Co. Junior Hurling Final FT Austin Stacks 4-8; Duagh 3-5.
Our Hurlers retained their JH Co. Championship title with two goals to spare over a strong Duagh side at the John Mitchels Complex on this Saturday afternoon (1st Oct). We played with the aid of a very strong wind in the first half but it was Duagh who got the ideal start with a well-taken goal inside eighty seconds. We responded immediately with Robert Byrne putting over our opener, to be followed a minute later by one from team captain, Andrew Foley. Points were then exchanged in the next two minutes with ours coming from a Colm Ó Giollagáin free after a foul on Ciarán Breen.
Then in the 10th minute it was Colm again with a 65 meter free which dropped right into the net for the first of our four goals. This put us in the lead for the first time (1-3 to 1-1) a lead which we never lost again. We went further ahead in the 17th minute when Colm got through for his 2nd goal and then, a minute later, good work by the two Andrews (Morrissey and Foley) put Paul Daly through for a point.
Colm was again on target in the 22nd minute with another point after a good build-up involving Johnny Downey and Ciaran Breen. But two minutes later Duagh were back in this game with their second goal, to cut our lead to four (2-5 to 2-1) That was still the margin as the half entered the last two minutes after both sides had exchanged points, ours coming from Ciarán Breen after good work by Paul Daly, and we were speculating if a four points lead would be enough facing into that strong wind in the second half.
But our anxiety was relieved somewhat when we finished the half with two great goals, the first from team captain, Andrew Foley and the second from Colm Ó Giollagáin, to cap a fine first half hat trick of goals from Colm. This left us ten points clear at the break (4-6 to 2-2).
We were now facing that strong wind in the second half and this is where our brilliant defence came into play, holding the opposition to just three points for the next 30 minutes. Duagh did get through for a goal in added time but it was too little too late. Our two points in that second half came again from Colm from placed balls. Paul Daly, after a great performance, got the Man of the Match Award and we were winning our 3rd JH Co. Championship in five seasons (2012, 2015 and 2016).
Team: Michael O’Leary, Kevin O’Leary, Peter O’Regan, Johnny Downey, Seán King, Eoghan McKivergan, Andrew Morrissey, Robert Byrne (0-1), Cillian O’Riordan, Ciarán Breen (0-1), Paul Daly (0-1), Andrew Foley (Capt) (1-1), Colm Ó Giollagáin (3-4; 1-3 frees), Seán Hartnett, Ronan Gilsenan.
Subs used: Ian Moynihan (40m), Peter Doyle (52m), Francie McLoughlin (57m), Tadhg Meehan (58m), Eamon Browne (58m).
Up next is the South Kerry SH Championship Final, against Kilgarvan, and this is fixed for next Saturday, (8th Oct) in Fitzgerald Stadium at 2pm. Then on the following Saturday (15th Oct) we play Duagh again, this time in the SH Co. League (Div 3) Final. The game is fixed for Connolly Park at 3pm.
