Shels sweep to fine title win
Winners turn on the style to account for Horeswood
SHELMALIERS 5-19 HORESWOOD 0-13
CLASSY SHELMALIERS turned on the style to fashion an emphatic victory over a battling Horeswood outfit in this Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Division 1 championship final in Grantstown on Saturday.
This was as impressive a display as one would wish to see in this grade. Shelmaliers hurled through this 60 minutes like a young group inspired, and with their sights firmly set on victory.
The quality of their hurling was outstanding, with the first touch and striking being excellent, while they utilised the ball with precise long passes that resulted in so many outstanding scores. Certainly on the evidence of this showing, the Over The Water club have some outstanding young talent emerging.
For Horeswood this was a step too far, but one still had to admire the manner in which they kept on battling to the final whistle. They had moments of fine hurling but lacked the penetration in attack to keep them in the game, although some of their players looked quite comfortable in this company.
Centre-back James Murphy was impressive for the losers, while midfielder Conor Foley would have challenged for player of the match such was his outstanding play and ability to pick off points, while his stickwork and striking was an example to those around him.
Cathal Parker gave his all from the centre-forward position and looks a real prospect for the future, while ‘keeper William Foley pulled off a string of outstanding saves and could do little with the shots that beat him.
Horeswood had a point inside one minute of the start when Conor Foley struck excellently off his left side out from the sideline, but that was the only time they led in the game, as within four minutes an excellent Ryan Kielty point had the sides level.
Three minutes later the Shels took the lead when full-forward Michael Connors drove through the centre to finish to the net, with Cian Doyle (free) and Kielty once again following with quickfire points.
A Cathal Parker point kept the opposition in contention, trailing by 1-3 to 0-2 after eleven minutes.
However, one minute later, the Shels showed great composure in their approach play, creating space for corner-forward Cathal Harding, who cut inside to find the net from an acute angle.
Conor Foley responded with a huge point, but with Cian Doyle outstanding at midfield, along with the superb Seán Cullen and Luke Roche in defence, the Shels assumed control.
They picked off some excellent points from a variety of angles, while Foley’s accuracy gave Horeswood a lifeline, but with the Shels leading by 2-10 to 0-8 at the interval, they looked well on the way to the title.
On the change of ends, Conor Foley started with a 60-metre pointed free, but with Cian Doyle finding the range from a free and ‘65, the Shels quickly regained control.
By the 40th minute they had built up a 2-14 to 0-10 lead, while one minute later, wing-forward Darren O’Leary created space and found the net with a splendid finish, leaving no way back for the opposition.
Just to sum up Horeswood’s frustration, having built a promising attack they worked the ball across the goalmouth but despite three attempts were unable to find a passage through, with the ball cleared off the line on each occasion. It was that type of day for the Horeswood boys.
With the result now a foregone conclusion, Shelmaliers finished out the game in some style, adding goals through Robbie Delaney and Cathal Harding, while the losers’ ‘keeper, William Foley, also made outstanding saves from both
Shelmaliers: Jack Redmond; Kieran Hearne, Seán Cullen, Mark Scallan; Shane Kelly, Luke Roche (0-1), Robbie Morris; Cian Doyle (0-7, 6 frees, 1 ’65), Robbie Delaney (1-0); Barry Cloake, Ryan Kielty (0-3), Darren O’Leary (1-0); Aaron Kinsella (0-4), Michael Connors (1-2), Cathal Harding (2-2). Subs. - Niall Power for Morris, Eoin McCarthy for Connors, Adam Murphy for Roche, also Jack O’Leary, Eoin Doyle, Ryan Doyle, Luke Cullen, Brian Donohoe, Scott Dempsey.
Horeswood: William Foley; James Dempsey, Alan Kehoe, James Rice; Shane Rowe, James Murphy, Andrew Crosbie; Conor Foley (0-10, 5 frees, 2 ’65s), Ewan Russell; Adam Harris (0-1), Cathal Parker (0-1), Tom Dempsey; Ryan Mylett (0-1), Lee Kent, Cormac Shannon. Subs. - Cian Crosbie for Shannon, Jason Roberts for Kent, also Dmitry Murphy-Zagaynov, Conor O’Leary, Conor Lyng, Rory Hunt, Josh Shannon, Liam Sinnott.
Referee: David O’Leary (Rathnure).