Dublin North Schools' Win Leinster Final

Dublin North 0-15 Kilkenny CBS 1-10

YOU have heard of Cork’s twin towers; now meet Dublin’s Tall Ships.

In Dr Cullen Park last Thursday the combined North City colleges recorded a deserved, if hard earned win over gritty Kilkenny CBS in an absorbing Leinster Colleges Juvenile A hurling final.

That Sky Blue victory owed much to their trio of tall ships in attack, talented youngsters who were not only blessed with height but good stick work too. Early on it was rangy full forward Cian Tornsey who proved hard to handle, then the swift running, sweet striking wing forward Eoin McHugh strode the scene before the magnetic hand of No 11 Sean Ryan proved decisive towards the finish.

The above mentioned trio, between them, racked up seven points from play, Mc Hugh pocketing four gems while deadly accurate free-taker Sean Gray contributed a half-dozen from placed balls.
The Dubs defence, too, had stalwart operators with no nonsense full-back Shane Barrett and cultured centre-half Eoin Whelan, the team captain continuously catching the eye for the winners who beat St Kieran’s in the round-robin section.

Not that all the stars were on the winning team, the CBS paraded a string of outstanding hurlers too, none better than doughty full-back Evan Cody. The Dicksboro boy, a la Noel Hickey, mopped up a mountain of ball on the edge of the square while his clearances were inspirational.

At the other end of the field Niall Mullins of James Stephens carried the main attacking threat, especially after being brought out from the corner to take over as leader of attack towards the end of the opening half.
Indeed the green helmeted James Stephens raider was not long in his new berth when he struck for a magnificent individual goal. Grabbing a high ball just outside the 65, the No 13 embarked on a searing run towards the scoreboard end goal before stitching a low left hand shot in the Dublin rigging.

That green flag came in the 24th minute, prodding the CBS 1-4 to 0-4 in front, the leaders points having come from the stick of Garry Kelly (two well judged frees), Paddy Deegan (after a clever low ball from James Lenehan) and Lenehan himself , a lovely score from the right wing.

McHugh (the opening score of the match, a great point on the run) Tornsey (two, one from a narrow angle) and Gray (free) posted the Dublin points and immediately after the goal the eventual winners replied with three rat-tat-tat points, a superb McHugh effort from play sandwiched between a brace of Gray frees.Those points tied the sides for the fourth time in the half – the sides were to be level five more times on the change-over – but Gary Kelly’s conversion of a close range free ensured the Kilkenny boys retired at the break with a 1-5 to 0-7 advantage.
By the end of the third quarter the sides were tied at 1-7 to 0-10, Gray (free), Luke Kelly (a brilliant point from the right wing sideline) and McHugh (another terrific point on the run) keeping the Dubs ticking over, Gary Kelly (free) and wing-back JP Treacy (65) nailing the CBS scores.

Treacy’s pointed 65 came in the 10th minute of the half after brave full-back had deflected away a stinging Paul Delahunty shot, the CBS captain having been set up by a Niall Mullins run-and-pass.Though McHugh’s fourth point restored the Dublin lead, the CBS with nine minutes remaining had inched a point in front, Kelly tapping over a free won by Robbie Buckley while Paddy Deegan scored an amazing point from the left wing when apparently completely bottled up.Almost immediately Dublin centre half back levelled the sides for the ninth and last time with a stunning point from long range.

Then, enter centre stage, the tall Sean Ryan who caught two ‘skyscrapers’ in quick succession before winning mid-distance frees which Sean Gray turned to account. As the game ticked into injury-time a long range Gary Kelly free left the minimum between the sides but Ryan, appropriately. Had the final say, following another high catch with a brilliant 45m point.

Apart from the aforementioned Evan Cody and Niall Mullins, the CBS had a few other useful performers. Diminutive corner-back Hugh Lawlor prevented a goal with a great first half steal), half-backs Matthew McWey and Danny Bolger were warrior-like in their defiance, Eoin McGovern and James Lenehan were prominent at mid-field early on while Gary Kelly (his steady free-taking yielded six points) and Paddy Deegan (two beauties from play) took the plaudits in attack.

Scorers: Dublin North: Sean Gray 0-6 (6f), Eoin McHugh 0-4, Cian Tornsey 0-2, Luke Kelly, Eoin Whelan, Sean Ryan 0-1 each. Kilkenny CBS: Gary Kelly 0-6 (6f), Niall Mullins 1-0, Paddy Deegan 0-2, James Lenehan, JP Treacy (65) 0-1 each.
Kilkenny CBS: Darragh Holohan (Dicksboro); Kevin Galvin (Clara), Evan Cody (Dicksboro), Hugh Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels); Matthew McWey (James Stephens), Danny Bolger (O’Loughlin Gaels), JP Treacy (Young Ireland’s); Eoin McGovern (O’Loughlin Gaels), James Lenehan (O’Loughlin Gaels); Sean Moran (James Stephens), Gary Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels), Paul Delahunty (Young Ireland’s) Capt; Niall Mullins (James Stephens), Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Robbie Buckley (O’Loughlin Gaels). Sub: Dylan Scott (Dicksboro) for Lenehan (55).
Dublin North: Philip Browne; Conor O’Dwyer, Shane Barrett, John Bellew; Colum Breslin, Eoin Whelan Capt, Luke Gaffney; Sean Gray, Paul McBride; Eoin O’Chonoile, Sean Ryan, Eoin McHugh; Luke Kelly, Cian Tornsey, Eoin O’Donnell. Subs: Kevin Nangle for Bellew (inj, 45), Shane Nangle for Gray (59).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow)

By Leo McGough