Kilkenny puts Dublin North on right road

LEINSTER COLLEGES SH A LEAGUE: Dublin North 2-18 St Brendan's CS 1-7:DUBLIN NORTH'S Ciarán Kilkenny landed two first-half goals as the talented Scoil Chaitríona and Castleknock club player stamped his authority on the game from an early stage on the new all-weather pitch at Thornton Sports Hall on Clontarf Road yesterday.

Dublin North had mopped up some early pressure with the full-back line very assured under the high ball. With the seven minutes gone, Kilkenny struck when he latched onto a long ball before slotting the ball to the net.

With Graham Williams and Conor McHugh picking off impressive scores, Dublin were 1-7 to 0-1 up when Kilkenny fired home his second goal on 21 minutes to help give his side a 2-10 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

Although Denis Forde landed two early points from play, St Brendan’s gained a brief ascendancy through Séamus O’Connor.

Dublin were soon to find their stride once more as Adam Rooney, who came on in the second half, hit two points.

St Brendan’s did manage a goal on 50 minutes when Christopher Guilfoyle scored from a short free but Dublin North’s Conor McHugh added two late points to seal a fine victory.

DUBLIN NORTH:C Ryan; O McCabe, M O'Dea, D Flaherty; C Prunty, E Ó Chongaile, E Howard; N O'Donnell, S Deignan (0-1); S Boland (0-1), D Farrell, C McHugh (0-5); G Williams (0-4), C Kilkenny (2-0), D Forde (0-5, two frees, one 65). Subs: R Mullins for O'Dea (31 mins), A Rooney (0-2) for Farrell (31 mins), P Corry for Kilkenny (38 mins), J Curley for Prunty (40 mins).

ST BRENDAN'S CS, BIRR:K O'Connor; S Hoctor, C Guilfoyle (1-0), B Connors; C Walsh, A Browne, M Kennedy; K Dunne (0-1), P Hogan; D Cleary (0-1), S O'Connor (0-3, two frees), A Connolly (0-1); G O'Brian, K Bergin (0-1, free), J Molloy. Subs: S Carroll for Hoctor (42 mins), Shane Miller for Molloy (45 mins), B Donnolly for Walsh (44 mins), JP Multaney for Kennedy (50 mins).

Referee:D Donovan (St Mark's, Tallaght).