Dublin North 1-14
St Kieran’s 1-11
Charlie Keegan reports from Netwatch Cullen Park
DUBLIN NORTH WERE worthy winners of a first ever Top Oil Leinster Colleges SAHC title today, coming from two points in arrears entering the final quarter to score the game’s final five points at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow and defeat reigning champions St Kieran’s.
The victory marks the first time a Dublin side have lifted this crown since the combined Dublin Colleges outfit won in 2008 and ends the dominance Kilkenny teams have exerted since 2009.
The Dublin side brought a fierce appetite to this final. They won the vast majority of 50-50 balls, were outstanding in their fielding of the sliotar and showed far greater penetration in attack than a disappointing St Kieran’s, the 55-times winner of this championship.
Kieran’s were 0-4 to 0-3 in front after 20 minutes when North Dublin’s impressive full forward Sean Currie latched on to a breaking ball some 30 metres from goal and the Na Fianna clubman crashed home a great goal.
By half time, with Currie’s clubmate, midfielder Micheál Murphy scoring some sublime points from frees, Dublin North led by an unflattering 1-7 to 0-7.
Kieran’s had a good third quarter and a well-taken 38th minute goal from Adrian Mullen edged them into a 1-9 to 1-8 lead and entering the final quarter they were in front 1-11 to 1-9.
But they put in a storming last quarter, regaining control of the game and three pointed Murphy frees supplemented by white flags from play by substitute Billy Ryan and Currie saw them through to their maiden victory.
Sadly it’s the end of the line for this talented Dublin North side as group teams don’t compete in the All-Ireland series.
St Kieran’s go on to meet the losers of the Connacht final which will feature Presentation College Athenry and Gort Community School on Saturday, but will need to show serious improvement if they are to go much further.
Andrew Dunphy at full back and Kevin Burke, filling the centre back role, are others who deserve special mention in this historic Dublin North victory.
Scorers for Dublin North: Micheál Murphy 0-7 (0-7f), Sean Currie 1-3, Cian Derwin 0-2, Billy Ryan, Conor Berrigan 0-1 each.
Scorers for St Kieran’s: Eoin Cody 0-8 (0-7 f, 0-1 ’65), Adrian Mullen 1-2, Daithí Barron 0-1.
Dublin North
1. Josh Rooney (Naomh Barróg)
2. Jack Fagan (Raheny)
3. Andrew Dunphy (St Brigid’s)
4. Tommy Kinnane (Naomh Mearnóg)
5. David Phelan (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh)
6. Kevin Burke (Na Fianna)
7. Conor Scully (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh)
8. Micheál Murphy (Na Fianna)
9. Sean Foran (Whitehall Colmcille)
10. Sean Clerkin (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh)
11. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille – captain)
12. Sean Farrelly (Raheny)
13. Conor Berrigan (Erins Isle)
14. Sean Currie (Na Fianna)
15. Cian Derwin (Craobh Chiaráin)
Subs
27. Liam Dunne (Raheny) for Clerkin (half-time)
20. Enda O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille) for Scully (half-time)
10. Clerkin for Dunne (49)
23. Billy Ryan (Craobh Chiaráin) for Foran (54)
St Kieran’s
1. Dean Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
2. Tommy Ronan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
3. Conor Murphy (Bennetsbridge)
4. Mark Nolan (Dicksboro)
5. Diarmuid Phelan (Danesfort)
6. Jesse Roberts (Graigue-Ballycallan)
7. Luke Murphy (James Stephens)
8. Killian Egan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
9. Eoin O’Shea (O’Loughlin Gaels)
10. Ian Walsh (Dunnamaggin)
11. Jamie Young (O’Loughlin Gaels)
12. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13. Daithi Barron (Thomastown)
14. David O’Carroll (Lisdowney)
15. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
Subs
21. Ciarán Hogan (Graigue-Ballycallan) for Young (34)
17. Eoghan Moylan (Dicksboro) for O’Shea (41)
18. George Murphy (Rower-Inistioge) for O’Carroll (41)
19. David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge) for Egan (58)
24. Jack Nolan (St Martin’s) for Murphy (inj) (63)
Referee: David Hughes (Carlow)
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