Newly formed Naomh Eoin turn on the style to power into county final

FBD Insurance County Minor B Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Naomh Eoin 3-20

Golden Kilfeacle 1-11

In the end, it was very easy. After a slow start when conceding 1-1 in the opening three minutes, Naomh Eoin put some excellent bouts of hurling on show to defeat a disappointing Golden Kilfeacle team in a one-sided semi-final played in Templemore last Saturday.

After the early setback, they turned water into wine to go 2-15 to 1-5 in front by half-time and added 1-5 in the second half to ensure a place in the final against the Moyne Templetuohy/Loughmore Castleiney combination.

But then they were up against a Naomh Eoin side that wanted success much more, as players like Savva Rashkevich, Joe Murphy, Hugo Massey, Rory Fox, Jack Hourigan, Ryan Donnelly, Alan Bourke, Darragh O’Brien and Jack Slevin didn’t let the side down. Naomh Eoin had to plan without Donal Cleary at centre-forward, but the team played with flow and real teamwork. They simply gave Golden Kilfeacle no breathing space. That was except for the opening minutes when Golden had a period of interest, when Tipp minor James Finn had the Naomh defence in sixes and sevens as he scored a goal in the third minute to put the West champions 1-1 to 0-1 in front.

Naomh Eoin goalkeeper Mark Slevin hit some excellent puck-outs and he used Alan Bourke’s strength in the air, and the ploy was evident from early on as he scored a fine point in the sixth minute.

There was more and, two minutes later, Darragh O’Brien had the ball in the Kilfeacle net from a very tight angle. The goal helped settle Naomh Eoin and continued pressure helped them increase their lead by three after Rory Fox scored a sixty-five and two frees.

Intermediate player Charlie Hall was in the thick of things for Golden Kilfeacle and he scored his second free in the 12th minute, but Naomh Eoin were in no mood for giving second best and they scored four unanswered points through Alan Bourke, Ryan Donnelly, Jack Hourigan and Rory Fox from another free when striking from the right wing under the covered stand.

There was a brief interlude as Kilfeacle hit back with points by James Finn and midfielder Jack Donnelly, both from play, but in the 22nd minute Naomh Eoin had their second goal when David Flannery scored close in following a good run through the West champions’ cover.

That wasn’t enough as the sprightly North champions went for the kill when they filled the remainder of the half with six unanswered points, starting with Ryan Donnelly from play, followed by Rory Fox with a free plus another Alan Bourke point following a great catch.

Full of running, Naomh Eoin continued almost at will as Ryan Donnelly scored his third, quickly followed by a point each from play by Rory Fox and Alan Bourke to see the North champions leading by thirteen at half-time.

At half-time, Golden Kilfeacle did the most extraordinary thing when they introduced four subs and changed their goalkeeper, with Cillian Byrne moving outfield and Cathal Noonan filling the goalkeeping spot. James Finn also moved to man the half-back berth.

However, the new half began with Rory Fox and Charlie Hall taking hold with a litter of frees, sharing six points between them, with Fox gaining the lion’s share on four. The excellent Alan Bourke continued his good work and in the 47th minute he put the game out of reach for Golden when he scored a good goal. Naomh Eoin were 3-19 to 1-7 in front.

Golden Kilfeacle responded with another Charlie Hall free before Rory Fox replied in kind and, from there, the remainder of the game saw the pace drop, with Golden Kilfeacle, helped by the efforts of Conor Murnane, Iobhar Ryan, James Finn, Jack Donnelly and Charlie Hall, using the remainder of the game to salvage some pride as Charlie Hall scored his first from play before he brought down the curtain with one more free. It was not enough as Naomh Eoin had already booked their place in the final.

Naomh Eoin: Mark Slevin; Adam Guest, Michael Gorman, Savva Rashkevich; John Coonan, Joseph Murphy, Hugo Massey; Rory Fox (0-11, 0-8f, 0-1 65), Jack Hourigan (0-1); David Flannery (1-1), Ryan Donnelly (0-3), Alan Bourke (1-4); Jack Slevin, Alan Reid, Darragh O’Brien (1-0).

Subs used: Luke Morgan for Hourigan (49); Eoghan Gohery for Bourke (49, inj); Johnny Quinn for J Slevin (53); David Kennedy for Reid (56); Odhran Blake for Rashkevich (58).

Golden Kilfeacle: Cillian Byrne (0-1f); Jamie Hally, Conor Murnane, Jerome Quinlan; Iobhar Ryan, Luke O’Donnell, Anthony Ryan; Tom Hanrahan, Jack Donnelly (0-1); Rian Moloney, David Finn, Charlie Hall (0-8, 0-6f); Eoghan Ryan (P), James Finn (1-1), Jamie Landers.

Subs used: Cathal Noonan for Landers (HT); Killian Prendergast for Moloney (HT); Evan Ryan for Hally (HT).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy)