2020 Underage Finals
September 19, U-17 Hurling Roinn 2 Final: Ferns St. Aidans 2-19, Craanford 2-9
A virtuoso performance from Corey Dunbar propelled Ferns St. Aidans to glory in the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 2 championship final in Farmleigh on Saturday.
The talented youngster racked up an incredible 16 points, with nine of them coming from play, as his side proved too strong for a gutsy Craanford in perfect hurling conditions.
Yet championships are generally not won by a single player, and Dunbar and Co. were no different. In fact, Ferns boasted a ferociously powerful spine, mixing dogged battling powers with no lack of skill and guile.
The fact that it was Craanford’s strongest asset too shows just how well Ferns had to play in there to take this crown. It was a proper battleground with the exceptional talent of Dunbar just enough to sway things in his side’s favour.
It was very much nip and tuck in the opening stages, with Craaford giving as good as they got. What was evident was that the excellent Thomas Tobin was going to have some work to do, and he made a couple of superb saves in the first quarter.
After the first that he tipped around the post - a shot from the lively James Kinsella - Dunbar opened the scoring with a ‘65.
Craanford responded to lead by 0-2 to 0-1 after Jack Fleming and Kevin Hyland registered, but another Dunbar brace kept Ferns motoring.
When Pádraic Donoghue got Craanford’s second score from play, his side led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 14 minutes.
However, Ferns hit a critical blow before the water break, with a spill in defence allowing Kinsella to drill to the net.
In normal circumstances one could suggest the break then came at a good time for Craanford but, if anything, Ferns were buoyed by the major and Kinsella added another classy goal after a brace of ‘65s from Dunbar.
Dunbar was picking up possession and effortlessly making space for himself as the half went on, and he added another two as Ferns made little of the light breeze into their faces.
Despite a late Fleming free, the boys in red went in leading by 2-8 to 0-5 at the interval.
If ever a team needed a quick start it was Craanford, but their opponents would have been only too aware of that fact. They withstood the battling resumption, and points from Dunbar, Brian Stafford and Kinsella put Ferns twelve up.
Despite a Brendan Tobin score, that lead increased further after another Dunbar double. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but Craanford had a rally in them and it started when Fleming drilled a low 20-metre free to the net.
They were within nine at the drinks stoppage and cut into the deficit further when Tobin goaled moments after moving into full-forward because of an injury. Ferns might have been caught cold by the onslaught, but the reliable Dunbar soon took over.
He scored four of the next five points, with Hyland getting one at the other end, to open a 2-17 to 2-8 lead heading into additional time.
There was no way back for Craanford, and Joe Byrne got his name on the scoresheet late on as his side took the title with a little in hand.
Ferns St. Aidans: Stephen O’Toole; Danny Dreelan, Charlie Roark, David Bolger; Charlie Murphy, Conor O’Toole, Liam Byrne; Brian Stafford (capt., 0-1), George Warren; Joe Byrne (0-1), Corey Dunbar (0-16, 4 frees, 3 ‘65s), Gerry Connors; James Kinsella (2-1), Josh Kinsella, Craig Dreelan. Subs. - William Kavanagh for C. Dreelan (41), James Doyle for Josh Kinsella (47), Conor Holloway for Connors (60+1), Jack Byrne for Joe Byrne (60+6), also Jack Brennan, Lucas Kinsella, Jack Curran, Oisín Cronin, Jerry Sheridan.
Craanford: Thomas Tobin; Eoin Spencer, Maurice Tobin, Brendan Greene; Michael Kinsella, James Doyle (capt.), Ted Kenny; Brendan Tobin (1-2), Kevin Hyland (0-2 frees); Lee Clare, Pádraic Donoghue (0-1), Alex Weekes; Dean Wadding, Jack Fleming (1-4, 1-2 frees), Odhran Kelly. Subs. - Cian Waters for Clare (33), Seán Doyle for Wadding (35), Ciarán Doyle for Kelly (39), also Fionn Murphy, Danny Kenny, Mikey Fleming, Ethan Spencer, Patrick Finn, Dylan O’Brien, Larry Kinsella, Lorcan Doyle, Daire Kinsella, Conor Donoghue.
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).
June 12 2021, U15 Hurling Div. 3 Shield Final: Sliabh Bhuí Gaels 6-15, Cloughbawn 0-12
Sliabh Bhuí Gaels found a powerful second half display in their lockers to claim the 2020 Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Division 3 Shield in Oylegate.
Despite the Ferns/Clonee combination leading by two points at the interval (2-3 to 0-7), the game was very much in the balance heading into the second 30 minutes.
