Sport

Colaiste Eoin in command

A storming second half display by Colaiste Eoin, from Stillorgan in Dublin, earned them a richly-merited place in the Leinster…

Mon Feb 09 1998 - 00:00

A storming second half display by Colaiste Eoin, from Stillorgan in Dublin, earned them a richly-merited place in the Leinster Colleges senior A football championship final for the first time at Dr Cullen Park.

Good Counsel, New Ross, had the better of the opening half of this high-quality semi-final. But the Wexford college came up against an outstanding Colaiste Eoin defence. It was the solidity, composure and forward movement of the Colaiste Eoin half back line an O Ceileachair and Dara O hAnnaidh which laid the basis for victory.

Centre back Ciaran O Ceileachair emerged as the game's outstanding player.

With Good Counsel unable to translate good first-half possession into scores, the sides were tied 0-4 each at half-time.

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Colaiste Eoin, with four Dublin minor panellists, made the running in the third quarter but could only muster two points from their tall full-forward, Diarmuid O hUllaigh.

It took Good Counsel until the 49th minute to open their secondhalf account with a pointed free from Philip Doyle. The Colaiste Eoin response was instant. They swept up-field from the kick-out and corner back Fionnan O Cinneide joined the attack to shoot a magnificent and inspirational point from 40 metres.

The game's only goal, in the 54th minute, killed off the Good Counsel challenge. Sean MacGiobuin created the chance for substitute Eoin O Conchubhair, whose effort crashed on to the Good Counsel crossbar and came back into play for Ruairi O Ceileachair to ram home from close range.

Colaiste Eoin: C MacCormaic; M O Buachalla, M Breathnach, F O Cinneide (0-1); F MacTreanlamhaigh, C O Ceileachair, D O hAnnaidh; O O hAnnaidh (0-1), C O Beagain (0- 1); L O hEineachain, S MacGiobuin (0-1), R O Ceileachair (1-0); N Mac an tSionnaigh (0-2), D O hUllaigh (0-2), D Mac an Bhaird. Sub: E O Conchubhair for Mac an Bhaird.

Good Counsel: D Kehoe; P Wall, W Delaney, M Corcoran; G Murphy, J Barron, B Kehoe; E Bradley, K Madigan (0-1); P Nolan (0-4), E Galavan, D Hayden; B Byrne (0-1), D Kearns, E Murphy. Subs: P Sheehan for Kearns; S Cullen for Hayden; M Phelan for Murphy.

Referee: P Moran (Laois).