DUBLIN COLLEGES SENIOR A HURLING FINAL/Coláiste Éanna 6-9 St Colmcilles CS 1-12:CIARÁN O'SHEA stamped his name on this decider at the Sancta Maria grounds yesterday with three second-half goals.
It said much about the gale-force conditions that prevailed throughout that both sides played their best hurling against the wind as they were forced to shelve their longer game in place of a shorter and more inventive approach.
The teams were evenly matched in the first quarter before Coláiste Éanna struck the first real blow of the game when Jamie Desmond converted a penalty to put three points between the teams.
An opportunist strike from James Madden in the 23rd minute put more daylight between the teams before Ross Cullen hit back with a goal for St Colmcilles a minute later. Darragh O’Shea finished the half with a free for Coláiste Éanna to leave them up 2-6 to 1-6 but two quick goals from Ciarán O’Shea followed by a terrific strike from Darragh O’Shea left Coláiste Éanna well in front at the three-quarter stage, 5-7 to 1-8.
Paul Docherty, a team-mate of Desmond’s and Darragh O’Shea on the Dublin South team, did his best to keep St Colmcilles in contention but the writing was already on the wall by the time Ciarán O’Shea netted his third on 51 minutes.
COLÁISTE EANNA: K Robinson; J McDonnell, E Giles, C O’Riordan; A McGrath, J Desmond (1-0, pen), F Maguire; T McGrath, A Flood (0-1); J O’Driscoll, D O’Shea (1-7, 0-6 frees), C Lambert; J Madden (1-1), C O’Shea (3-0), E Flanagan. Subs: C Basquel for McMahon (47 mins), A O’Toole for Lambert (52 mins).
ST COLMCILLES: D Mahon; R Cannon (0-1), C McHugh, F Murray; D Maguire, C Bolger (0-1), D Bolger (0-1); C Bergin; N Keegan (0-1); K McCarron, R McGee (0-1), P Docherty (0-5, four frees); R Cullen (1-0); A Mahon (0-2), S McMahon.
Referee: T McCarthy (St Vincent’s)
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