Cloughbawn had given as good as they got in the first period and were a little unlucky to be behind.
However, there was evidence in that period about Sliabh Bhuí and their propensity to net.
They had less of the ball than their opponents but still managed to forage a couple of majors, and that knack was what eventually pushed the game out of Cloughbawn’s reach in the second half.
Both sides had talented performers but James Murray took over this game in the second half and drove the combined forces to glory. Charlie Murray also proved a huge handful at corner forward, and the duo were often attacking in tandem.
After Murray and Danny Dreelan exchanged points with Ben Keeley and Philip Kearns, it was 0-2 each. However, Sliabh Bhuí grabbed a quickfire major double, as Murray nabbed the first before Lucas Kinsella slashed home the second to make it 2-2 to 0-2 after ten minutes.
They wouldn’t score again though for 19 minutes, as Cloughbawn took over.
Conor Ryan claimed a couple of lovely points while Eamon Kehoe registered just before the water break, to close the gap to one.
Just a solitary Stephen O’Toole points came between the drinks stoppage and the end of the half, to give Sliabh Bhuí the two-point advantage.
They were on the front foot after the resumption too, with Murray netting again after a brace of points from Charlie Murphy.
Cloughbawn got four of the next five scores, with Shayne McDonald, Keeley, Ken Fenlon and Eoin Murphy on target, but critically, Matthew Hanley kicked home a goal in that spell to keep the Ferns and Clonee lads 4-5 to 0-11 ahead.
From there it was mostly one-way traffic as the sweltering morning took Cloughbawn’s legs away. Jack Brennan, Niall Logan, Oisín Cronin and Cormac Kinsella all got their scores, while further goals from Murphy and O’Toole ensured Sliabh Bhuí took the shield with something to spare.
Sliabh Bhuí Gaels: Max Meegan; Jack Young, Charlie Roark, Jack Curran; Gerry Sherian, Danny Dreelan (0-1), Sean Gahan; James Murray (capt., 2-2), Darragh Breen; Jack Brennan (0-1), Stephen O’Toole (1-1), Niall Logan (0-3); Charlie Murphy (1-4, 0-4 frees), William Kavanagh, Lucas Kinsella (1-0). Subs: Matthew Hanley (1-1) for Kavanagh (31), Oisín Cronin (0-1) for Kinsella (50), Davy Redmond for C. Murphy (58), Cormac Kinsella (0-1) for Brennan (58), Kenny Murphy for Roark (59).
Cloughbawn: Callum McCormack; Jack Kavanagh, Evan Codd, Shane Kehoe; Philip Kearns (0-1), Paul Byrne, Ryan Sinnott; Ben Keeley (0-4 frees), Eamon Kehoe (0-1); Barry Sweetman (0-1), Eoin Murphy (0-1), Cathal Kehoe; Jack Doyle, Shayne McDonald (0-1), Conor Ryan (0-2). Subs: Ken Fenlon (0-1) for Doyle (31), Paddy Kehoe for Ryan (50), Doyle for E. Murphy (55), Daniel Kehoe for Kearns, inj. (60+3), Kearns for Byrne, inj. (60+5), also Tommy Byrne, Jimmy Connors.
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer/Boolavogue)
June 19 2021, 2020 U13 Hurling Div. 4 Shield Final: Clongeen 1-8, Sliabh Bhuí Gaels 1-3
Clongeen bounced back from their football final disappointment in fantastic fashion in Chadwick’s Wexford Park when they led from pillar to post in a dominant and very impressive display against Sliabh Bhuí Gaels in the 2020 New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 4 shield final.
While a mere five points divided the teams at the end, onlookers have to agree that the well-coached south county side were fully deserving of the title.
They set out their stall from the off, with joint captain Sean Eustace earning a free and sticking it over the bar after a mere 32 seconds.
That sound start gave Clongeen the impetus, and they had widened their lead to 1-3 to nil by the water break.
Wing forward Jack Quigley scored two absolute peaches of points from wide on the right flank, while the goal came at the end of one of several lung-bursting solo runs by all-action midfielder Josh Donnelly.
His low strike from distance beat netminder Adam Kehoe in the seventh minute, and already it was looking like the Ferns and Clonee combination would struggle to recover.
Quigley and Donnelly added two more excellent points before Sliabh Bhuí finally opened their account when captain Jack Young pointed a ’45 on the shortened pitch in the 21st minute.
However, Clongeed finished the half on the front foot, with Sean Eustace doing all for their next point: making an interception, earning a free, and slotting it between the posts.
