Crotta dig deep to be crowned

COUNTY UNDER-21 HC FINAL Crotta O’Neills 0-13 Lixnaw 0-11

PREVIEWS of particular games more often than not refer back to some previous meetings between the teams and in relation to last Saturday’s County Under 21 Hurling Championship final the obvious comparison was the 2016 Minor Championship final, a day in which Crotta won their first title at that particular grade, defeating a fancied Lixnaw side by two points 0-11 0-9.

Two years on, the build up hadn’t altered that much with Lixnaw given the number of senior championship winning players in their ranks being seen as the side with a greater spread of individual aces, and the team most likely to succeed.

The weather was similar with, as a result, scoring opportunities being at a premium and whoever would prevail was going to have to dig deep and come out on top in most of the challenges at close quarters which almost inevitably occur in conditions when wind and driving rain are a huge factor.

Crotta, with wind advantage, looked to be in a reasonably good position at half time leading by six points, but a second half scoring surge from Lixnaw, with Shane Conway contributing all of their seven scores from pointed frees, looked as if it might reel in Crotta’s advantage.

However, with the outcome delicately poised, Barry Mahony again stood tallest and strongest to edge his side over the line, and in the process collect the Man of the Match award, similar to the same selection in that minor final. Indeed his input in direct opposition to Shane Conway was ultimately a crucial factor in the eventual outcome.

Crotta got to grips with the situation from the outset, and were two points in front inside the opening four minutes. Both sides registered wides before Adam O’Sullivan effected a superb save from point blank range from Thomas Molyneaux in the ninth minute.

Certainly it was a significant moment in proceedings as a goal at that particular juncture would not alone have given Lixnaw the lead, but also, a big boost given that they were playing into an extremely strong breeze which largely limited their scoring opportunities throughout all of the first half.

Two fine efforts from play from both Declan O’Donoghue and Tomás O’Connor meant that Crotta had doubled their advantage by the eleventh minute, added to by a brilliant effort from the outstanding Jordan Conway which meant that Crotta’s dominance was firmly reflected on the scoreboard 0-5 0-0 at the end of the opening quarter.

John Buckley registered Lixnaw’s first score in the seventeenth minute and for a period with Shane Conway orchestrating matters with some probing deliveries Lixnaw came more into contention and had reduced the deficit to four points 0-6 0-2 by the 22nd minute.

However, with Barry Mahony contributing from placed balls, Declan O’Donoghue converting once again at the end of another penetrating run and Jordan Conway bringing his first half tally to four points Crotta retired for the half time break 0-10 to 0-4 in front.

It was questionable as to whether or not it might be sufficient given the strength of the breeze and when four unanswered pointed frees from Shane Conway reduced the deficit to just two points 0-10 0-8 by the 43rd minute the pendulum had swung firmly in favour of Lixnaw with Crotta, by this stage, largely reduced to sporadic attacks.

However, an extremely vital score from the hugely influential Jordan Conway afforded Crotta some breathing space, and with the full back line, anchored superbly by Eamonn Shanahan in the pivotal position providing a solid platform for them and Barry Mahony injecting a lot of impetus with some surging forward runs, they dug deep and had retained a three-point lead, 0-12 to 0-9, by the 50th minute.

Lixnaw, however, were still very much within striking distance with John Buckley, now operating in defence along with Brian McAuliffe in midfield performing to good effect for them.

However, they needed a goal to salvage the situation and it rarely looked likely, given that they struggled to break down Crotta’s pretty resilient and resolute rearguard unit.

With five minutes of normal time remaining a precarious two point lead still separated the sides providing for a pretty nervy ending as far as Crotta were concerned, given that, six minutes of added time followed.

However, they were equal to the task, with Barry O’Mahony and Shane Conway scoring further pointed frees at opposite ends before the finish. Overall, a deserved win for Crotta which owed much to input of such as, Adam O’Sullivan, Eamonn Shanahan, Barry Mahony, Tomás O’Connor, and, Jordan Conway throughout the spine of the team in the central positions.

It was a day in which the game

TALKING POINT

Three underage titles in such a short space of time has afforded Crotta the base on which to build their challenge for that elusive Senior title. They certainly have the ingredients, but there is no guarantee that the next step, which is the biggest of all, will be taken. However, at the moment, given their performances in this year’s Senior Championship, Crotta look like a club firmly heading in the right direction.

was going to be won and lost in the trenches, and in this respect Crotta dug deepest when the need was greatest.

CROTTA O’NEILLS: Adam O’Sullivan, Bill Keane, Eamonn Shanahan, David Behan, Darragh Behan, Barry Mahony (0-5f), Adrian Mahony, Tomas O’Connor (0-1), Sean O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donoghue, Jordan Conway (0-5; 1f), Raymond Nolan, James Sheehan, Jeaic McKenna, Declan O’Donoghue (0-2) Subs: Darragh Kennelly for J Sheehan, Donal Hunt for R Nolan, John Quilter for J Conway

LIXNAW: David Silles, Tom Foley, Jamie Galvin, Niall Cullen, Shane McElligott, Ger Stackpoole, William Costello, Brian Mc Auliffe, Jeremy McKenna, Robert Silles, Shane Conway (0-9; 8f), John Buckley (0-1), Jason Keane, Thomas Molyneaux, Colin Sheehy (0-1) Subs: Mike Dennehy for T Molyneaux, Jack Brosnan for R Silles

REFEREE: John Ross (Ballyduff)