Goals crown King Cormacs as the Cashel men claim first U19A hurling crown

Joe Hayes Cleanline West U19A Hurling Championship Final

Cashel King Cormacs 3-11

Golden/Kilfeacle 0-17

Francis Coughlan at Dundrum

Cashel King Cormacs claimed a first Joe Hayes Cleanline West Under 19A Hurling Championship title following a three-point victory over neighbours Golden/Kilfeacle at a sunny Dundrum on Wednesday evening.

It was a match that certainly struggled to come to life with the crowd really only having their voices heard in the final ten minutes or so. The game was ultimately decided by three first-half goals which came at key times for the eventual winners.

Golden/Kilfeacle recovered from the concession of the opening two goals but the third just before the halftime whistle from a Ronan Connolly sideline would see Cashel King Cormacs go to the dressing rooms with a five-point advantage.

Golden/Kilfeacle try as they may could never get back on terms as their opponents kept the scoreboard ticking over at vital times during the second half to claim honours and take home the Liam O’Duibhir Cup.

Cashel King Cormacs played into the dressing room end for the opening thirty minutes and led 1-1 to 0-2 after six minutes. Ronan Connolly pointed from a placed ball but two Ben Currivan efforts from placed balls gave Golden/Kilfeacle a brief lead for what would be the only one of two times in the game.

The first goal arrived after six minutes when a diagonal ball from the stand side found Cian McGrath unmarked on the twenty metre and he made no mistake after soloing into space before striking to the far side of Lee Hayes in the Golden/Kilfeacle goalmouth.

Points from Oisin O’Donoghue and Ronan Connolly further stretched the Cashel advantage with ten minutes played. Golden/Kilfeacle struggled to get clean possession up to now and seemed to be a bit nervous up to this point but that all changed after this as they reeled off five points in a row in the space of thirteen minutes.

Eanna Ormond playing as an extra man further back the field for Golden/Kilfeacle was getting on a lot of ball which in turn saw Conall Moloney free at the far end. Jack Dalton started the fightback and Ben Currivan followed with four points including two from place balls.

In between this David McGrath was fouled and referee Donie Horan signalled a penalty. Ronan Connolly saw his effort come off the post and flick away by goalie Lee Hayes. The second goal arrived three minutes before the break through David McGrath and was a huge boost for Cashel.

The side traded points as Cashel held a two-point advantage three minutes into injury. Then a Ronan Connolly sideline cut from well out the field went off the goalkeeper’s hurler and into the net. Cashel leading at the break 3-4 to 0-8.

Golden/Kilfeacle came out a different side in the second half. They made a few positional switches while also introducing Sam Hall. Ben Currivan (2) and Jack Dalton had the difference down to three points inside the first five minutes and it looked as if Golden/Kilfeacle were getting a run at their opponents.

Cashel though struck back and seemed to have that ability throughout the second half any time their opponents seemed to get close. Points from Brian and Oisin O’Donoghue and David McGrath brought their lead back out to five points. By the three-quarter mark the five-point margin still separated the sides.

Sam Hall had a good effect after his introduction pointed and Currivan followed from a placed ball to reduce the gap to three points. The final ten minutes saw Golden/Kilfeacle push harder to get back on terms with the Cashel players not willing to wilt and the crowd now more vocal.

The Cashel defence though led by Oisin Dwan and Ronan Connolly continued to be on top and limited their opponents goal scoring opportunities. Golden/Kilfeacle also now tried to work goal chances with Cian Ryan now operating in the forwards hitting the post while Jack Bergin saw his effort cleared for 65.

Anthony Walsh steadied the Cashel ship with five to play when he pointed a free to their first score in 11 minutes. Golden/Kilfeacle were chasing the game hard, and Ben Currivan and Padraigh Dalton brought the difference to a dangerous two points with less than two minutes to play.

Fabian Ryan brought the lead back out to three and while Ronan Connolly and Ben Currivan swapped points, Cashel had done enough to claim honours.

Following the game West Board Chairman Tommy Hayes presented the Liam O’Duibhir Cup to Cashel King Cormacs joint captains Ronan Connolly and David McGrath) with Joe Hayes from the sponsors Cleanline Farm Services. 

Scorers & Teams: Cashel King Cormacs: (1-4, 0-4f), 1-0 sl-cut), Fabian Ryan (0-1), Cian McGrath (1-0), Oisin O’Donoghue (0-2), David McGrath (1-2), Brian O’Donoghue (0-1), Anthony Walsh (0-1f).

Golden/Kilfeacle: Ben Currivan (0-12, 0-10f), Jack Dalton (0-3), Sam Hall (0-1), Padraigh Dalton (0-1).

Cashel King Cormacs: Eoghan Dunne; Conall Moloney, Oisin Dwan, Colm Ryan; Brian Manton, Ronan Connolly, Andrew Irwin; Oisin O’Donoghue, Kieran O’Dwyer; Cian McGrath, Fabian Ryan, Conor O’Dwyer; Anthony Walsh, David McGrath, Brian O’Donoghue.

Subs used: Callum Byrnes.

Golden/Kilfeacle: Lee Hayes; Colin Tuohy, Cian Ryan, Ciaran Byrnes; Aidan Tuohy, Brian Marnane, Jason Morey; Padraigh Dalton, Gavin Dalton; Ben Currivan, Jack Dalton, Aaron Colohan; Eanna Ormond, Jack Lonergan, Jack Bergin.

Subs used: Sam Hall; Kevin Hogan; Bobby Smith.

Referee: Donnacha Horan (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill)