Fermoy win U-21 ‘A’ hurling crown
Fermoy 0-14 Kilworth 0-1
FERMOY are this year’s Ballylough Milling Under-21 AHC champions after they defeated their great rivals Kilworth in the final at Araglin on Saturday.
The inclement weather made playing conditions rather difficult with wind and rain the order of the evening. Over the hour Fermoy found scores much easier to come by with 8 of their scores coming from play whereas Kilworth depended too much on frees scoring just two points from play over the course of the game.
The opening stages were keenly contested with the sides level for the fourth time at 0-4 each by the 17th minute the points by Brian Sheehan (3) Shane Aherne (2) Eric Delaney, David Lardner and Jeremy Saich for their respective teams. However as the half went on Fermoy gained control with Greg Larnder, James Molloy, Ronan Morrisson, David Lardner, Eric Delaney, Adam Creed, Shane Aherne and ‘man of the match’ Ross O’Sullivan very effective. A good delivery by Greg Lardner set up Shane Aherne for a good point and a lead they wouldn’t surrender for the rest of the game.
Further pressure yielded points by Eric Delaney (2) David Lardner and Adam Creed to move 0-9 to 0-4 by the 29th minute. Kilworth staged a late rally. They forced the Fermoy defence to concede two unnecessary frees that were punished by Brian Sheehan that closed the gap to three points at the break.
On the changeover despite Eric Delaney getting the scoring under way with a free for Fermoy it was Kilworth that enjoyed their best spell for most of the third quarter with David Twomey, Timmy Dunne, Daniel O’Regan, Jeremy Saich and Eoin McGrath doing very well. Brian Sheehan pointed two frees that reduced the margin to 0-10 to 0-8 by the 39th minute.
Kilworth also created a goal scoring opportunity when Ronan Abernethy’s attempt from a crowded goal line was well saved by the Fermoy keeper John Wales.
Over the next 11 minutes pointed frees continued to be traded between Eric Delaney and Brian Sheehan before the games first score from play in this half came in the 51st minute when Jeremy Saich scored a great point from out near the sideline 0-13 to 0-11.
In the closing stages Kilworth tried hard for scores but at times they found it very difficult to break down the Fermoy full backline of Luke Aherne, Ross O’Sullivan and Jack Scannell. Both sides added a late point as Fermoy held on for a close but deserved victory.
After the game Pat O’Keeffe on behalf of sponsors Ballylough Milling presented the cup to the victorious captain Shane Aherne in the presence of North Cork Board Treasurer John Roche.
FERMOY: J Wales, L Aherne, R O’Sullivan, J Scannell, J Molloy, G Lardner, R Morrisson, D Lardner 0-3, N Collins, D O’Flynn, D Dawson, C Barry, E Delaney 0-7 (0-6f), S Aherne 0-3, A Creed 0-1. Subs: D O’Callaghan for C Barry, S McCarthy for N Collins, C Hurley for D O’Flynn (inj).
KILWORTH: A O’Brien, J McCarthy, E McGrath, K Condon, D O’Regan, D Twomey, T Dunne, J Saich 0-2, T Hynes, J Sheehan, R Abernethy, J Kenneally, C Donnellan, B Sheehan 0-10f, C Gowen.
REFEREE: Colm Maher (Buttevant)