DUBLIN JUVENILE ‘A’ HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
STACEY DOES TRICK FOR RIS
Lambert and Gaughran shine for champions
Daire Walsh
CIARAN STACEY bagged a hat-trick of goals at O’Toole Park last Thursday to help Ardscoil Ris retain their Dublin Schools Juvenile ‘A’ Hurling Championship title at the expense of St Benildus College.
Ben Gaughran and Eric Lambert also produced stunning displays for the Griffith Avenue side, who defeated St Colmcille’s CS in last year’s decider. They will now seek to defend their provincial crown this afternoon – FCJ Bunclody providing the opposition at 1.30pm in Athy.
In a frantic opening, Benildus went toe-to-toe with the holders. Senan Phelan and Gaughran rattled the net at either end and they found themselves on level terms (1-4 apiece) with 11 minutes on the clock.
Phelan and Gaughran initially stood out, before Stacey fired beyond Killian Walsh’s reach to edge Ardscoil back in front. Though Phelan and Finn Walsh added points for Benildus, their northside counterparts had strong contributions from Stacey (three), Gaughran and Lambert.
Ardscoil subsequently raised further green flags through Stacey and Kevin Moran – propelling them towards a commanding interval cushion of 4-10 to 1-6. This kept on course for another top-tier U14 title and they remained in the driving seat when Ryan Murphy traded scores with Fionn O’Riordan at the start of the second half.
Yet it was during the third quarter that Benildus discovered the form that had guided them to the final. After Phelan pulled a shot past the post, Oisin McHugh flicked home his long-distance delivery.
There was further joy for Benildus at the end of their next attack – a Phelan free floating into the Ardscoil net on the stroke of 40 minutes. Suddenly, Benildus were back to within seven points of the leaders.
Their opponents were somewhat shell-shocked by this double blow, until Stacey’s third major in the 52nd minute effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt. While Phelan and Dylan Bannan converted late frees for Benildus, Stacey and Gaughran had already bolstered their tallies for Ardscoil Ris.
Scorers – Ardscoil Ris: C Stacey 3-6 (0-2 ’65’, 0-1f), B Gaughran 1-4, K Moran 1-0, E Lambert 0-3, R Murphy 0-1. St Benildus College: S Phelan 2-4 (2-4f), O McHugh 1-0, F O’Riordan, F Walsh 0-2 each, D Bannan 0-1 (1f).
ARDSCOIL RIS: S Delaney; C Phelan, J Kavanagh, R Barcley; D Downes, J Cleary, L Sweeney; R Murphy, E Ferguson; E Lambert, B Gaughran, K Moran; C Stacey, R Falls, J Brady. Subs: T Lonergan for Falls (48), D Dunne for Moran (58), T Gray for Brady (60).
ST BENILDUS: K Walsh; C Gibbons, H O’Brien, J Dunphy; S McIntyre, M Gardiner, N O’Mahony; C Minogue, S Phelan; D Bannan, T O’Brien, E O’Riordan; F O’Riordan, O McHugh, F Walsh. Subs: E Acka for Gibbons (36), L Noonan for McIntyre (40), N Sinclair for McHugh (55).
Referee: Brian O’Connor.