A monster long-range placed ball from wing back Leyon Purcell was the final act of the opening period, and it left the Ross District boys clear by 1-7 to 0-1 at the interval.
And while they weren’t as dominant in the second period, another facet of their game was evident, namely the gritty defending that made Sliabh Bhuí work so hard for every score.
I was particularly impressed by the tenacity and skill of corner back Thomas O’Gorman-Tyrrell, a real tiger in the tackle.
Just one point was scored in the third quarter, and while it was the Gorey District combination’s first from play by Cormac Kinsella, they didn’t help themselves by striking six wides in that spell, from an overall tally of 13 in the 50 minutes.
Hope did appear for Sliabh Bhuí in the form of a solo goal from Jack Young early in the last quarter after he won a throw-in to re-start play following an injury, and rattled the net (1-7 to 1-2).
Full back Kenny Murphy reduced the gap to four from a long range free, but the last word belonged to Clongeen.
Jack Quigley was fouled after cutting out an attempted clearance, and he pointed the free to crown an eye-catching individual display and a quality overall performance from the victors.
Sliabh Bhuí Gaels: Adam Kehoe; Liam Redmond, Kenny Murphy (0-1 free), Daniel Nolan; Darragh Gahan, Ryan Rossiter, Shane Whelan-Turner; Jack Young (capt., 1-1, 0-1 ’45), Cormac Kinsella (0-1); Peter Logan, Bobby Murray, Davy Redmond; Bill Moulds, Paul Kehoe, Freddie Davis. Subs: Ben Cleere for P. Kehoe (half time), Conor Lacey for Davis (half time), Aidan Bowe for Logan (50+1), also Mathieu Bates, James Brennan.
Clongeen: Calum O’Gorman-Kearney; Martin Wall, Eoin Finn, Thomas O’Gorman-Tyrrell; Conor Kilkenny, William Bennett (joint capt.), Leyon Purcell (0-1 free); Sean Eustace (joint capt., 0-2 frees), Josh Donnelly (1-1); Jack Quigley (0-4, 1 free); Jamie Breen, Dylan Bennett; Sean Og Murphy, Colin Murphy, Cathal Curtis. Subs: Seamus Whelan for Curtis (half time), Larry Browne for Bennett (39), Luke Murphy for C. Murphy (47), also Conor Burke, Killian Whelan.
Referee: Thomas Furlong (Adamstown)
A virtuoso performance from Corey Dunbar propelled Ferns St. Aidans to glory in the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 2 championship final in Farmleigh on Saturday.
The talented youngster racked up an incredible 16 points, with nine of them coming from play, as his side proved too strong for a gutsy Craanford in perfect hurling conditions.
Yet championships are generally not won by a single player, and Dunbar and Co. were no different. In fact, Ferns boasted a ferociously powerful spine, mixing dogged battling powers with no lack of skill and guile.
The fact that it was Craanford’s strongest asset too shows just how well Ferns had to play in there to take this crown. It was a proper battleground with the exceptional talent of Dunbar just enough to sway things in his side’s favour.
It was very much nip and tuck in the opening stages, with Craaford giving as good as they got. What was evident was that the excellent Thomas Tobin was going to have some work to do, and he made a couple of superb saves in the first quarter.
After the first that he tipped around the post - a shot from the lively James Kinsella - Dunbar opened the scoring with a ‘65.
Craanford responded to lead by 0-2 to 0-1 after Jack Fleming and Kevin Hyland registered, but another Dunbar brace kept Ferns motoring.
When Pádraic Donoghue got Craanford’s second score from play, his side led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 14 minutes.
However, Ferns hit a critical blow before the water break, with a spill in defence allowing Kinsella to drill to the net.
In normal circumstances one could suggest the break then came at a good time for Craanford but, if anything, Ferns were buoyed by the major and Kinsella added another classy goal after a brace of ‘65s from Dunbar.
Dunbar was picking up possession and effortlessly making space for himself as the half went on, and he added another two as Ferns made little of the light breeze into their faces.
Despite a late Fleming free, the boys in red went in leading by 2-8 to 0-5 at the interval.
If ever a team needed a quick start it was Craanford, but their opponents would have been only too aware of that fact. They withstood the battling resumption, and points from Dunbar, Brian Stafford and Kinsella put Ferns twelve up.
Despite a Brendan Tobin score, that lead increased further after another Dunbar double. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but Craanford had a rally in them and it started when Fleming drilled a low 20-metre free to the net.
They were within nine at the drinks stoppage and cut into the deficit further when Tobin goaled moments after moving into full-forward because of an injury. Ferns might have been caught cold by the onslaught, but the reliable Dunbar soon took over.
