Goals to the FOUR as Cats crowned Leinster champs
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Leinster MHC Final
Kilkenny 4-11
Galway 1-8
Kilkenny minor hurlers were crowned provincial champions for a 61st time following a thoroughly deserved victory of Galway in Laois Hire O’Moore Park last Saturday. Despite the terrible conditions in Portlaoise, both teams tried to put on a display worthy of a Leinster decider and while the Cats notched a couple of late majors to put more daylight between the sides, Niall Bergin’s outfit always looked in control of proceedings despite the scoreboard not reflecting their superiority.
The youngest of Clan Mullen, Jake, gave his side the lead from a placed ball effort in the second minute while it took Kenneth Burke’s outfit a further four minutes to open their account, a free from Jack Shaughnessy. As the wind blew and the torrential rain fell, players struggled to find their rhythm and the scoreboard reflected this as the next score took until the 14th minute to arrive and it was a nice point from Skehana-Mountbellew/Moylough’s Cillian Roche. Kilkenny hit the next two scores, a second placed ball from Mullen and a sweet strike from Thomastown’s Ben Nevin but then came the first major of the game and it was registered by the boys in maroon. Josh Dowling’s attempted clearance out of defence was blocked and Galway picked up possession via Jack Shaughnessy. The Loughrea man powered forward before giving a lovely hand pass to the supporting runner, Cian Hannon who kept his composure under pressure from the advancing Cats netminder Jake O’Doherty to slot home.
Bergin’s charges needed to respond, and they did just that with a lovely point from player of the match, Ollie O’Donovan just ahead of the first green flag raiser from the black and amber. Eoin Brennan’s pointed attempt fell short, but was spilled by Galway keeper, Oisin O’Connell. As the Castlegar player attempted to make his clearance, Jake Mullen blocked his effort before striking a low shot to the corner of the net. The Cats built on their goal by notching the next two points, another free from Jake and a nice point from Kevin Buggy. Ronan Cahalan replied for the Tribesmen to leave Kilkenny leading by three points at the short whistle.
When play resumed, Jake Mullen tagged on another placed ball effort before Galway opened their second half account, courtesy of Cillian Roche. Bergin’s boys then stepped on the gas and despite now playing against the wind, the Noresiders hit the next four scores to really demonstrate their dominance with scores from Eoin Brennan, Ollie O’Donovan and a brace from O’Loughlin Gaels Cian Byrne to extend the lead to seven points at the midway point of the second half. Galway’s answer was another point from their No.14, Cillian Roche, but the definitive score was about to come. Jake Mullen cut in from the right before striking for a point. His effort struck the post and dropped to the ground, deceiving Oisin O’Connell, but Ollie O’Donovan reacted quickly to pole the sliotar home. There would be further goals, and thankfully they came from those in stripes. Diarmuid Behan collected his keeper’s puck out and powered straight through the centre of the field before shortening his grip and batting past the helpless O’Connell.
The final nail in the Westerners coffin arrived shortly after. As a long range free dropped in and around the house, the ball fell to Cian Byrne who pounced on it, turned and rifled to the net. Roche and Shaughnessy split the Kilkenny posts, but their race was run as the long whistle sounded. Final score in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Kilkenny 4-11 Galway 1-8.
Kilkenny: Jake O’Doherty (Mooncoin); Oisin Henderson (Dicksboro), Larry Phelan (James Stephens), David McGee (O’Loughlin Gaels); Ben Nevin (Thomastown), Josh Dowling (Erin’s Own), PJ Mackey (Rower Inistioge); Diarmuid Behan (James Stephens), Brian Hickey (Dunnamaggin); Kevin Buggy (Erin’s Own), Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale); Eoin Brennan (Erin’s Own), Conor Holohan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Cian Byrne (O’Loughlin Gaels).
Subs: Adam Maher (O’Loughlin Gaels) for Holohan (52), Darragh Hickey (Emeralds) for Brian Hickey (57), Killian Ryan (Shamrocks Ballyhale) for McGee (60), Kealan Barcoe (Young Irelands) for Mackey (60), Sean Hanrahan (Tullogher Rosbercon) for O’Donovan (62).
Galway: Oisin O’Connell; Lee Murphy, Senan Coen, Aodhan McDonagh; Robert Burke, Shay Brady, Daire Zimmerer; Sean Moran, Cian Hannon; Gus Lohan, Jack Shaughnessy, Ronan Cahalan; Tadhg Mac Cartaigh, Cillian Roche, Ethan Coleman.
Subs: Jody Canning for Lohan (42), Mikey Maher for Coleman (46), Luke Tully for Coen (49), Cian O’Loughlin for Cahalan (57), Stephen Keane for Hannon (61).
Referee: Padraig Dunne (Laois)
