St Colman’s capture Dean Ryan title
St Colman’s 0-14 Ardscoil Ris 1-10
FOLLOWING a thrilling finish to this Dean Ryan (Munster Under 16.5) HC final at Kilmallock on Friday, Ben Nyhan’s point in the closing stages saw St Colman’s edge out Ardscoil Ris (Limerick) by the narrowest of margins.
The treacherous weather prior to and during the game made playing conditions most difficult. The Limerick side were first to settle and within seconds of the throw in struck for the only goal of the game by Patrick O’Neill. It was all Ardscoil Ris at this early stage and by the 7th minute they raced 1-3 to 0-1 clear.
As the half went on St Colman’s quickly got to grips. Their entire back line tightened up greatly as they cut off the supply the Ardscoil Ris forwards enjoyed during the opening sequences.
In attack the hugely impressive Dan Roche turned in a huge display for the North Cork side and six points on the spin by the Ballyhooly clubman had the sides back on parity at 1-3 to 0-6 by the 20th minute.
In the run up to the break exchanges were very close. They were tied again at 1-4 to 0-7 before St Colman’s hit the front for the first time in the game when Ben Nodwell sent over in the 28th minute. Back came Ardscoil Ris with Patrick O’Neill scoring a fine point that had the teams tied at the break for the third occasion at 0-8 to 1-5.
On the changeover scores were at a premium during the entire third quarter as the game remained firmly in the balance with Ardscoil Ris holding a slender 1-8 to 0-9 advantage. This continued to be the trend and by the 52nd minute it was all the play for when tied at 1-9 to 0-12. Ardscoil Ris took the lead again when Shane O’Riordan sent over in what proved to be their last score of the game.
Instead it was St Colman’s that shaded matters in the closing moments. They forced level when Dan Roche pointed. With a replay looming St Colman’s struck for the match winning score in the 58th minute when Ben Nyhan pointed.
Ardscoil Ris threw caution to the wind in the final moments to secure the equalising score but it was St Colman’s back line of Luke Carey, Conor Hazelwood, David Barry, Kyle Wallace, Adam Walsh and Cillian Fitzpatrick that held firm in the closing moments as they kept their opponents at bay. In the end St Colman’s held out for victory and retain the title they last held in 2017. ST COLMAN’S: C McCarthy (Castlelyons), L Carey (Kilworth), C Hazelwood (Bride Rovers), D Barry (do), K Wallace (St Catherine’s), A Walsh (Bride Rovers), C Fitzpatrick (Fermoy), G O’Brien (St Catherine’s), C Tobin (Bride Rovers), B Nyhan 0-1 (Clyda Rovers), D Roche 0-11 (8f) (Ballyhooly), M O’Driscoll (Watergrasshill), B Nodwell 0-1 (Sarsfields), E Cashman 0-1 (Bride Rovers), B Lehane (Watergrasshill). Sub: R O’Riordan (Kilworth) for B Lehane.
ARDSCOIL RIS: S Gully, B O’Keeffe, J Fitzgerald, C Flynn, J J Carey, V Harrington, C Scully, D Lynch 0-2, W Kearns, R O’Byrne, N O’Farrell 0-4f, J Golden, P O’Neill 1-1, D Kennedy, S O’Brien 0-3. Sub: D Casey for R O’Byrne.
REFEREE: Noel Cosgrave (Tipperary)