Charleville and Eire Og all square

Charleville 1-14 Eire Og 1-14

A DRAW was a fitting result in this Rebel Og Under 16 A Co Hurling championship final at Mourneabbey on Saturday. The sides were level on seven occasions over the hour.

Cathal Sheehan opened the scoring with a pointed free for Eire Og. David Forde replied soon after. David Forde with another free edged the Rathluirc side in front. Cathal Sheehan levelled 0-2 each after seven minutes. They were also deadlocked at 0-3 each by the 10th minute. Two further pointed frees by David Forde edged his side two clear.

Darragh Coakley with a long range pointed free cut the lead to two points. Good play by Davy O’Neill led to a fine point by David Forde. In injury time David Forde with another free gave Charleville an interval lead 0-9 to 0-5.

Eire Og were a much improved side on the restart. Good play in the 32nd minute by Diarmuid Dillon led to a cracking goal by Tommy Murphy. The Mid Cork side were very impressive in the half backline. Good play by Cormac Harris led to an equaliser by Oisin O’Shea. Eire Og edged ahead when Darragh Crowley worked well for Jack Sheehan who pointed. Both sides were off target. Dylan O’Brien had a goal for the Avondhu side entering the final quarter.

Cathal Sheehan with two rapid pointed frees had the sides level at 1-9 each. Conor Reynolds saved well from Darragh O’Connell. Charleville’s Killian Cagney was very impressive at centre back for Charleville. A long range free by Cagney found Joey Herbert who pointed under pressure 1-10 to 1-9.

Charleville were reduced to fourteen players with Eire Og forcing level with another Cathal Sheehan pointed free 1-10 each. The Mid Cork side edged ahead with points by Tommy Murphy and Jack Sheehan. Charleville came back strong. Killian Cagney pointed four late long range pointed frees as the sides were level at 1-12 and 1-13 each.

In the dying moments Cagney struck his fourth pointed free with Cathal Sheehan levelling deep in injury time as the sides will meet again.

CHARLEVILLE: C Reynolds, B Crowley, B Forde, J O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, K Cagney 0-4f. J Baker, J Kavanagh, S McCarthy, S Liddy, D O’Brien 1-0, O O’Callaghan, D Forde 0-7 (6f) D O’Neill, J Herbert 0-3. Subs: R Pitman for O O’Callaghan, G Herbert for D O’Sullivan (inj)

EIRE OG: E O’Shea, A O’Sullivan, S Lordan, F Dineen, D Coakley 0-1f, C Harris, S O’Donovan, D Dillon, O O’Shea 0-2, D O’Connell, T Murphy 1-1, H Murphy, R Broderick, J Sheehan, C Sheehan 0-8 (6f). Subs: D Casey for R Broderick, C Murphy for O O’Shea.

REFEREE: Colm Maher (Buttevant)