LEINSTER PP SFC ‘B’ FINAL
Skerries are put to sword by Ashbourne
Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING a powerful effort at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown last Friday afternoon, Skerries CC fell just short against Ashbourne CS in the Leinster Schools Senior ‘B’ Football Championship decider.
Despite being adrift for the vast majority of the contest, Adam Farnan, Robert Delaney and Paul Wilde grabbed second-half goals to keep the north Dublin side in contention. However, impressive Ashbourne were not to be denied an eventual 6-7 to 4-8 success.
As a direct result of their Dublin Schools SF ‘B’ triumph over Salesian College seven days earlier, Skerries progressed to this provincial showpiece. Delaney chipped in with a series of fine scores on that occasion, with a late Eoin Wilde goal proving pivotal in a 3-12 to 0-15 victory.
They enjoyed the aid of a strong breeze during the opening period against the Meath men – who included Sky Blues minor Sean Kinsella amongst their panel on the day.
The Metropolitans conjured a goal through David Boyd, but it was Ashbourne who had the better of the early exchanges.
Darragh O’Sullivan found the Skerries net inside the opening 10 minutes, paving the way for a dominant attacking performance from Declan Finnegan’s side. Man-of-the-match Jack O’Connor released Jamie Browne for a subsequent finish, while O’Sullivan (his second) and Killian Hogan also raised green flags.
Though Delaney and Farnan did their utmost to stem the tide, Skerries trailed by seven points (4-3 to 1-5) at the interval.
Ashbourne had overcome the challenge of Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore in a tightly contested encounter on March 7, having previously defeated county rivals Dunshaughlin CC in the North Leinster ‘B’ final.
They were odds-on to continue this winning run when the action resumed, but Skerries ensured they were made to work for their keep.
In spite of the concession of a Dawson Devoy penalty, Delaney also converted a place-kick to give a fired-up Skerries renewed hope.
Superb Farnan and Wilde contributions also raised the spectre of a dramatic comeback, only for Ashbourne to reinforce their superiority. The Royal County outfit’s sixth and final goal of the tie arrived in spectacular fashion on 46 minutes.
Gathering the ball in a deep position, O’Connor – one of just two Curraha players in the Ashbourne starting team – strode through the Skerries defence before shooting beyond the reach of Cormac Rocks.
This effectively left Skerries with too much ground to make up, but they did continue to persevere until the bitter end. An All-Ireland semi-final now awaits for Ashbourne CS, where Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra of Rathmore (Kerry) will provide the opposition at an unconfirmed venue this Saturday.