Drom & Inch win their first U21A Hurling title since 2001 with victory over Roscrea

FBD Insurance U21A Hurling Championship Final

Drom & Inch 3-12

Roscrea 1-14

Drom & Inch claimed just their third U21A county hurling title after they eventually stumbled over the finish line against a gallant and hard-hitting Roscrea team in Saturday afternoon’s final in Templederry in a frantic FBD Insurance U21A Hurling Championship Final.

This game had endless excitement, particularly in the second half as the two evenly matched finalists were desperate to end their respective long waits to get their hands in the U21A trophy, but by the game's end it was hard to dispute that the best team won as the Mid champions took control of the final quarter and, had their shooting been a bit sharper, it would have been more comfortable for them in the end.

The men in green hit a total of 17 wides throughout the game, but it never affected their confidence going forward and two goals in the second half from Cormac Fitzpatrick and Cormac Cahill were the defining scores as they came either side of an unbelievable Roscrea goal from Conor Donovan which looked like it had Roscrea back in the game.

Alas, there was always a response from Drom & Inch, and with John Campion, Darragh Kennedy, Tony Cahill, and Jack Ryan driving the home, Roscrea couldn’t find the scores they needed as they were far less prolific from open play.

It was Drom & Inch who had the benefit of the first-half breeze present in a well-kept Templederry pitch which was as good as you could find given the recent inclement weather, but it was Roscrea who found the opening score through Jamie Ryan who had his team off to the perfect start from the first attack.

Jack Lillis started the final in the absence of the suspended James Kennedy, slotting into the number 14 spot in the full forward line and he justified his inclusion immediately after that Roscrea opener, ghosting in behind the cover as Maidhc Fitzpatrick gathered a puck out and lobbed a lovely stick pass into the path of Lillis who took one look and buried a shot past Harry Loughnane. Drom now up and running after two minutes of play.

Despite that early sucker-punch, Roscrea settled themselves quickly again and really had the better of the next ten minutes, with their forwards causing problems and forcing Drom to foul close to goal as Conor Donovan punished them with two frees by the ninth minute to level proceedings.

Donovan and Cormac Fitzpatrick traded the next two frees between them to maintain the status quo in as many minutes, but Drom did stretch out to a two-point lead by the end of the first quarter through a first of the day for Paudie Kinane along with a second-placed ball from Fitzpatrick.

However, given the strength of the breeze Roscrea would have been pleased with their lot so far, and they were earning it with some intense effort and with the likes of the Dooley’s in the full forward line and Dylan Hogan causing issues, the frees were being put on a plate for Conor Donovan to slot over and he had the game level at 1-3 to 0-6 by the 19th minute with a further brace of placed balls.

Even though Roscrea were putting their shoulder the wheel well and keeping in touch, Drom were their own worst enemies at times as their shooting was dire for large parts of the half, with eight wides being registered, but they did manage to take the lead in at the break, first through a brilliant fetch and strike from Maidhc Fitzpatrick before the younger of the Fitzpatrick clan hit a brace including his first from play.

Diarmuid McLoughlin hit a fine score on the spin in that flurry of Drom & Inch scores though, as Drom & Inch took a 1-6 to 0-7 lead in at the interval with Roscrea more than happy with that as they would look to take advantage of the elements in the second half.

This game was well up in the air at the halfway point but John Campion - operating at midfield - got his side off to a lightning start from the throw-in, latching onto the Jordan roll to power through and score in under ten seconds to give his side an early jolt.

Brian Moore added to that quickly in the 34th minute to push out Drom’s lead to two scores. Still, Roscrea were composed in their approach and had the game back to a single point by the 38th minute with Jamie Ryan pointing his second of the game after a Harry Loughnane clearance, along with Conor Dooley and another placed ball from Conor Donovan putting them North champions back in contention.

Tension was rising in the game now with the finishing line coming sharply into focus, but again, Drom were proving wasteful with John Campion in particular hitting some poor wides which he would usually nail, and it was giving Roscrea confidence, with the sides trading a brace of points with Kenny Lee hitting two from play for Ros’ while Cormac Fitzpatrick fired over two more placed balls.

Fourteen minutes remained in the game and it was the following six minutes that were the most notable in this game, with three goals being scored in two minutes. Cormac Fitzpatrick got the green flags waving first with a class finish, doubling a delivery from brother Maidhc to the back of the net which looked like it could have been a big score.

However, Roscrea responded immediately with what could be the goal of the year in Tipperary from Conor Donovan. The free-taker was some 35 yards or so from goal and made a hames of his lift in the process of taking the free and in desperation to get something on the dropping ball, he lashed at it and caught it so sweetly that it rifled into the top corner past a helpless Diarmuid Brennan. John Fenton would have been impressed with that effort!

There wasn’t much time to take in that incredible goal though, as Drom responded in kind with a major of their own with Cormac Cahill beating two defenders with a dummy hand pass around the 45 before running through the centre of the Roscrea defence, and with his possessions up, he went for glory off his hurley which deceived Harry Loughnane who dove the wrong way. Drom restored their five-point advantage at 3-11 to 1-12 with 54 minutes elapsed.

Roscrea weren’t throwing in the towel to their credit, and another obligatory converted long-range Harry Loughnane free along with a first of the day for Leigh Loughnane had the game back to a manageable three points for Ros’ with two minutes of normal time remaining, but they couldn’t muster up the chance they needed to pull back the deficit, as Cormac Fitzpatrick secured the win with a 62nd minute free to clinch a first title at this grade for Drom & Inch since 2001.

Drom & Inch: Diarmaid Brennan; Eoghan Kennedy, Jack Ryan, Jack Johnson; Jimmy Mullen, Darragh Kennedy, Paul Mullen; Tony Cahill, John Campion (0-1); Cormac Cahill (1-0), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (0-1), Brian Moore (0-2); Cormac Fitzpatrick (1-7 0-6f), Jack Lillis (1-0), Paudie Kinnane (0-1).

Subs used: Darragh Fitzpatrick for Lillis (62).

Roscrea: Harry Loughnane (0-1f); Conor Phelan, Cathal McDonald, Lee Doran; Brian O’Rourke, Luke Seacy, Conor Shanahan; Conor Shanahan (1-6, 0-6f), Kenny Lee (0-2); Diarmuid McLoughlin (0-1), Dylan Hogan, Leigh Loughnane (0-1); Sam Dooley, Conor Dooley (0-1), Jamie Ryan (0-2).

Subs used: Paul Dooley for Ryan (53); Conor Hoctor for McDonald (57).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)