Robinson’s goals crucial for Coláiste Éanna
DUBLIN COLLEGES SH ‘A’ FINAL/Coláiste Éanna 3-8 Ardscoil Rís 1-10: A GOAL in both halves from Keith Robinson proved decisive at Tom Russell Park yesterday as Coláiste Éanna retained their title in a highly-competitive clash with Ardscoil Rís in testing conditions.
After a scrappy opening to the contest, Coláiste Éanna took the lead with a point from close-in by corner-forward Eamon Forman, but Ardscoil replied with efforts from Patrick Spellacy (free) and Shane Barrett.
Spellacy and Ardscoil inside forward Conor Mullins cancelled efforts from Robinson and Colm Basquel, but a 25th minute goal from Robinson gave Coláiste Éanna a two-point cushion, 1-4 to 0-5, at the interval.
Six minutes after the restart Mullins raced through the heart of the southsiders’ defence before kicking to the net.
But Coláiste Éanna responded well as Darragh O’Shea’s first point of the contest was added to on 42 minutes by a clinical goal from Robinson, following a fine pass through by Basquel.
Coláiste Éanna nerves settled as a result of this strike, and a third goal arrived courtesy of centre-forward Tim O’Connor with eight minutes left. The Griffith Avenue outfit kept fighting until the end, but two monstrous frees from influential skipper O’Shea late on was enough to secure Coláiste Éanna’s back-to-back success.
COLÁISTE ÉANNA: A Boyd Lyons; J McDonnell, J Mernagh, J Hamm; I Mellett, T Hanafin, E Giles; D O’Shea (0-3, two frees), F Maguire; C Basquel (0-1), T O’Connor (1-0), K Robinson (2-2, 0-2 frees); E O’Toole (0-1), J Madden, E Forman (0-1). Subs: S Brennan for O’Toole (36 mins), A McGrath for Robinson (49-53 mins, blood sub), J Holland for Giles (53 mins).
ARDSCOIL RÍS: B Cushen; K McDonnell, P Donnelly (0-1), M Moore; S Cassedy, L Carey, C Burke; S Barrett (0-1), C McGuire; L Nickerson, P Spellacy (0-3, two frees), S OSullivan (0-1); C Mullins (1-2), S O’Cuainacháin, S Murphy (0-1, free). Subs: S O’Meara for McGuire (46 mins), S Hannigan (0-1) for Spellacy (50 mins).
Referee: F McGreevy.