CS last Wednesday week (September 19).
Following their emphatic success over Ardscoil Ris at Abbotstown last November, the Gaelscoil are expected to be in the hunt for top honours once again.
They find themselves in a four-team group alongside Colmcille’s, Coláiste Eanna and St Benildus, while Ardscoil Ris, St Aidan’s CBS and St Fintan’s HS, Sutton are on the opposite side of the draw.
The Booterstown boys were certainly pushed to the limit by their southside rivals and required some excellent individual performances to get them over the line. Oisín Ó Grádaigh, Luke Ó Lochlainn, Seán Ó Cuanaigh and Lúc Mac an Bhaird led by example throughout, but it was Rian Ó Maoileoin’s midas touch in front of goal that ultimately swung the outcome in their favour.
Coláiste Eanna are traditionally one of the strongest schools at this grade – they narrowly lost out to Eoin in the 2016 decider – and have hit the ground running with two wins from as many games. Elsewhere, St Fintan’s registered a magnificent home triumph over St Aidan’s on Tuesday afternoon to give themselves breathing space in Group One.