Ballycastle Gaels beat Clyda to take U-16 hurling title
Ballycastle Gaels 3-19 Clyda Rovers 2-8
A VERY strong Ballycastle Gaels side were worthy winners over Clyda Rovers in the Rebel Og Northern Region U-16 B (1) HC final at Kildorrery on Saturday.
From the start the winners, helped by four Cork players Pat Sheehan, Dylan Collins, Gearoid Roche and Cathal Wilson, took control. The winners forced a penalty in the third minute that Rovers keeper Luke Brophy saved well from Dylan Collins. Collins pointed the resultant ‘65’.
On top in the half backline and midfield sectors Gaels piled on the pressure with their half forwards very effective. The winners had their first goal in the 12th minute when a foul on John Sugrue led to a quickly taken free by Dylan Collins who picked out Gearoid Roche who goaled 1-4 to 0-1. Rovers had a number of wides.
Ballycastle continued to do well and a series of points by Pat Sheehan, Gearoid Roche and Darragh Whelan opened up a commanding lead 1-9 to 0-1 after 18 minutes. Gaels had their second goal by Donal Cooney and when Donal Roche netted in the 26th minute the winners were 3 -10 to 0-1 clear. In the closing moments Clyda had two points by Conor Corbett (free) and Cormac O’Reilly. At the break the winners led 3-10 to 0-3.
Clyda Rovers against the wind did well on the changeover. Pat Sheehan pointed for the Gaels before Eoin Walsh pointed a long range free for the Clyda side. Conor Corbett chipped in with three points as they closed the gap 3-11 to 0-7 after 39 minutes. Good play by Ben Nyhan led to a goal by Ben Buckley. Gearoid Roche followed with three points for Ballycastle with Dylan Collins adding another 3-15 to 1-7. Clyda Rovers had a goal in the 52nd minute by Conor Corbett but they were unable to get any closer. Ballycastle Gaels finished strong adding three points on the trot by Gearoid Roche, Dylan Collins (free) and Patrick Sheehan as they emerged winners by a 14-point margin.
After the game Don Forde I.T. Officer Rebel Og Board presented the O’Sullivan-Lewis sponsored cup to the winning captain Noah O’Brien.
BALLYCASTLE GAELS: F Hess, N O’Brien, J Gowen, L Burdett, J Sugrue, A O’Leary, E Twomey, P Sheehan 0-5, C Crowley 0-1, D Whelan 0-2, D Collins 0-3 (1f), D Roche 1-4, D Cooney 1-0, G Roche 1-4 (0-1f), C Wilson. Subs: B McCarthy for A O’Leary (inj). A Roche for D Whelan, S O’Riordan for D Cooney, B O’Driscoll for J Gowen.
CLYDA ROVERS: L Brophy, K Graham, E Walsh 0-1f, C Twohig, R Doherty, G Deane, R Deane, C Corbett 1-4 (0-3f), P Ryan, B Buckley 1-0, S Browne, D Lawlee, D Cooney, B Nyhan 0-2 (1f), C O’Reilly 0-1. Subs: S O’Donoghue for D Lawlee, C Walsh for D Cooney, N Daly for C Twohig.
REFEREE: Dave Farrell (Mitchelstown)