Butler's early goal proves decisive as Drom & Inch claim county U14B hurling crown
Liam Butler's first-half goal set the tone as Drom & Inch battled through difficult conditions to see off Arravale Rovers in a hard-fought county final at Boherlahan
County U14B Hurling Championship Final
Drom & Inch 1-6
Arravale Rovers 0-5
Drom & Inch captured the County U14B hurling title with a four-point win over Arravale Rovers in a hard-fought final at Boherlahan on Saturday last. The remnants of Storm Boelo were certainly playing their part for both teams.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Drom & Inch struck the key blow early on when Liam Butler found the net on six minutes. Arravale had opened the scoring through a Danny Gleeson free on four minutes, but Butler’s goal, followed by a point less than a minute later, put Drom & Inch in front, and they never gave up the lead.
Drom & Inch looked set to pull clear. On 17 minutes, they went for goal from a free, but Arravale goalkeeper Eoghan Gleeson got a good save out for a 65, which captain Sean Ryan pointed.
Butler added frees on 19 and 21 minutes to leave Drom & Inch 1-4 to 0-2 ahead. Arravale refused to fall away, however, and Gleeson pulled on a ground ball on 23 minutes, looking for a goal, only to see it float over the bar for a point and cut the gap to four.
Drom & Inch pressed for further scores in the closing stages of the half, but the conditions made accuracy difficult for both sides, and they led 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.
The second half was a tight, attritional affair, with each side adding only two points to their half-time score. Deteriorating conditions made it hard for hurling. Cormac Kinnane pointed from play on 36 minutes, and Gleeson converted a free on 40 minutes to leave it 0-5 to 1-4.
Butler responded with a free on 43 minutes, and Daniel Coleman pointed from play on 47 to restore Drom & Inch’s four-point cushion.
Arravale pushed hard for a goal in the closing stages, but the Drom & Inch defence stood firm, and the final whistle confirmed the title for Drom & Inch.
The testing conditions made for a difficult day’s hurling, but both clubs should be credited for their attitude in what was still a county final.
Captain Sean Ryan collected the County U14B Trophy from BNG Chairman PJ Bowden.
Scorers: Drom & Inch: Liam Butler (1-4, 0-3f), Sean Ryan 0-1 65, Daniel Coleman 0-1.
Arravale Rovers: Danny Gleeson (0-4, 0-3f), Cormac Kinnane 0-1.
Drom & Inch: Aodhan Ryan; Jayden Holland, Tommy Bourke, Thomas Keane; Micheal Maher, Sean Ryan, Harry McGrath; Liam Butler, James Barry; Tadhg Long, Evan Gleeson, Conor Stapleton; TJ Collins, Daniel Coleman, Tadhg Heaney.
Subs used: Cillian Loughnane; Conall Long; Michael Ryan.
Arravale Rovers: Eoghan Gleeson; Lee Ronan, Andy Quinlan, Stephen Donovan; Jake O’Connell, Charlie Considine, Cian Brouder; Danny Gleeson, Cormac Kinnane; Keegan O’Dea, John Lambert, Stephen Ryan; Aidan McNamara, Lorcan Cummins, Josh Webster.
Referee: David Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla)