Bride Rovers hurlers deserving winner of county minor title
Bride Rovers 2-21 Kilshannig 2-11
BRIDE Rovers with a powerful display proved too good for Kilshannig in the Rebel Og County MAHC final at Killavullen on Monday.
Kilshannig opened with a Jerome Murphy point but Rovers took the lead when a Pat O’Flynn ‘65’ was cleared but the rebound broke to Cian Hogan who belted to the net. From here on the Rathcormac side held the lead. Good play by Brian Roche led to a fine Cian Hogan point. Conor Barry landed a ‘65’ and followed with a seventh minute pointed free 1-3 to 0-1. Good play by Kieran Twomey led to a point by Jack Twomey. Conor Barry replied for the winners.
Good work by James O’Hanlon led to a point for Kilshannig by Jack Twomey. Jack Lyons pointed a sideline cut and the lead was down to a goal 1-4 to 0-4. Kieran Twomey with a pointed free left just two between the sides. Rovers had their second goal when a good delivery from midfield found Brian Roche who netted and opened up a double scores lead 2-4 to 0-5.
Bride Rovers held a comfortable lead as both sides exchanged points. They were 2-7 to 0-7 clear 2-8 to 0-8, 2-9 to 0-9 and by the 25th minute 2-10 to 0-10 ahead. In the closing moments both Rovers midfielders Kieran Kearney and Eoin Roche added points that gave them an interval lead 2-12 to 0-10.
Conor Barry pointed a free on the resumption. Kilshannig had a goal by Michael Cogan after good play by Jack Lyons. Three points by the outstanding Kieran Kearney, Brian Roche and Pat O’Flynn (free) cancelled out the goal as the winners led 2-16 to 1-10 by the 49th minute.
Kilshannig never gave up – they had a goal by Jack Lyons with Jack Twomey with a point cutting the lead to five points 2-16 to 2-11. This proved to be the last score for the Avondhu side.
The winners finished very strong with five points on the trot by Conor Barry (3) and Cian Hogan (2). Rovers keeper Ben Hogan made two great saves in the closing moments as Kilshannig tried hard for goals.
John Purcell, Rebel Og Central chairman, presented the cup to the winning joint captains John O’Sullivan and Jordan Mannix.
It marked a massive week for Bride Rovers as on Saturday they won the County U-16 AHC title beating Fermoy 1-10 to 0-8 to make it a massive double. Four of the County minor winning side were also involved in the U-16 A HC win – Ruairi O’Syllivan, Pat O’Flynn, Kieran Kearney and Cian Hogan. BRIDE ROVERS: Ben Hogan, John O’Sullivan, Jordan Mannix, Tom Murray, Ruairi O’Sullivan, Pat O’Flynn 0-1f, Peter O’Leary, Kieran Kearney 0-3, Eoin Roche 0-1, Griffen O’Sullivan, Cian Hogan 1-3, Conleith Ryan, Brian Roche 1-3, Shane O’Flynn 0-1, Conor Barry 0-9 (3f, 1 ‘65’).
KILSHANNIG: David Kearney, Denis Taylor, Bill Curtin, Conor McMahon, Eanna O’Hanlon, Barry O’Shea, Killian Barrow, Tony Brennan, Colm O’Shea, James O’Hanlon 0-1, Kieran Twomey 0-5 (3f), Jack Lyons 1-1 (0-1 s/l), Jerome Murphy, Jack Twomey 0-4, Michael Cogan 1-0. Sub: David O’Riordan for Killian Barrow.
REFEREE: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers)