Finals Day Brings High Excitement to Silverpark
Wednesday 12th May 2010 provided a feast of exciting hurling at Silverpark with two local schools (featuring twenty two Kilmacud Crokes players) coming out on top in the Special Dublin Colleges Junior Hurling finals.
Gonzaga College needed a last gasp point to overcome Terenure College in the Cup final by 2-11 to 3-7. On a perfect afternoon for hurling this was a gripping battle. Thanks to a long range free from Eoin Prendergast and a point attempt from Hugh Gowing that dipped under the bar Gonzaga led 1-1 to 0-0 a few minutes into the game. For a brief period it looked as if they might pull away as corner forwards Cian Mulcahy and Kevin O’Connor looked dangerous while Dara Mullin, as he was to be all through, was buzzing.
Despite that start, Terenure soon got going and corner forward James Roche got his side off the mark with two frees - both won by full-forward and captain Ben McEntee. Prendergast showed that any fouls would be punished, with another accurate free, but Daire Kerr took a Roche pass and found the net to level the scores at 1-2 a piece after 14 minutes.
Terenure’s Eoghan Haddock went close with a goal attempt, before the impressive Harrison Brewer sent a high ball into the danger zone, Roche took it brilliantly. His shot beat Michael Herlihy, but came back off the post for McEntee to finish. Roche added another point from a McEntee pass, but Prendergast kept his side ticking over with a free and a '65'. Kerr pointed, before Roche dealt with the loss of his hurl by kicking the ball over to leave the scores 2-5 to 1-5 at the break. The intensity of the tackling typified the tenacity of the Gonzaga defence with corner backs, Paddy Finlay and Gregory Buckley, leading by example. A number of positional switches especially in the forward line kept the Terenure defence on its toes while substitutes Eoin O’Doherty, JJ O’Shea, Mark Hutchinson, Hugh Maguire and Fiachra O’Coileain all made their mark as the game progressed.
At half time ‘Zaga made a strategic move by posting Philip O’Shea to centre back in a direct swop as Prendergast went midfield. The first omen was less than benign when Roche started the second half with another point. The pendulum swung the other way as Matthew Geraghty, who put in a tireless hour, and Prendergast, closed the gap, with Herlihy saving well from McEntee at the other end. Shortly after the keeper could do little to deny Roche as the latter sent the ball to the back of the net. With five points between the sides the mountain looked too big for Zaga. They responded in admirable style with Ciaran O'Brien, Ronan Horgan and Joey Varley - who took a Geraghty pass before sending the ball over the bar - all scoring points to narrow the difference to two. Then Adam Hogan found Roche, who extended the lead to a goal as Terenure looked like seeing the game out.
Gonzaga’s character was again called upon and they doggedly kept to the task. With eight minutes left, Tomas Barry had a goal attempt saved by Eoin Nagle. The rebound ran to Varley who stuck the ball in the net. Both sides had chances to win it and Hogan made a brilliant block to deny O'Brien. But he wouldn't be denied a second time, sending over the winning point in the last minute to seal the deal. This was enough to allow full back James Murphy, who played a captain’s part throughout, and stormed into the game as it reached its climax, lift the trophy.
Scorers -- Gonzaga College: Eoin Prendergast (5f, 1 '65') 0-6, Joey Varley 1-1, Hugh Gowing 1-0, Ciaran O'Brien 0-2, Matthew Geraghty, Ronan Horgan 0-1 each. TerenureCollege: James Roche (2f) 1-5, Daire Kerr, Ben McEntee 1-0 each, James Roche 0-1.
Gonzaga College:
M Herlihy (Kilmacud Crokes), P Finlay (Kilmacud Crokes), J Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes), G Buckley (Kilmacud Crokes), H Gowing (Kilmacud Crokes), E Prendergast (Faughs), R Horgan (Kilmacud Crokes), P O’Shea (Kilmacud Crokes), M Geraghty (Kilmacud Crokes), J Varley (Faughs), D Mullin (Kilmacud Crokes), T Barry (Kilmacud Crokes), C Mulcahy (Clanna Gael), C O’Brien (Faughs), K O’Connor (Ballinteer St Johns). Sub: E O’Doherty (Kilmacud Crokes), JJ O’Shea (Faughs), M Hutchinson (Kilmacud Crokes), H Maguire (Naomh Olafs), F O’Coileain, R Barry (Faughs), M Coffey and M Kane (Kilmacud Crokes)
Terenure College:
Eoin Nagle; Thomas Henry, Adam Hogan, Owen Wigglesworth; Mike Murphy, Kenneth Wigglesworth, Michael Haddock; Harrison Brewer, John Teahan-Burke; Gareth Crowley, Fionn Malin, Eoghan Haddock; Daire Kerr, Ben McEntee, James Roche. Subs: Sam McGovern, Niall O'Sullivan, Evan McDonald, Alex Hyland, David Scanlon, Paddy Thornton, Andrew Roche, Rory Murray, Evan Rowan, Conor Seery, Tim Gleeson, Rob Lalor, Stephen O'Neill, Alex Griffin.
REF: E Walker (O'Tooles).
For Evening Herald report see http://www.herald.ie/sport/hurling/zaga-prevail-in-late-drama-2178499.html
In the Shield final Blackrock College proved just too strong for St. Pauls, Raheny, on a 5-6 to 4-4 scoreline. The southsiders went in 1-3 to a solitary point down at half time, but after a sloppy opening half they re-gathered their energies and stuck the ball in the net five times in a resurgent performance. For Evening Herald report see http://www.herald.ie/sport/hurling/goalfest-leaves-raheny-boys-caught-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-2178500.html
BlackrockCollege:
Jonathan O'Leary; Dave Fortune, Ryan Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes), Tom Duke (Kilmacud Crokes), Cormac Fenton, Mark McCallion (Kilmacud Crokes), Sean Coughlan, Michael O'Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes), Neil Gorey (Kilmacud Crokes), Graham Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes), Vinóg Leavy, Niall Sweeney (Kilmacud Crokes), Ryan Conlon (Kilmacud Crokes). Subs: Ross Ryan, Ian Kinsley, Charlie Rock, Conal Mulumby, Stephen O'Hurley (Kilmacud Crokes), Patrick O'Donoghue, Cathal McGee, Tristan Brady, Daire Brady, David Mulcase, Sean Gill, JJ Murray, Karl Griffith.
Pictures to be added later.
Attention for most of the schools in question now turns to the first year blitz on Friday 21st May 2010 in Gonzaga with visiting teams from Terenure, Templeogue and Oatlands Colleges.