LEAGUE OF THEIR EOIN
Gaelscoil start campaign with comprehensive win
COLAISTE EOIN 3-10
KNOCKBEG COLLEGE 0-7
Daire Walsh
COLAISTE Eoin hit the ground running in the Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship with a commanding Group B triumph over Knockbeg College at UCD yesterday afternoon.
Facing into a stiff breeze for their seasonal bow, Eoin fell behind to an early Diarmuid Ruth free. Pádraig Puirséil responded with a similar score at the opposite end, before Josh Lacey restored Knockbeg’s narrow advantage.
Puirséil was released by marauding wing-back Colm Mac Giolla Phádraig for his second point and this was supplemented by midfielder Tomás Ó hEachthigheirn’s stunning individual goal on 14 minutes. Ruth and Eoin half-forward Donncha Ó Ciardha traded frees to keep the gap at three points, until the excellent Puirséil rattled the back of the Knockbeg net at a tight, right-hand angle.
Ó Ciardha subsequently fired a penalty past the post, but the Booterstown outfit entered the interval with a commanding 2-3 to 0-3 cushion. Indeed, the 2014 champions made hay on the resumption with unanswered points from Rúairi Ó Seanáin, Mac Giolla Phádraig, substitute Tomás Ó Neill and Eoghan Ó Ceallacháin.
They registered a third goal when Ó Ciardha applied the finishing touches to an extended move in the 43rd-minute. He also added a routine free to compliment a Donal Mac Dúinnsléibhe effort, offering the ruthless Eoin an unassailable 15-point advantage.
They started to ease off as the final whistle approached and this allowed Knockbeg to enjoy their only purple patch. They boys from the Laois/Carlow border outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 in the closing stages, with sub Dara Mac Adaim recording Eoin’s sole effort in this period.
However, this was enough to ensure a comfortable victory for the Metropolitans – who are already assured of a knockout spot in advance of their final group encounter against Scoil Mhuire, Clane.
Scorers – Coláiste Eoin: D Ó Ciardha (0-2f), P Puirséil (0-1f) 1-2 each, T Ó hEachthigheirn 1-0, C Mac Giolla Phádraig, E Ó Ceallacháin, D Mac Dúinnsléibhe, R Ó Seanáin, T Ó Neill, D Mac Adaim 0-1 each. Knockbeg College: D Ruth 0-5 (5f), Josh Lacey, L Hughes 0-1 each.
COLÁISTE EOIN: T Ó Faogáin; B Ó Síthigh, P Ó Luineacháin, F Ó Murchú; C Mac Giolla Phádraig, R Mac Meanman, I Ó hEithir; T Ó hEachthigheirn, S Ó Fiachna; D Ó Ciardha, P Puirséil, C Mac Aonasa; E Ó Ceallacháin, D Mac Dúinnsléibhe, R Ó Seanáin. Subs: T Ó Neill for Puirséil (34-37), Ó Neill for Ó Seanáin (40), D Mac Adaim for Ó Ceallacháin (58).
KNOCKBEG COLLEGE: A Nichol Waugh; B Holmes, D McDonald, O Nolan; E Fitzpatrick, Jack Lacey, R Langton; F Kavanagh, C Byrne; C Bergin, D Ruth, P Regan; R Bolger, Josh Lacey, O Byrne. Subs: C Burke for Regan (h-t), C Donlon for Holmes (37), R Stapleton for Langton, L Seery for O Byrne (both 45), L Hughes for Bolger (54), C O’Hagan for C Byrne (59).
Referee: B Brady (Louth).