So close for Castlelyons in 2013
Heartbreak for Castlelyons in 2013, when they went down to a single point defeat to Youghal in Páirc Uí Rinn. Having been the dominant side in the opening half on balance, they should have taken a bigger lead into half-time, however were only ahead by a point, 0-5 to 0-4.
The Castlelyons management team of Con Lawlor, Ger McCarthy and John Boylan would be justified in feeling hard done by.
Hereunder, we carry the club’s report on that encounter from October 2013.
PI HURLING FINAL 2013 Castlelyons 0-10 Youghal 0-11
Castlelyons played Youghal in the PI hurling county final in Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday night last (Oct 12th). Played before a very large crowd on a perfect night for hurling this turned out to be a battle right to the very end.
Castlelyons opened the match very well and took the game to Youghal from the off. After a few half chances C Spillane gave us the lead from a free after 5 mins. He doubled the lead from another free mins later before Youghal had their first score also from a free after 10 mins.
This set the tone for the half with both defences on top and the first score from play not coming until the 27th minute. C Spillane added 2 more frees before A O’Sullivan scored our first from play just before half time to go in leading 0-05 to 0-04.
The second half began in same fashion with both defences on top and scores very hard to come by. We hit our purple patch in the next 10 mins and with C Spillane unerring from frees we opened up a lead of 3 points and when P Mahon hit a long range point, our last of the night, we could sense victory.
The experience Youghal have gained over the last 3 years told at this stage when they began to take control of the game in the last 10 mins and scored the last 4 points with the winning score going over in added time. A cruel way for our gallant team to lose this match as this was our first time being behind all night.
Team: S O’Sullivan, B Carroll, B O’Connell, T Carroll, C O’Leary, L Sexton, C McGann, C Barry, P Mahon (0-1), C Spillane (0-8, 0-7f), B Fitzgerald, A O’Sullivan (0-1), A Spillane, T McCarthy and A Fenton. Subs used: R Bransfield and R O’Regan.