Craanford come home from Ulster with All-Ireland

THE UNDER-14 hurlers from the Craanford Fr. O’Regan’s club were celebrating with the All-Ireland Féile na nGael Division 7 trophy firmly in their hands.

The title was annexed after a memorable weekend in Ulster, with their path to the knockout stages made secure as a result of three successive group stage victories.

Host club Na Fianna from Middletown in Armagh were the first to fall on a 6-5 to 1-2 scoreline, and next on the list were Castledawson from Derry who were defeated by 4-11 to 1-6.

Carrick from Leitrim were no match for Craanford as they shipped a twelve-point beating (1-14 to 1-2), and the quality of opposition was stepped up considerably for the semi-final.

It was Craanford’s first time to meet a club from another hurling stronghold, but their determination shone through as they accounted for Claughaun from Limerick with a commanding 3-6 to nil success.

The final against Killeavy from Armagh - the home club of football star Stevie McDonnell - was a mighty battle, but the boys from the Gorey District were well able to cope with the pressure as they claimed All-Ireland glory on a 3-3 to 2-1 scoreline.

Despite the concession of an early goal, Jack Fleming’s strike ensured that Craanford were back on level terms by half-time.

Killeavy netted for a second time on the re-start, but Eamonn Doran’s cracker at the other end was a real catalyst as his team never looked back.

Joseph Conroy, Doran and Cormac Doyle added points, before a long-range free from Doran slipped from the full-back’s grasp and ended up in the net.

Craanford: Dean Wadding; Kevin Hyland, Cormac Doyle, Ciarán McLoughlin; Jack Curran, Martin Kavanagh, Aidan Kavanagh; Eamonn Doran, Brendan Tobin; Patrick Kavanagh, Pádraig Tobin, Joseph Conroy; Eoin Byrne, Jack Fleming, Aodhán Whitty. Subs. - Pat Doyle, James Doyle, Maurice Tobin, Brendan Greene, Cormac Redmond, Pádraic Donoghue.