Dwyers in control
League and championship double for talented squad
at Ballinakill MICHAEL DWYERS GLENEALY 6-6 0-4
MICHAEL DWYERS made it a league and championship double with an accomplished display against Glenealy on Friday evening last in the Under-15 ‘A’ Hurling Championship final in Ballinakil. A man of the match display by Sam Gough yielded 4-1 to round of a fine individual performance.
Eoin Byrne drew a point-blank save from Daniel Browne in the Glenealy goal with the first attack of the match.
Dwyers were applying a lot of pressure in the early exchanges, however full-back Charlie Cruise and his defence were coping well, clearing plenty of ball.
Dwyers finally registered the first score of the game in the 12th minute, when Sam Gough swung over a point from an acute angle after a penetrating run by Conor Manifold.
Dwyers added further points from Eoin Byrne and Eoin Sheridan before Sam Gough rifled his first major to the roof of the Glenealy net to close out the opening quarter. James Ffrench landed a monster of a long-range point to get Glenealy off the mark after good stickwork by John O’Brien and Killian Clarke.
However, Ben Burke would strike home a second goal for Dwyers in the next attack after a great move by Oisin Traynor.
Glenealy responded with a sweet point from the lively Michael Óg O’Neill in the next attack. Yet again, Dwyers hit back, when Dwyers captains Rory Martin, Ciaran Harmon, Meitheal Cleary and Ben Burke being presenting the Shield and League trophies by Katrina Byrne.
Charlie Shamley flicked on the sliotar to where Sam Gough was on hand to finish to the net with real aplomb.
Dwyers added a brace of points before half-time, with the pick of them a beast from Eoin Byrne.
Glenealy rallied in the closing stages, however some resolute defending by the Dwyers backs held them out.
Sam Gough landed his hat-trick within the opening seconds of the restart to leave Glenealy with a mountain to climb at this stage.
Back came Glenealy, with a massive 65, pointed from the hurl of Charlie Cruise. The Reds found a bit of momentum and Michael Óg O’Neill and Cormac Byrne each drew powerful saves out
of Meitheal Cleary, the Dwyer’s netminder as they went in search of a badly needed goals.
Willie Eager and Mark Murtagh were breaking down attack after attack as Glenealy went in search of badly needed scores. It was all Dwyers at this stage as they attacked with venom. Ben Burke knocked over a fine point before Sam Gough landed his fourth major of the game to finally kill of any comeback by Glenealy.
Glenealy battled on with fine perfomances from Charlie Cruise, Conor Ffrench and Michael Óg O’Neill who battled valiantly throughout. Rory Martin closed out the scoring with another major for Dwyers before Charlie Cruise landed the final point of the match
in injury time.
Coiste na nÓg chairman Pat Dunne complimented both teams, thanked the referee and Brendan Lawrence for sponsoring the Man of the Match award.
Pat called on Coiste na nÓg secretary Katrina Byrne to present the trophies to the Dwyer’s joint captains, while Pat Dunne then presented the Wicklow People Man of the Match award to Sam Gough, to spark of wild celebrations.
- Michael Dwyers: Sam Gough 4-1, Eoin Byrne 0-3 (1f,1 65), Ben Burke 1-1, Rory Martin 1-0, Eoin Sheridan 0-1.
Glenealy: Charlie Cruise 0-2 (1 65), Micheal Óg O’Neill 0-1, James Ffrench 0-1.
Scorers
Michael Dwyers: Meitheal Cleary; Willie Eager, Mark Murtagh, Oisin Traynor; Austin Brennan, Jack Reid, Ciaran Harmon; Ben Burke, Rory Martin; Conor Manifold, Samuel Gough, Charlie Shamley; Matt Miley, Eoin Byrne, Eoin Sheridan. Subs: Ciaran Coyne, Conor Richardson, Adam Williamson, Jack O’Toole.
Glenealy: Daniel Browne; Jake Nally, Charlie Cruise, Ben Meade; Thomas O’Neill, Fionn Luddy, Andrew Lynch; John O’Brien, Killian Clarke; Cormac Byrne, Billy Jo O’Connor, Kian Doyle; John McElhinny, James French, Micheal Óg O’Neill. Subs: Sam Smyth, Aaron Devlin, John O’Brien.
Referee: John Keenan (Aughrim)