HEYWOOD CS 0-13
COLAISTE EANNA 0-7
COLAISTE EANNA of Dublin came up against a superior force in Heywood Community School in this entertaining Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Hurling ‘B’ final at Dr Cullen Park.
There was no denying the superior hurling skills of the Laois side, whose six-point margin of victory was just about right on the overall run of play last Thursday.
Eanna started the game with a two-man full-forward line in the hope of causing unease in the Heywood ranks. But the ploy failed as Heywood took control early and never really relinquished their grip on the match.
The major difference between the sides was that the Dubliners had three or four fine hurlers but there was a far more even balance to the Heywood team.
They also had a match-winner in full-forward Eoghan Fennelly, who finished with a tally of 0-7, three points of which came from play. Fennelly, son of ex-Laois star Eugene, showed some classy touches over the hour and was the game’s outstanding player.
The Dublin side trailed from the first minute when Heywood’s left half-forward Kevin Bergin pointed from play, Fennelly quickly adding a second. By the quarter hour mark it was 0-5 to 0-2 in favour of Heywood.
Fielding 13 Ballyboden St Enda’s clubmen, Eanna struggled to match the power of Heywood defenders Ronan Broderick, Leigh Bergin and Jack Delaney, while Darragh O’Shea and Fionn Maguire had more than their hands full with the Laois school’s midfield pairing of Niall Brennan and Ronan Delahunty.
Heywood led 0-8 to 0-3 at the interval and éanna were unable to make any significant dent in that lead in the second half.
Their hopes were dashed completely on 43 minutes when midfielder Darragh O’Shea, the Faughs clubman, received a straight red card. However, Eanna did apply pressure late on but Heywood goalie Enda Rowland pulled off a couple of outstanding saves in the final quarter to quell hopes of a recovery.
Keith Robinson, with 0-6 for the losers, was the pick of Eanna’s forwards but none of the other starting six scored, with midfielder Fionn Maguire recording his side’s opening point.
Evening Herald
