Doneraile take Rebel Og Minor B2 hurling title

Doneraile 1-14 Kilara Og 0-12

DONERAILE captured the Newmarket Motors sponsored Rebel Og Minor B2 HC title at Shanballymore on Monday evening when they defeated Kilara Og in the final. The better balanced Doneraile outfit laid the platform for victory with an impressive first half display and even though they had to withstand a stern revival by the Kilworth/Araglin combination on the changeover there was no denying them a deserved victory.

From the offset Doneraile started at a blistering pace with Nathan Relihan, Kevin Smith, Cian Donlon, Tony Flynn, Sean Enright, Darren Linehan, Stephen Ryan and Darragh O’Keeffe playing leading roles. They were three points to the good before Kilara Og registered their first score in the 7th minute when Eoin Carey pointed a free. However at this early stage Doneraile were in the ascendancy. Darragh O’Keeffe reeled off a point before good work by Sean Enright saw Stephen Ryan score a great point from long range.

Further pressure saw them extend their advantage 0-8 to 0-1 by the end of the first quarter when Darren Linehan, Nathan Relihan and Sean Enright chipped in with some well taken points. As the half went on Kilara Og settled with Diarmuid Allen making his presence felt at centre back. In attack Eoin Carey was their main marksman and he reeled off three points in as many minutes before Diarmuid Allen with a long range point in the 20th minute left just three points between the teams 0-8 to 0-5.

At this stage Kilara Og looked right back in proceedings. However, Doneraile upped their efforts once again. Darren Linehan with two frees helped put a bit of daylight between the teams before they struck for the only goal of the game in the 28th minute when Darragh O’Keeffe was denied by the Kilara Og keeper Killian Heggtveit with the rebound falling kindly into the path of the inrushing Aidan Donoghue who finished to the net from close range 1-10 to 0-5. In the closing moments both teams traded a pointed free as Doneraile held an 8 point cushion at the interval.

For the second half Kilara Og came out a much improved side. Their backline tightened up greatly holding Doneraile to just three points in this half. The Kilara Og outfit had some very good displays by Jack Casey, PJ Aherne, Diarmuid Allen, Sean Hegarty, Paul Hynes, Eoin Carey, Brian Casey and second half substitute Luke Carey as they tried to claw back their opponents lead. They should have had a dream start to this half but two splendid saves by the Doneraile keeper Billy Sheedy from Eoin Carey and Michael Sheehan’s efforts at goal kept them at bay. Nevertheless points by Eoin Carey saw them come within 1-12 to 0-9 as the game headed into the last quarter – the Doneraile point by Darragh O’Keeffe.

Doneraile found it hard to break down the Kilara Og defence in this half. In the 47th minute they created a goal scoring opportunity but it was cleared to safety by the Kilara Og full backline. Doneraile’s response was immediate. Sean Enright scored a great point from a free from out near the side line while Darren Linehan with another free in the 50th minute made it 1-14 to 0-9. The last ten minutes saw Kilara Og throw caution to the wind. Eoin Carey added three more points for his side while they also had a goal scoring chance cleared off the line by the Doneraile keeper Billy Sheedy in the 54th minute. In the end time ran out for the Kilara Og outfit and it was Doneraile that claimed a deserved win.

After the game Patsy O’Mahony Treasurer of the Rebel Og Northern Board presented the cup to the victorious captain Kevin Smith. DONERAILE: B Sheedy, J Carroll, C Donlon, B Kelleher, K Smith, S Enright 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘65’), T Flynn, S Ryan 0-2, N Relihan 0-1, D Linehan 0-6 (5f), W Hunter-Hickey, A Donoghue 1-0, D O’Keeffe 0-2,

KILARA OG: K Heggtveit, J Casey, PJ Aherne, J Tobin-Allen, M Gowen, D Allen 0-1, S Hegarty, P Hynes, L Coffey, B Casey, A Hegarty, E Carey 0-11 (7f), M Sheehan. L Carey for A Hegarty,