He scored four of the next five points, with Hyland getting one at the other end, to open a 2-17 to 2-8 lead heading into additional time.
There was no way back for Craanford, and Joe Byrne got his name on the scoresheet late on as his side took the title with a little in hand.
Ferns St. Aidans: Stephen O’Toole; Danny Dreelan, Charlie Roark, David Bolger; Charlie Murphy, Conor O’Toole, Liam Byrne; Brian Stafford (capt., 0-1), George Warren; Joe Byrne (0-1), Corey Dunbar (0-16, 4 frees, 3 ‘65s), Gerry Connors; James Kinsella (2-1), Josh Kinsella, Craig Dreelan. Subs. - William Kavanagh for C. Dreelan (41), James Doyle for Josh Kinsella (47), Conor Holloway for Connors (60+1), Jack Byrne for Joe Byrne (60+6), also Jack Brennan, Lucas Kinsella, Jack Curran, Oisín Cronin, Jerry Sheridan.
Craanford: Thomas Tobin; Eoin Spencer, Maurice Tobin, Brendan Greene; Michael Kinsella, James Doyle (capt.), Ted Kenny; Brendan Tobin (1-2), Kevin Hyland (0-2 frees); Lee Clare, Pádraic Donoghue (0-1), Alex Weekes; Dean Wadding, Jack Fleming (1-4, 1-2 frees), Odhran Kelly. Subs. - Cian Waters for Clare (33), Seán Doyle for Wadding (35), Ciarán Doyle for Kelly (39), also Fionn Murphy, Danny Kenny, Mikey Fleming, Ethan Spencer, Patrick Finn, Dylan O’Brien, Larry Kinsella, Lorcan Doyle, Daire Kinsella, Conor Donoghue.
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).
June 12 2021, U15 Hurling Div. 3 Shield Final: Sliabh Bhuí Gaels 6-15, Cloughbawn 0-12
Sliabh Bhuí Gaels found a powerful second half display in their lockers to claim the 2020 Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Division 3 Shield in Oylegate.
Despite the Ferns/Clonee combination leading by two points at the interval (2-3 to 0-7), the game was very much in the balance heading into the second 30 minutes.
Cloughbawn had given as good as they got in the first period and were a little unlucky to be behind.
However, there was evidence in that period about Sliabh Bhuí and their propensity to net.
They had less of the ball than their opponents but still managed to forage a couple of majors, and that knack was what eventually pushed the game out of Cloughbawn’s reach in the second half.
Both sides had talented performers but James Murray took over this game in the second half and drove the combined forces to glory. Charlie Murray also proved a huge handful at corner forward, and the duo were often attacking in tandem.
After Murray and Danny Dreelan exchanged points with Ben Keeley and Philip Kearns, it was 0-2 each. However, Sliabh Bhuí grabbed a quickfire major double, as Murray nabbed the first before Lucas Kinsella slashed home the second to make it 2-2 to 0-2 after ten minutes.
They wouldn’t score again though for 19 minutes, as Cloughbawn took over.
Conor Ryan claimed a couple of lovely points while Eamon Kehoe registered just before the water break, to close the gap to one.
Just a solitary Stephen O’Toole points came between the drinks stoppage and the end of the half, to give Sliabh Bhuí the two-point advantage.
They were on the front foot after the resumption too, with Murray netting again after a brace of points from Charlie Murphy.
Cloughbawn got four of the next five scores, with Shayne McDonald, Keeley, Ken Fenlon and Eoin Murphy on target, but critically, Matthew Hanley kicked home a goal in that spell to keep the Ferns and Clonee lads 4-5 to 0-11 ahead.
From there it was mostly one-way traffic as the sweltering morning took Cloughbawn’s legs away. Jack Brennan, Niall Logan, Oisín Cronin and Cormac Kinsella all got their scores, while further goals from Murphy and O’Toole ensured Sliabh Bhuí took the shield with something to spare.
Sliabh Bhuí Gaels: Max Meegan; Jack Young, Charlie Roark, Jack Curran; Gerry Sherian, Danny Dreelan (0-1), Sean Gahan; James Murray (capt., 2-2), Darragh Breen; Jack Brennan (0-1), Stephen O’Toole (1-1), Niall Logan (0-3); Charlie Murphy (1-4, 0-4 frees), William Kavanagh, Lucas Kinsella (1-0). Subs: Matthew Hanley (1-1) for Kavanagh (31), Oisín Cronin (0-1) for Kinsella (50), Davy Redmond for C. Murphy (58), Cormac Kinsella (0-1) for Brennan (58), Kenny Murphy for Roark (59).
