Gortnahoe Glengoole defeated Durlas Óg to claim U15A Hurling title

Mid Tipperary U15 A Hurling Championship Final

Gortnahoe Glengoole 2-20

Durlas Óg                 3-12

By Ronan Loughnane

There were great scenes of celebration in Templemore last Tuesday evening as Gortnahoe Glengoole overcame a late Durlas Og charge to claim Mid honours. 

Having been treated to a great individual performance from Zach O’Keeffe in the opening game, the fine crowd of patrons were delighted to witness the performance of Gortnahoe’s Christopher Dunne who also turned on the style in the second game as he amassed a personal tally of 2-11. 

But this was far from a one-man show as a hungrier Gortnahoe side were on the ball from the word go. Dunne opened with a pointed ’65 before a magnificent run a minute later saw him rattle the Durlas Og onion bag. 

Durlas Og captain Darragh Cornally opened their account from a free before the impressive Niall Gleeson got their first from play. 

The equally impressive, and very hard-working Adam Norton, replied for Gortnahoe with a point before another cracking goal from Dunne in the 10th minute threatened a Gortnahoe runaway. But Durlas Og were having none of it and they played their best hurling over the next 15 minutes to hit the front. 

Further scores from Cornally (5f), another from Gleeson, and a beauty from Charlie Lawlor saw them lead by 0-9 to 2-2 after 20 minutes. The scores had dried up for Gortnahoe but when leadership was needed it came in spades with points from full-back Ronan Gleeson, centre-back Billy Gleeson, and midfielder Norton. 

Dunne added another free in reply to a nice Liam Burke point for Durlas Og to leave the winners 2-6 to 0-10 ahead at the short whistle.

Most patrons anticipated an equally close second half but Gortnahoe attacked relentlessly resulting in several Durlas Og fouls which Dunne (5) gleefully converted while Shane Gleeson and Norton chipped in with two more. It seemed like Durlas Og were all out of ideas with Ciaran O’Mahony’s 10th minute point their only reply. 

Gortnahoe were well in control by the three-quarter stage and at 2-13 to 0-11 victory looked a certainty. Cornally pointed another free but Norton replied with his fourth in the 48th as the gap remained at eight. 

There are no certainties in sport and two goals in as many minutes from Gleeson and Cornally (pen) left Gortnahoe reeling. 

It’s often said if you concede a goal don’t concede the next score. Dunne heeded that advice as he landed the score of the night from way out on the right in the 55th minute and then followed with two more. 

One of the goals had been wiped out but up popped Niall Gleeson for his second goal to bring it back to two in the 59th minute. But there was to be no denying Gortnahoe as once again they reeled off three on the trot through Callum Gleeson, Dunne, and the ever-willing Norton to close out a famous victory. They will be hotly fancied to go all the way on this form and having already captured the County Minor B crown, a good season could end on a great high. While Dunne will take the plaudits for his scoring exploits he had help all over the field. 

Ronan Gleeson, Billy Gleeson, Adam Norton, Callum Gleeson, and Shane Gleeson were always to the fore while the team itself worked well as a unit. 

While taking nothing away from the Gortnahoe victory, Durlas og will be disappointed with their own performance. 

They generally failed to match the victor’s intensity with only David Hanna, Ciaran O’Mahony, Charlie Lawlor, Darragh Cornally, and Niall Gleeson showing resistance. 

Gortnahoe Glengoole:  Conor O’Gorman; Jack Sajjadi, Ronan Gleeson (0-1), Conor Stanley; Aiden Bourke, Billy Gleeson (0-1), Martin Gleeson; Adam Norton (0-5), Patrick Brophy; Adam Healy, Christopher Dunne (2-11, 0-8f, 0-1 ’65), Callum Gleeson (0-1); Dan Fennelly, Shane Gleeson (0-1), Conor Gleeson.

Durlas Óg: Conor O’Dwyer; Dara Burke, David Hanna, Darragh Larkin; Jack Fitzgibbon, Brody Donoghue, Luca Ryan; Ciaran O’Mahony (0-1), Diarmuid Barrett; Charlie Lawlor (0-1), Darragh Cornally (1-7, 0-6f, 1-0 pen); Niall Gleeson (2-2), Liam Burke (0-1), Jack Broderick, Pearce Cullen. 

Subs used: James Verling for Broderick (HT). 

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy).