Gortnahoe Glengoole continue recent underage success with U15B title their latest accolade

Gleeson Quarries U15B Mid Tipperary Hurling Championship Final

Gortnahoe Glengoole 2-12

Moycarkey Borris 1-11

By Michael Dundon

Two goals in the opening nine minutes paved the way for Gortnahoe Glengoole’s win over Moycarkey-Borris in a thrilling Gleeson Quarries Mid Tipperary U15B Hurling Championship Final at Templetuohy last week.

The scores, the first by Thomas Cody inside a minute, put Gortnahoe-Glengoole in the driving seat, and though Moycarkey Borris were heroic in their efforts to make up the ground lost, the winners never wilted under the pressure and fully deserved to take the honours.

This was a fine contest between two very worthy finalists who would not have been out of their depth in the A grade. Thomas Cody’s opening goal, after a scything run through the Moycarkey defence was quickly followed by a brace of Shane Gleeson pointed frees for Gortnahoe, to set the pattern for the game.

Moycarkey may have been slow to start but points from Conor Doherty, Adam Rice, and Conor Donnelly had them hot on their rivals’ heels by the 8th minute only to suffer a further setback when midfielder Adam Norton notched a second Gortnahoe goal for a 2-2 to 0-3 lead.

This asked questions of the Moycarkey resolve and they were answered in a very positive fashion. They got the boost they really needed in the 29th minute when Adam Rice netted for them to leave them just 2-6 to 1-6 behind at the break.

With the contest finely poised, Moycarkey resumed in determined fashion, Conor Doherty pointing after 5 minutes, but Gortnahoe were equal to the challenge and they had a hat-trick of points from frees by Shane Gleesoin for a four points lead after 42 minutes.

Moycarkey were not giving up the chase. Conor Doherty and Conor Donnelly pointed to which Adam Norton and Dan Fennelly replied before Doherty landed another two points to leave just a goal in it with time running out.

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Gortnahoe now to protect their advantage but this they did and in an upfield break, they won a free which Shane Gleeson duly dispatched to seal their win.

Gortnahoe Glengoole have been making great strides at underage level in recent years and with this steady flow of young talent coming on stream the club’s future is indeed bright. Much more will be heard of many of these boys in the coming years with Billy Gleeson, Thomas Cody, Shane Gleeson, Adam Norton, Dan Fennelly, and goalie Adam Hogan particularly impressive.

Disappointed though Moycarkey Borris lads were at the outcome, they too have a bright future. The early setbacks were their undoing but in Thomas Leahy, Richie Maher, Conor Doherty, Adam Rice, and Conor Donnelly in particular, they have young players of great promise.

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Adam Hogan; Aidan Bourke, Eamon Hayden, Ronan Gleeson; Thomas Cody (1-0), Billy Gleeson, Gavin O Shea; Patrick Brophy, Adam Norton (1-1); Michael Campion, Mark O’Shea, Shane Gleeson (0-10, 0-9f); Darragh Heffernan, Shane Bourke, Martin Gleeson.

Subs used: Adam Healy; Dan Fennelly (0-1).

Moycarkey Borris: Thomas Leahy; Cilian Alexander, Sran Lanphier, Reuben Power; Richie Maher, Sean Maher, Harry Sheppard; James Danagher, Conor Doherty(0-7f); Conor Donnelly (0-2), Sean O’Dwyer, Conor Walsh; Niall O’Sullivan, Adam Rice (1-1), Darragh Patterson (0-1).

Subs used: Evan Ned Cummins.

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne Templetuohy)