GAELIC GAMES: DUBLIN JHC ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL
Eanna advance to last-four of ‘A’ grade
Daire Walsh
COLAISTE Eanna booked their place in the Dublin Schools Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship semi-final with a comprehensive 6-20 to 1-11 victory at the expense of St Aidan’s CBS on Monday.
The Ballyroan outfit will now face Ardscoil Ris at the penultimate stage, having previously overcome St Benildus College and St Colmcille’s CS during the group phase of this year’s competition. St Aidan’s were defeated by Colaiste Eoin in last season’s decider and came through a round-robin series that also included Ardscoil and St Fintan’s HS, Sutton.
Thanks to the scoring prowess of Rhys McDonnell and diminutive full-forward Davy Keogh, Eanna had the measure of their northside opponents on home soil.
Keogh captained the side on the day and despite the best efforts of Mark Connolly and Jack Berry for Aidan’s, Paul Conway’s charges brought a 3-11 to 0-7 cushion into the break.
Their Collins Avenue counterparts responded with a Sean Stone goal on the resumption, while the dead-ball accuracy of Adam O’Toole was also offering them a fighting chance of success. Eanna were able to move through the gears when required, though, with McDonnell and Keogh very much to the fore.
McDonnell’s final tally of 1-12 increased his seasonal haul to 3-31 (from just three games), whereas the magnificent Keogh finished the contest with a hat-trick of goals to his credit.