Good Counsel impress as they claim first Leinster title since 2009

Good Counsel College (New Ross) 1-22 Dublin Schools South 0-14

Corner forward Cillian Byrne turned on the style as he rowed in with six excellent points from play leaving Good Counsel College to march on to a comprehensive 11-point victory over Dublin Schools South in this Leinster PPS Senior Hurling Championship A final played at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.

The Dublin boys were overwhelmed by a Good Counsel side who turned in an exhibition of point taking in the difficult conditions of wind and rain to dominate this game for the most part, winning their first provincial hurling title since 2009.

Good Counsel enjoyed the ideal start as centre forward Jack Redmond struck three points from frees without reply inside the opening seven minutes. Although the Dublin side responded with a Seán Purcell point, it was the eventual winners who had hit the ground running, leading 0-6 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter.

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With Byrne sending over some delightful points from a variety of angles, the Dublin Schools’ defence came under considerable pressure.

Although they finished the half with points from George O'Connor and Leon Kennedy, it was Good Counsel who looked comfortable, leading 0-14 to 0-5 at the interval.

It was a fruitful opening 30 minutes for the Wexford side who continued that dominance through the opening second-half exchanges.

After James O’Brien, with a 65, and Redmond, with a free, had exchanged points, Good Counsel demonstrated their dominance when Darragh Gleeson got on the end of a sweeping movement to crash home an excellent goal from an acute angle to the opposite corner of the net, leaving his side with a 1-15 0-6 lead.

Although the Dublin Schools kept on battling with James O'Brien and Naill Fitzgibbon picking off excellent points, it was Byrne who stepped into the action with three excellent points as his side marched on to a comprehensive and excellent victory.

GOOD COUNSEL COLLEGE: M Kirwan; G Porter, E Whelan, R Delaney; B Reid, C M Foley (0-1), L Murphy; P McDonald (0-2), M Dundon; G O'Connor (0-1), J Redmond (0-8, seven frees), E O'Brien (0-2); E Lyng, D Glennon (1-0), C Byrne (0-6).

Subs: M Murphy (0-1) for Dundon; A O'Grady (0-1) for O'Connor; C Parker for Redmond; S Nunan for Byrne; C Phelan for Glennon.

DUBLIN SCHOOLS SOUTH: F Boyd; B McGuire, D Geraghty, C Cleary; E Keys, S McConnell, D Dungan; L: Garrigan, S O'Brien; J Burke (0-1), O Byrne, J O'Brien (0-5, three frees, two 65s); L Kennedy (0-2), N Fitzgibbon (0-3), S Purcell (0-1).

Subs: L Mostyn (0-1) for Burke; H Cuffe for Byrne; S McDonald (0-1) for Keys; J Dunne for McConnell.

Referee: S Guinan (Offaly).