Corcoran gives Castleknock the required finishing touch

Castleknock 1-10 St Fintan's 1-5Castleknock claimed the Leinster Junior Football Championship following a well-deserved five point win over a disappointing St Fintan's at Parnell Park yesterday afternoon.

Despite struggling early on, the Dublin club went on to dominate the first half, with Shane Boland exceptional at centrefield, while Rory Corcoran translated possession into scores with four frees.

In a scrappy affair, the first score from play arrived as late as the 28th minute from the left boot of Jamie Tunney, with further scores from Tommy Corcoran and Tunney pushing Castleknock six point s clear by the interval.

St Fintan's were denied the goal required to reignite their challenge when Alex Griffith produced a stunning save to repel Joey Wadding's shot from close range in the 35th minute. That save was given added resonance as Castleknock raced down the field and Thomas Shields found Rory Corcoran who fired a precise finish low into the corner of Patrick McDonnell's goal from 10 yards.

Points from Boland and Des Carlos followed soon after, with Niall Moore's 55th minute goal for St Fintan's of mere consolation to the Wexford men, who lost Paddy Keane to a second caution in injury time.

CASTLEKNOCK: A Griffith; J King; G Hannigan; P Mulvihill; T Quinn; T Shields; V Turner; S Boland (0-1); J Tunney( 0-2); D Curran; C Daly; M Griffin; T Corcoran (0-1); R Corcoran (1-5, 4f); D Carlos (0-1). Subs: C Neville for Quinn (19 mins); S Lynch for Griffin (half-time); Griffin for Lynch (58). ST FINTAN'S: P McDonnell; E Whitmore; F Staples; J Staples; B Hughes; K Day; J Rossiter; J Rowe; P Doyle; C Day; C Sinnott; D Shanley (0-2, two frees); J Wadding; P Keane; C O'Brien (0-2, one 45 , 1f). Subs: N Moore (1-0) for Day; T Power (0-1, 1f) for Rowe (both 39 mins); B Lacey for Turner (43 mins); D Kelleher for Shanley (45 mins); A Murphy for Rossiter (55 mins). Referee: J Hickey (Carlow). Castleknock ... 1-10 St Fintan's ... 1-5