Late surge enough for Dwyers to reach decider

MICHAEL DWYERS ST PATRICK’S 3-14 4-08

A late surge of scores saw Michael Dwyers squeeze into the under-17 A hurling final with a three-point win over St Pat’s in Ballinakill on Saturday afternoon.

Having trailed for virtually the entire match, a Kevin Quinn point in the first minute of stoppage time put the west men in front and from there they powered to the finish line as mammoth scores from David Williamson and Conal Byrne sealed a memorable win.

Rewind some 70 odd minutes though and things did not begin as rosy for the west men as the Wicklow Town outfit belted in early goals and wreaked havoc up front.

Patrick Murphy was outstanding at wing forward for the losing side and was a constant thorn in the sights of the men in white. He jinked and weaved his way through for a couple of lovely points and at times seemed to be carrying a wand rather than a hurl such was the skill on show. Add this to goals from Nathan Goucher (2) and Paddy Moorehouse and Pat’s found themselves in a commanding position early on.

Dwyer’s were down by 7-9 points on a few occasions in the opening quarter but each time Pat’s threatened to run away Dwyer’s clawed them back with some well taken goals. Eoin Higgins bagged a pair of major’s as well as a solo effort from David Williamson and after 17 minutes the Dwyer’s scorecard read three goals but not a single point.

Oisín Brogan and Brandon Ryan made some memorable catches at the back and Dwyer’s slowly started to edge some of the battles in their back line. They hit four of the last five scores before half time, including a peach from Jack Grace to leave just two points in it at the interval, 3-6 to 3-4 in favour of St Pat’s.

Dwyer’s would remind you of Usain Bolt in is hay day as once more they were sluggish out of the blocks before powering home with a lightening finish in the second half.

Pat’s got going immediately and once more opened up a six point lead. Full forward Moorehouse fetched a long ball out of the air before swivelling and burying the sliotar in the top left corner. Midfielder James Byrne followed up with a sweet score on the left as again Pat’s creeped into distant view of the West side.

From here Dwyer’s upped their tempo, cut down on mistake’s and hung on in there. Where in the first half goals kept them alive, the second was won by a combination of brilliant defending and well taken long range points. Niall Gartland and Mark Reid made some telling interventions in defence and supplied great ball up the pitch where Conal Byrne, Williamson and a couple of belters from Eoin Higgins left just the minimum between the sides entering the final five minutes.

Higgins momentarily brought the side’s level before Moorehouse registered Pat’s first score in over 20 minutes to leave them one point to the good in the 58th minute.

Akin to Bolt, from here, Dwyer’s cantered home. That man Higgins levelled matters once more with a monstrous effort from 60 yards before a flowing move saw the ball worked to Kevin Quinn on the left wing, 30 yards out. He cut inside and curled the ball millimetres inside the right upright as Dwyer’s led for the first time.

Williamson and Byrne made sure of the win with further points as the whistle blew to jubilant scenes of Dwyer’s celebrations. Pat’s will be bitterly disappointed having led almost the entire match but it’s Micheal Dwyer’s who now face Bray Emmets for the under-17 A hurling crown.

Scorers - Micheal Dwyer’s: Eoin Higgins 2-5 (1-3F), David Williamson 1-2, Conal Byrne 0-2, Kevin Quinn 0-2, Jack Grace 0-2, Tom Moran 0-1.

St Pat’s: Paddy Moorehouse 2-1, Nathan Goucher 2-0 Patrick Murphy 0-3 James Byrne 0-3 (3F), Tom O’Brien 0-1.

Meitheal Cleary, Zach Deering, Niall Gartland, Oisín Brogan, Colm Keogh, Mark Reid, Brandon Ryan, Eoin Higgins, Conal Byrne, Kevin Quinn, Ruairí Phelan, David Williamson, Jack Grace, Tom Moran, Daniel Troy. Subs: Brian Keogh for Daniel Troy.

Conor O’Mahoney, Kyle Murphy, John O’Brien, Mick Moorehouse, Christy Moorehouse, Mikey Griffin, Eamonn Kehoe, TJ Kehoe, James Byrne, Patrick Murphy, Luke Sinnott, Tom O’Brien, Aaron Murphy, Paddy Moorehouse, Daniel O’Brien. Subs: Nathan Goucher for Mikey Griffin, Mikey Griffin for Luke Sinnott, Adam Sinnott for Nathan Goucher, Bill O’Brien for Adam Sinnott. Ciaran Manley