MW Hire Dunmore Park was in immaculate condition for the Under-13 Boys Roinn B County Final, where two in-form sides, Urlingford and The Rower Inistioge met after edging their respective semi-finals. With a lively crowd gathered and John McCormack taking charge of proceedings, anticipation was high. Urlingford’s sixth-class duo, Dylan Tobin and Jayden Elfehli, won the toss and wisely chose to play with a strong breeze at their backs.
The opening passages were played at a blistering pace. Both teams moved the ball crisply, carving out promising buildups but finding no early joy on the scoreboard thanks to disciplined defending at both ends. After six tense minutes, Urlingford finally struck the opening blow. Padraig Bourke burst through the centre with a surging run before feeding Eoin Gibbons, who split the posts to settle his side.
The Rower responded admirably, pushing forward in numbers, but Urlingford’s defensive unit, anchored by the ever-reliable goalkeeper Alex Cashin refused to yield. With just a single point on the board after 12 minutes, The Rower would have been pleased with their resilience into the wind. But Urlingford then clicked into a higher gear.
A high, dangerous ball caused chaos in The Rower square, and Paudie Power, one of Urlingford’s heroes in their semi-final, reacted quickest, fisting home a crucial goal. Confidence surged. Wing-backs Oisín Sweetman and Conal Lyng, along with tournament standout Dara Hickey, drove wave after wave of attacks. Skilful forwards Cian Doyle and Will Bergin profited from the quality supply, linking beautifully as Urlingford tacked on further scores.
In the closing stages of the half, The Rower threatened, but courageous defending from the likes of David Maev and the tenacious Nial Rothwell and Cillian Tobin kept them at bay. Three more points from Gibbons ensured Urlingford reached the break with a commanding 1-6 to 0-0 lead.
With the wind now favouring The Rower, the game remained far from settled. Their intent was clear immediately after the restart, pouncing for a well-taken goal that left Cashin with no chance. Suddenly, the pressure was on. But when leaders were needed most, Hickey and Maev stood tallest, shutting down attacks and setting the tone defensively.
The Rower pushed hard throughout the half, yet Cashin’s composure and sharp reflexes repeatedly denied them. Urlingford refused to panic, sticking to their flowing passing game. Darragh Joyce emerged as a driving force, carrying ball with pace and intelligence, creating chances for Bergin, Gibbons and Power, who accounted for Urlingford’s four second-half points. A pointed free gave The Rower a consolation, but they could not close the gap as Urlingford finished deserved 1-10 to 1-2 winners.
Fourth-class players contributed superbly, and substitutes Jayden Elfehli, Rae Choe and Dylan Tobin made strong impacts. At the final whistle, Urlingford celebrated with class, showing warm sportsmanship toward a gallant Rower side. Joint captains Dara Hickey and Padraig Bourke lifted the cup to rapturous cheers, with Cashin and Bergin speaking impressively afterwards. For a group who had endured heartbreak in recent seasons, this triumph felt like the perfect fairy tale ending, and the beginning of an exciting future.