Cloughbawn: Callum McCormack; Jack Kavanagh, Evan Codd, Shane Kehoe; Philip Kearns (0-1), Paul Byrne, Ryan Sinnott; Ben Keeley (0-4 frees), Eamon Kehoe (0-1); Barry Sweetman (0-1), Eoin Murphy (0-1), Cathal Kehoe; Jack Doyle, Shayne McDonald (0-1), Conor Ryan (0-2). Subs: Ken Fenlon (0-1) for Doyle (31), Paddy Kehoe for Ryan (50), Doyle for E. Murphy (55), Daniel Kehoe for Kearns, inj. (60+3), Kearns for Byrne, inj. (60+5), also Tommy Byrne, Jimmy Connors.
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer/Boolavogue)
June 19 2021, 2020 U13 Hurling Div. 4 Shield Final: Clongeen 1-8, Sliabh Bhuí Gaels 1-3
Clongeen bounced back from their football final disappointment in fantastic fashion in Chadwick’s Wexford Park when they led from pillar to post in a dominant and very impressive display against Sliabh Bhuí Gaels in the 2020 New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 4 shield final.
While a mere five points divided the teams at the end, onlookers have to agree that the well-coached south county side were fully deserving of the title.
They set out their stall from the off, with joint captain Sean Eustace earning a free and sticking it over the bar after a mere 32 seconds.
That sound start gave Clongeen the impetus, and they had widened their lead to 1-3 to nil by the water break.
Wing forward Jack Quigley scored two absolute peaches of points from wide on the right flank, while the goal came at the end of one of several lung-bursting solo runs by all-action midfielder Josh Donnelly.
His low strike from distance beat netminder Adam Kehoe in the seventh minute, and already it was looking like the Ferns and Clonee combination would struggle to recover.
Quigley and Donnelly added two more excellent points before Sliabh Bhuí finally opened their account when captain Jack Young pointed a ’45 on the shortened pitch in the 21st minute.
However, Clongeed finished the half on the front foot, with Sean Eustace doing all for their next point: making an interception, earning a free, and slotting it between the posts.
A monster long-range placed ball from wing back Leyon Purcell was the final act of the opening period, and it left the Ross District boys clear by 1-7 to 0-1 at the interval.
And while they weren’t as dominant in the second period, another facet of their game was evident, namely the gritty defending that made Sliabh Bhuí work so hard for every score.
I was particularly impressed by the tenacity and skill of corner back Thomas O’Gorman-Tyrrell, a real tiger in the tackle.
Just one point was scored in the third quarter, and while it was the Gorey District combination’s first from play by Cormac Kinsella, they didn’t help themselves by striking six wides in that spell, from an overall tally of 13 in the 50 minutes.
Hope did appear for Sliabh Bhuí in the form of a solo goal from Jack Young early in the last quarter after he won a throw-in to re-start play following an injury, and rattled the net (1-7 to 1-2).
Full back Kenny Murphy reduced the gap to four from a long range free, but the last word belonged to Clongeen.
Jack Quigley was fouled after cutting out an attempted clearance, and he pointed the free to crown an eye-catching individual display and a quality overall performance from the victors.
Sliabh Bhuí Gaels: Adam Kehoe; Liam Redmond, Kenny Murphy (0-1 free), Daniel Nolan; Darragh Gahan, Ryan Rossiter, Shane Whelan-Turner; Jack Young (capt., 1-1, 0-1 ’45), Cormac Kinsella (0-1); Peter Logan, Bobby Murray, Davy Redmond; Bill Moulds, Paul Kehoe, Freddie Davis. Subs: Ben Cleere for P. Kehoe (half time), Conor Lacey for Davis (half time), Aidan Bowe for Logan (50+1), also Mathieu Bates, James Brennan.
Clongeen: Calum O’Gorman-Kearney; Martin Wall, Eoin Finn, Thomas O’Gorman-Tyrrell; Conor Kilkenny, William Bennett (joint capt.), Leyon Purcell (0-1 free); Sean Eustace (joint capt., 0-2 frees), Josh Donnelly (1-1); Jack Quigley (0-4, 1 free); Jamie Breen, Dylan Bennett; Sean Og Murphy, Colin Murphy, Cathal Curtis. Subs: Seamus Whelan for Curtis (half time), Larry Browne for Bennett (39), Luke Murphy for C. Murphy (47), also Conor Burke, Killian Whelan.
Referee: Thomas Furlong (Adamstown)
