U13 Hurling League Final, Beaulieu.
St Fechins 2-5 St. Kevins/Mattock/Glen Emmets 0-1
St. Fechins put in an immense team performance to capture the u13 hurling league title which was held under lights in Beaulieu. Both teams had met only three weeks previously in round three of the league where the St. Kevins combo were convincing winners. St Fechins would have to put in a mighty display to turn around the previous result.
A big attendance welcomed both teams onto the pitch which was played in perfect conditions and straight from the throw in, St Fechins put down a marker to their opposition that there would be no repeat of the poor performance from the previous encounter. Every ball was fought for with bodies put on the line with huge intensity throughout. St Fechins were winning the key battles with Daniel Reilly and Donal Quinn dominating the middle sector. A few chances were created but space was at a premium and after 10 minutes both teams had failed to register a score. St Fechins had the better chances but through some bad luck and good defending , St. Kevins held the opposition forwards scoreless. As the game settled down, St Fechins through Paddy Price with speed started to take on their opponents and win a few frees in the danger area. On 15 minutes, Darragh Stone knocked over one of those frees to get St. Fechins on the score board. Any attacks from St. Kevins combo were snuffed out with Colm Hackett a colossus in the full back position winning all ball in his area and launching counter attacks. The next vital score came to St Fechins where another free was conceded in midfield and the resultant delivery was expertly flicked to the back of the net by Sean Keane. In the final few minutes of the half, St Kevins battled hard to register a score but St Fechins with Ciaran McGinty at centre back holding the defence line and Cathal Moynagh playing out of his skin held them scoreless when the half time whistle was blown.
The boys kept their focus during half time with plenty of praise for their efforts but as they were reminded, each player would have to raise the bar a little higher as the opposition would be coming out with all guns firing to try and turn around the deficit. The first few minutes saw the opposition creating a few dangerous opportunities but through some last ditch defending by the ever reliable Cathal Mulholland and Michael McGlew, they still were unable to register a score. Having survived those initial scares, St Fechins went on to dominate the next 10 minutes and the inside forward line of Darragh O’Gorman and Andrew McCarthy finding a liitle more space were able to gain possession in the danger areas. Repeated fouling resulted in Darragh Stone knocking over three points from frees and St Fechins had opened up a 7 point lead midway through the second half. St. Kevins increased their intensity and put in a huge effort to reduce the deficit. Two goal bound shots were brilliantly saved by keeper Andrew McCarthy with a resultant 65 being put over the bar to get St. Kevins on the score sheet.
Fresh legs were introduced to maintain the team’s performance with Adam McCabe, Rory Dunne and Sean McLeer slotting in seamlessly and aiding the cause. Commitment and honesty remained to the fore with bodies being put on the line which was the key feature in closing out the match with nothing surrendered. Inspirational captain Ciaran McGinty gained a hard earned free which launched another attack that allowed Sean Keane to dispatch his second goal to the back of the net. St Kevins, as is their spirit never gave up and some more heroic defending kept them scoreless for the remainder of the match. The final action saw Darragh Stone knock over another point that left the scoreline of 2-5 to St.Fechins to 0-1 for St. Kevins/Mattock/Glen Emmets.
After post-match celebrations, Maurice Murphy, Secretary Coiste Iomana presented the League trophy to captain Ciaran McGinty who accepted the trophy on behalf of St. Fechins and thanking the officials, parents and the opposition for a sporting encounter.
St. Fechins: Andrew McCarthy, Michael McGlew, Colm Hackett, Cathal Moynagh, Ciaran McGinty, Cathal Mulholland, Dan Reilly, Donal Quinn, Darragh Stone, Sean Keane, Paddy Price, Darragh O’Gorman, Andrew O’Reilly, Adam McCabe, Rory Dunne, Sean McLeer
