Back to back county titles for Davis College Mallow hurlers
Davis College, Mallow 4-18 Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant 0-9
DAVIS College had a comprehensive win in the County Senior C Post Primary Schools Hurling Final on Thursday last in the 4G Pitch at Páirc Úi Chaoimh. On a perfect surface, a very strong second half showing from the Mallow school meant they overcame a youthful Buttevant side to win their second county crown in-a-row.
Davis College got off to the perfect start with a fine move completed when the excellent Danny Buckley rifled a goal to the bottom corner after just one minute of play. Coláiste Mhuire responded immediately with a pointed free. Ronan Sheehan hit back for the Mallow school with a point of his own before Coláiste Mhuire quickly cancelled that score out again when they pointed from distance.
The highly effective Ronan Sheehan hit back with a vital score in the game, on the fifth minute he crashed the ball home from close distance to leave the score line 2-1 to 0-2 after just five minutes of play.
With both teams settling into the quick pace on the AstroTurf, the defences began to tighten their grip on the forwards game. Coláiste Mhuire got a point on ten minutes before Danny Buckley hit back with a fine effort on the wing.
The Buttevant side indicated they were not going away though, and after some excellent defending, they fought back with the next three points to leave it 2-2 to 0-6 after twenty minutes. Davis College were thankful to Aaron Cremin in goals who made two sure saves to thwart the Buttevant side.
Davis College had a purple patch just before the short whistle though with Ronan Sheehan adding three points from play to compliment a point each from Jack Lyons and Danny Buckley. The influence of Padraig Looney, Matthew McGlynn and Dylan Flanagan proved important as the Mallow school went in 2-7 to 0-6 at the turnover.
The second half saw a much more rounded performance from Davis College with Daniel Fitzpatrick, Cillian Barrow, Cathail O’ Sullivan and Eddie Cotter in mean form in defence while Michael Fresh and Darragh Buckley began to have a major influence in midfield.
Ronan Sheehan hit the first three points of the half before James Fitzpatrick got on the score sheet with an excellent score from distance. Coláiste Mhuire had the next point but Danny Buckley killed off the game with his second goal to make it 3-11 to 0-7 after forty two minutes.
Lyons, Buckley, Sheehan, Fitzpatrick and Eddie Cotter added further points before Coláiste Mhuire got two more scores. Jack Lyons and the young Jake Buckley added two more for Davis College before Coláiste Mhuire hit their tenth point of the day.
Danny Buckley capped off a wonderful individual performance with his hat trick goal before the final whistle.
The final score was 4-18 to 0-10 as Davis College proved just too strong on the day as a young Coláiste Mhuire side battled gamely until the end. Matthew McGlynn and Danny Buckley received the cup from Neil O’ Keeffe of the Post Primary Games Board on behalf of the school.
DAVIS COLLEGE: Aaron Cremin (Mallow), Padraig Looney (Killavullen), Daniel Fitzpatrick (Clyda Rovers), Cillian Barrow (Kilshannig), Eddie Cotter (Killavullen) 0-1, Matthew McGlynn (Mallow, Joint Captain), Cathail O’ Sullivan (Kilshannig), Darragh Buckley (Clyda Rovers), Michael Fresh (Killavullen), Dylan Flanagan (Clyda Rovers), Ronan Sheehan (Mallow) 1-8 (2f), Jack Lyons (Kilshannig) 0-3, James Fitzpatrick (Killavullen) 0-2, Danny Buckley (Mallow, Joint Captain) 3-3, Eoghan Buckley (Donoughmore) Subs: Aidan Walsh (Clyda Rovers), Shane Lyons (Kilshannig), Jake Buckley (Shanballymore) 0-1, Mike O’ Connor (Killavullen), Caine Kiely (Banteer), Conor Healy (Mallow), Fionn Woods (Mallow), Noah Butler (Killavullen)