Four goal Ballyduff triumph in the Plate decider
U16 COUNTY HURLING PLATE FINAL
Ballyduff 4-7 Kenmare/Kilgarvan 2-4
BALLYDUFF and Kenmare/Kilgarvan served up a fine game of hurling in Lewis Rd last Sunday, but Kenmare / Kilgravan were unfortunately missing a few of their top guns and a very sharp, very skilful Ballyduff side made them pay the price.
The winners drew first blood with Ethan O’Connor neatly chipping over. Jake Brosnan added a beauty from long range and once Dylan Moriarty cleverly worked the sliotar into full forward Sean Lucid.
A foul on Tomás Creedon saw Jack Foley open Kenmare/Kilgarvan’s account, while Ethan O’Connor replied in kind after a foul on James McCarthy. In truth, Kenmare/Kilgarvan were getting good possession and battling hard, but struggling to penetrate a superb Ballyduff.
When they did get through, Darragh Quinlan made a superb save to deny Dan McCarthy, but a very industrious Padraig Cronin did finally get in for a fantastic goal. However, the cheers had hardly died down before Ballyduff struck for Sean Lucid’s second goal and Aidan O’Connor added another.
Jack Foley and James McCarthy closed out the half strongly to keep Kenmare/Kilgarvan in the hunt.
Half-time Ballyduff 3-3 Kenmare/Kilgarvan 1-3
Ballyduff opened the second half just as strongly as the first, pointing through Jake Brosnan from distance and Kevin Goulding adding a majestic effort. Dylan Moriarty swung over a free before a long ball from Kevin Goulding deceived everybody – again, Lucid was key to the pressure inside – and dropped into the net. Dylan Moriarty made it 4-7 to 1-3.
Kenmare / Kilgarvan remained staunch and undaunted, with Jack Foley’s superbly struck free deflected over the crossbar by Darragh Quinlan.
Aidan O’Connor added a Ballyduff goal, but Quinlan had to be just as superb twice more against Cian O’Sullivan and James McCarthy before Tomas Creedon finally got in for a Kenmare/Kilgarvan goal.
It was only consolation at that stage though, with the final whistle sounding shortly after.
Chairman Coiste na nÓg Tom Keane presented the Plate to Ballyduff captain Stephen O’Carroll. BALLYDUFF: Darragh Quinlan, Kyle O’Connor, Padraig Walsh, Stephen O’Carroll (capt.), J.P. O’Carroll, Darragh Slattery, Daniel Kennelly, Jake Brosnan (0-2), Kevin Goulding (1-0), Dylan Moriarty (0-2, 1f), Liam Dowling, Andrew Murphy, Aidan O’Connor (1-0), Sean Lucid (2-0), Ethan O’Connor (0-2, 1f) Subs: Aaron McCarthy, Johnny Kennelly, Sean O’Connor, Martin Brosnan-Mannix, Aaron McCabe, Eric Daly
KENMARE/KILGARVAN: Senan Sheehy, Eoin O’Shea, Mark Looney, Eugene O’Sullivan, Tommy Cronin, Kieran Harrington, Cian O’Sullivan, Jack Foley (0-3, 2f), Tomás Creedon (1-0), Darragh Creedon, James McCarthy (0-1), Padraig Cronin (1-0), Cian Hanley, Dan McCarthy, Ronan Murphy Subs: Dion Murphy, Darragh O’Brien, Tadhg O’Donoghue, Gearoid Doyle, Tom Quinlan, Sean Lucey, Liam Palmer, Gary Randles
REFEREE: Paddy White (Kerins O’Rahillys)