Kanturk hold nerve to beat holders Dromtariffe in U-21 hurling final

Kanturk 3-17 Dromtariffe 2-17

KANTURK withstood a late barrage from holders Dromtariffe to lay their hands on the Central Stores, Kanturk Duhallow U-21 ‘B’ Hurling Championship title in a thrilling decider at Glantane. At key stages, Kanturk looked that bit sharper and more composed to take the spoils for the first time since 2014.

Despite a delayed January schedule, a competitive contest surfaced, the game ebbed and flowed right from the start, Kanturk swinging ahead before being dragged back by a resilient

Dromtariffe.

However Kanturk offered a hunger for victory, showing a fluency, confidence and consistency to shade a rip roaring encounter.

Kanturk had made their intentions known from the start and held pole position once Ryan Walsh fired home a goal. In fairness, the Dromtariffe response was swift and decisive, helped by a fine goal from Tomás Howard.

Kanturk kept up the pressure, tightening their grip on the proceedings through the assertive play of Liam Cashman, Cian O’Sullivan, Dan O’Donoughue, Christopher Mullane and the Walsh brothers.

Points per Gavin Keneghen , Brian O’Sullivan and O’Donoughue boosted Kanturk’s prospects yet they were thankful to ‘keeper Barry Kenneally on a timely intervention for the challengers hold a 1-10 to 1-7 advantage at the break.

And Kanturk restarted the second half in encouraging fashion, corner forward Alan Walsh ideally placed to net from close range. At the opposite end, Dromtariffe seeking a four in a row of titles, might well had goaled, Brandon Murphy denied by a fabulous save from Kenneally.

Dromtariffe plugged away through the promptings of Ray Daly, Conor O’Callaghan, Howard, Evan and Brandon Murphy. Three points on the run narrowed the arrears to the minimum before Kanturk regained the initiative, a long delivery from Brian O’Sullivan found Alan Walsh to net a second goal.

The pendulum had swung very much in Kanturk’s direction after Ryan Walsh delivered a pair of massive points from distance. However Kanturk suffered a setback with Walsh forced to leave the park owing to injury as Dromtariffe sparked a comeback, helped by a timely Evan Murphy goal.

Though O’Donoughue added a brace of Kanturk points, Dromtariffe refused to wilt and stormed back with four points from Howard and O’Callaghan that left the minimum between the sides.

Though Dromtariffe battled on, they saw a late effort smothered by desperate Kanturk defending before the new champions rubberstamped victory on late points from O’Sullivan and O’Donoughue.

Francis Kenneally representing sponsors Central Stores, Kanturk presented the championship trophy to Kanturk captain Dan O’Donoughue. KANTURK: B Kenneally; A Murphy, L Cashman; C Breen, E Geaney, C O’Sullivan 0-2; D O’Donoughue 0-5 (2f), C Mullane 0-1; B O’Sullivan 0-2, R Walsh 1-4, E Hayes; G Keneghen 0-1, A Walsh 2-2. Subs: C O’Donoghue for G Keneghen, E Guiney for R Walsh.

DROMTARIFFE: G O’Keeffe; J O’Connell, R Daly; M Dennehy, C O’Callaghan 0-1, M Sheehan; K O’Sullivan, E Murphy 1-2; J O’Connor, T Howard 1-11 (0-7f), D O’Leary; B Murphy 0-3, B Herlihy. Sub: D Desmond for D O’Leary.

REFEREE: S Stokes (Tullylease)