DUBLIN SF ‘B’ FINAL
Skerries edge out Salesian in ‘B’ final
Daire Walsh
SKERRIES Community College delivered a powerful second half display at Parnell’s GAA last Friday to claim the Dublin Schools Senior ‘B’ Football Championship at the expense of Salesian College, Celbridge.
On level terms with the north Kildare school moving towards the home stretch, Eoin Wilde bagged a late goal to propel Skerries towards a 3-12 to 0-15 success. In recent years, they have accumulated a considerable degree of silverware in the small ball game – sealing last year’s Juvenile ‘C’ hurling crown against Lucan CBS.
They were also Junior ‘C’ football champions in 2016 – when a number of their current U18 squad were involved. En route to the knockout stages, the Townparks side progressed from a four-team group that also included St Paul’s College, Malahide Community School and Portmarnock Community School.
While Salesians emerged out of a three-pronged section, they encountered stiff opposition in the form of Colaiste Eanna and last season’s Senior ‘C’ winners – Terenure College. They faced a stern examination of their resolve on February 26, when they squared off with Castleknock Community College in a last-four encounter.
Their opponents had come through a group that featured holders Lucan CBS, but Salesians ultimately secured the spoils by the slenderest of margins (3-12 to 2-14). The Celbridge outfit previously appeared in a Senior ‘A’ decider back in 2012 – when current Dublin senior David Byrne inspired a dramatic comeback victory for St Benildus College.
There was little to separate the teams for the majority of the opening period, with the lead changing hands frequently. Robbie Delaney was a reliable source of scores throughout – though it was a brace of quick-fire goals that gave Skerries a 2-4 to 0-9 interval edge.
With momentum now on their side, they moved four points clear when the action resumed. Salesians were not to be dismissed lightly, however, and they gradually clawed back the Skerries lead.
After parity was subsequently restored, the prospect of extra-time was beginning to loom large. This was the cue for Skerries to produce a late flourish, though, with Wilde’s green flag effort being surrounded by a plethora of points.
There were some nervous moments in the dying embers of the play for Skerries, most notably when Salesians were awarded a penalty. Yet, courtesy of a superb Cormac Rocks save, they finished with six points to spare.
Skerries will now move forward to a Leinster Senior ‘B’ decider against Ashbourne Community College – which is expected to take place at Abbotstown tomorrow. The Meath men entered the main provincial series as North Leinster kingpins, before getting the better of Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore at Mullingar last Thursday on a scoreline of 2-11 to 2-7.