GAELIC GAMES – DUBLIN JUVENILE ‘A’ FC: COLAISTE EOIN 5-7 ST FINTAN’S 4-5
A LEAGUE OF THEIR EOIN
Daire Walsh
JAMIE Ó Conaire bagged a hat-trick of goals at Abbotstown last Thursday to propel Coláiste Eoin towards their third Dublin Schools Juvenile ‘A’ Football Championship title in five seasons.
Previous winners in 2014 and 2016, the Gaelcholáiste had the measure of St Fintan’s HS, Sutton in their latest showpiece appearance. Despite a spirited second-half showing by their opponents, Ó Conaire inspired Eoin to a deserved triumph in the National Games Development Centre.
Midfielder Liam Naughton pointed off an early attack to give Fintan’s a dream start, before Eoin eventually responded through Ó Conaire. Following a rather scrappy opening, the contest kicked into life either side of the first-quarter mark.
Ó Conaire drilled to the net at the end of a fast-paced attack and also added a point from a 35-metre free. Fintan’s subsequently got themselves back into the reckoning – Ciaran Harnett lashing home after a long-distance effort had hit the woodwork.
Coláiste Eoin began to take control as the half progressed, however, with David Puirséil very much to the fore. The effervescent centre-fielder provided the spadework for Ó Conaire and Brendán Ó Connaith goals in the 20th and 22nd minutes respectively, while Conall Ó Riain also a raised green flag for the rampant southsiders.
Even though Jack Gilroy cancelled out an Ó Connaith point, Fintan’s were staring into a substantial 4-3 to 1-2 deficit at the break. They received a lifeline on the resumption in the form of a palmed Gilroy goal, before Ó Conaire fired past Killian Wallace for a third time on 38 minutes.
DANGEROUS
Fintan’s were functioning at a higher level, though, and they reduced the gap to seven with a swift 1-1 salvo. Half-back Ben Grassick kicked a fine point under pressure and inside forward Conal McEniff fired beyond the reach of Paddy Ó Duibhleacháin via an assist by the dangerous Gilroy.
Courtesy of Cillian Mac Gabhann and Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing scores in succession, Eoin re-focused inside the final-quarter. Finn Alexander amassed a brace of points prior to playing in Gilroy for his second goal of the tie, but it wasn’t enough to deny Coláiste Eoin a merited success.
Scorers – Coláiste Eoin: J Ó Conaire 3-2 (0-1f), B Ó Connaith 1-1, C Ó Riain 1-0, C Mac Gabhann 0-2, D Ó Dúlaing (f), S Ó Brolacháin 0-1 each. St Fintan’s HS, Sutton: J Gilroy 2-1, C Harnett, C McEniff 1-0 each, F Alexander 0-2, B Grassick, L Naughton 0-1 each.
COLÁISTE EOIN: P Ó Duibhleacháin; A Mac Aonasa, H Ó Riada, A Inglis; O Ó Raghallaigh, D Ó Dúlaing, O Mac Anna; C Mac Gabhann, D Puirséil; J Ó hAmaill, J Ó Conaire, C Ó Riain; L Breathnach, S Ó Brolacháin, B Ó Connaith. Subs: L Ó Gormáin for Breathnach, R Ó Riain for Mac Aonasa (both 38), R Ó Conchubhair for Mac Gabhann (50), E Binley for C Ó Riain (56).
ST FINTAN’S HS, SUTTON: K Wallace; S Scannell, S Cullen, M Coulter; B Grassick, R Coyne, G Giles; F Alexander, L Naughton; C White, C Gibney, C Harnett; C McEniff, J Gilroy, D Sheridan. Sub: D Broderick for McEnitt (46).
Referee: D Feeney (Parnell’s).