Euan Murray and Eoin Webb come good for Durlas Óg in exciting Mid U17A Final win

Stakelum’s Office Supplies Mid U17 A Hurling Championship Final

Durlas Og 3-17

Holycross Ballycahill 3-14

By Michael Dundon

Favourites Durlas Og had to battle all the way to capture the Stakelum’s Office Supplies Mid U17A hurling title, a persistent and quality Holycross Ballycahill challenge ensuring that nothing was decided until referee Michael Heffernan’s final whistle at Holycross last Thursday.

When the sides met in the round-robin section of the competition Durlas Og were comfortable winners but there was little comfort this time and indeed Holycross were left to rue a couple of botched goal chances as they pushed the favourites to the limit in a fine contest.

Holycross Ballycahill have been enjoying considerable success at the under-age level, and a week earlier several of these lads were on the team that turned Thurles over in the U19 grade, so there was no lack of confidence going into the final. 

This Durlas Og side were All-Ireland Feile winners in their time and have an abundance of very promising players in their squad, but they had to draw on all the self-belief generated by those successes to get them over the line here.

Durlas Og got the ideal start when after two minutes Eoin Webb netted and after ten minutes they were 1-5 to 0-1 clear and looking on course for a big win. 

However, Holycross, with a goal from Tadgh Nally, and points from Tony Maher and Tiernan Ryan were back in the hunt after 13 minutes.

County minor star Euan Murray produced a wonderful piece of skill to weave his way through the defence for a Durlas Og goal quickly followed by Aaron Darmondy’s point for a 2-6 to 1-3 lead. 

It was 2-9 to 1-6 approaching half-time when Jake Galvin got the vital touch in a goalmouth scramble for a Holycross goal and Zach O’Keeffe was denied a levelling goal for them by Durlas Og goalie Jamie Stapleton. Great stuff with the promise of more to come!

With a half-time advantage of 2-9 to 2-6, Durlas Og kept the opposition at arm’s length through a low-key third quarter but when Eoin Webb rifled home his second goal after 50 minutes for a 3-13 to 2-11 lead, Durlas were primed for success. 

With six minutes to go they led 3-16 to 2-12 but Holycross never gave up. 

Points from Tiernan Ryan and Sean Ryan kept them in touch and goalie Harry Bourke did well to deny Alex Coppinger a Durlas Og goal.

The six points lead was cut to three when Tony Maher’s long-range free in injury time went all the way to the Thurles net and with Holycross still piling on the pressure, there were some anxious moments for the Thurles lads before the final whistle with Holycross on the attack. 

Holycross attacker Zach O’Keeffe got a red card at the death for some “verbals”, his disappointment getting the better of him.

Overall Durlas Og, though not at their best, deserved their win. They made the running all the way and they now go forward to face Toomevara in the county quarter-final. Kyle O’Dowd who has been sidelined with a broken nose, got back into the action in the second half, a big plus for Durlas Og going forward. 

Eoin Webb, a lively and elusive attacker, was their key man in this win but Euan Murray, Kieran Rossiter, Leelan Donoghue, Aaron Darmody, Evan Nolan and goalie Jamie Stapleton all had fine games.

Holycross Ballycahill also goes forward to the county quarter-finals with West champions Arravale Rovers as their opposition. 

Though defeated they have every reason for optimism particularly with players of the calibre of Cathal O’Reilly, the Tipp minor captain, Tony Maher, Tadgh Ryan, Tiernan Ryan Sean Ryan, Jake Galvin and Zach O’Keeffe in their ranks. O’Keeffe’s red card rules him out of the quarter-final – a big loss.

Durlas Og: Jamie Stapleton; Andy Rossiter, Kieran Rossiter (0-1), James Lloyd; Bill Fogarty, Evan Nolan (0-1), Ronan O’Dwyer; Euan Murray (1-4, 0-1f), Keelan Dunne; Alex Coppinger, Cillian Minogue, Leelan O’Donoghue (0-3); Eoin Webb (2-6, 0-3f), Aaron Darmody (0-1), Daragh O’Dwyer (0-1).

Subs used: Kyle O’Dowd for R O’Dwyer (43).

Holycross Ballycahill: Harry Bourke; Tadhg Ryan, Sam Doyle, Cathal Ryan; Tadgh Bourke, Cathal O’Reilly, Tony Maher (1-2f); Jake Galvin (1-0), Tiernan Ryan (0-2); Daire Ryan, Tadgh Nally (1-0), Liam Costello (0-1); Eoghan Hickey (0-1), Sean Ryan (0-6, 0-4f), Zach O’Keeffe (0-2).

Subs used: Paul Ryan for Costello (58).

Referee: Michael Heffernan (Moycarkey Borris)