Aidan’s defeat Benildus in Dublin SFC ‘A’ final

St Aidan's captured the Dublin Schools SFC 'A' title in a great battle, 0-15 to 0-10, with this year's Leinster 'A' champions, St Benildus, in Friday's decider at O'Toole Park.

The Whitehall school laid the foundation for their victory in their opening half and led 0-8 to 0-3 at the interval. A Cian Gerrard point on the restart stretched that advantage before Benildus finally came to life to shoot five points in-a-row to cut the margin to one.

Aaron Bradshaw led the Benildus fightback with Joe Rafferty firing over a 32nd minute point following a run by the Ballinteer St John's clubman. Within a minute Tom Keane and Aaron Bradshaw added to their side's taly.

A Dan O'Brien point at the end of a fine move made the score and a second point from Rafferty, when he got his fist to a Tom Keane free dropping short cut the deficit to just one point, 0-9 to 0-8.

However, Aidan's steadied themselves with a free from Paddy Small (pictured above, left) which was followed by a brilliantly struck point by his Dublin U21 team-mate Tony O'Sullivan from long-range.

The accuracy of Paddy Small was the deciding factor over the course of the hour while St Aidan's defensive structure ensured opportunities for the Benidus inside line were kept to a minimum.

Also on a couple of occasions when they did breach the defence Sam Bruton 'stood tall' in the Aidan's goal.

In the opening half the sides were level, 0-2 each, inside ten minutes with Adam Conway and Paddy Small on target for Aidan's and Aaron Bradshaw and Eoin Foley likewise for Benildus.

Small edged Aidan's in front with a 11th minute free before Sam Bruton made a great save to deny Callum Pearson.

Donal Ryan, Tony O'Sullivan (free) and Paddy Small, off his less favoured right foot, put daylight between the teams, 0-6 t0 0-2.

Tom Keane cut the margin but crucially Aidan's finished the half the stronger with two Small frees.

SCORERS - St Aidan's: Paddy Small 0-8 (0-5f), Tony O'Sullivan 0-3 (0-1f), Adam Conway 0-2, Donal Ryan, Cian Gerrard 0-1 each. St Benildus: Tom Keane 0-3 (0-1f), Aaron Bradshaw, Joe Rafferty 0-2 each, Eoin Foley, Dan O'Brien, Callum Pearson (0-1 '45') 0-1 each.