Big win not enough for Peter’s
League champs make exit from race for provincial title
ST. PETER’S DUBLIN NORTH 2-18 0-8
ST. PETER’S College may have prevailed with a handsome 16-point victory over Dublin North in their Top Oil Leinster Schools Senior hurling ‘A’ championship game at the Ferns Centre of Excellence on Wednesday, but it was still not enough to keep their hopes alive.
They had to endure ten anxious minutes after the final whistle before knowing if the victory would give them a semi-final spot.
However, with St. Kieran’s - who had trailed Coláiste Eoin for the most part - eventually only managed to salvage a draw, it was a result that sent St. Peter’s packing from the title race as a result of only finishing third in their group, with the top two to qualify.
St. Peter’s knew from the outset that only a victory would leave them with a chance of a semi-final spot, which in itself was also reliant on the other group game result, so they set about their task from the start when assisted by a strong breeze.
After a bright opening, they led by 0-4 to nil after seven minutes thanks to four David Codd points, three from frees.
This set the scene for what was to follow as they gradually took control, with a disappointing Dublin North side making little impression as they struggled in most positions.
The Wexford town college stretched into an 0-8 to 0-1 lead before their opening goal arrived at the end of the first quarter when David Cantwell - having been picked out by a crossfield ball from David Codd - finished to the net.
From then on they continued to shoot some excellent points, leaving them with a 1-12 to 0-2 interval lead.
The Dublin North recovery when assisted by the breeze failed to materialise on the resumption as St. Peter’s started impressively once again, adding points through Conor Mahoney and Zac Firman inside the first two minutes on the resumption.
Playing all the quality hurling, they moved the ball impressively which in turn resulted in some excellent scores as they eased into a 1-17 to 0-6 lead by the end of the third quarter.
But with Dublin North reliant on
Cian Boyle for their scores, they were never going to seriously test the St. Peter’s defence.
And when Cantwell fired home his second goal ten minutes from the end it set up a comfortable victory, but ultimately the over-riding feeling was one of disappointment as the result of the other game filtered through to the venue.
St. Peter’s: Cian Byrne (St. Mary’s, Rosslare); Liam Cassin (Faythe Harriers), Jack O’Leary (St. Fintan’s), Conor Kehoe (Faythe Harriers); Justin
Moran (St. Anne’s), Conor Kelly (St. Martin’s), Shane Walsh (St. Martin’s); Conor Mahoney (Glynn-Barntown, 0-1), Dylan O’Neill (Shelmaliers, 0-1); Diarmuid O’Leary (St. Martin’s), Billy Dunne (Oulart-The Ballagh, 0-1), Luke Kavanagh (St. Martin’s); David Cantwell (St. Martin’s, 2-3), Zac Firman (St. Martin’s, 0-4), David Codd (St. Martin’s, 0-8, 6 frees, 1 ‘65). Subs. - Tomás Murphy (Blackwater) for Dunne, Robbie Hillis (Glynn-Barntown) for Kavanagh, Conor Devereux (St. Martin’s) for O’Neill, Paul Hearne (Shelmaliers) for Cantwell, Luke Roche (Shelmaliers) for O’Leary.
Dublin North: Adam Codd; Paddy Doyle, Paul Cosgrove, Jack Kehoe; Tommy O’Brien, Paul Kearney, Kevin Byrne; Joe Flanagan (0-1), Neil Clerkin; Conor Murray (0-1), Ben McSweeney, Martin Murphy; Cian Boyle (0-5, 2 frees), Ian Sherry, Conor Blake. Subs. - Tom Gleeson (0-1 free) for Sherry, Matthew Kehoe for Clerkin, Evan McSharry for O’Brien, Ger Ryan for Murphy.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow).