Dwyers do enough West side survive strong North Wicklow Gaels challenge
MICHAEL DWYERS NTH WW GAELS 1-12 2-8
MICHAEL DWYERS held off a strong North Wicklow Gaels challenge in a bitterly cold and showery Ballinakill to claim the under-15 ‘A’ hurling crown last Saturday afternoon.
The trophy will sit nicely alongside their Minor ‘A’ gong and complete a memorable year with the small ball for the amalgamated club who are producing some really impressive players at both levels.
They didn’t have it their own way in this one. North Wicklow Gaels took their time in getting to grips with this game but when they did, they brought a strong performance to the table in front of a small crowd huddled against the elements on an unfortunate day for juvenile hurling finals.
Dwyers looked very impressive early on. Matt Miley took a pass from Eoin Sheridan to open the scoring before a foul on Jack O’Toole allowed O’Toole his first chance from placed ballls and he took it with aplomb.
By the 16th minute it was 1-3 to 0-0, a second O’Toole pointed free and a major from Matt Miley after good work from midfielder James Boland. Dwyers half-back Conor Manifold had picked up an injury just prior to the goal and four adults were on the pitch at one stage tending to the stricken player as the game went on around them.
North Wicklow Gaels sprang to life soon after when Kieran Ovenden found Michael Shannon who sent a pass to Senan Rogan and the ball was in the back of the Dwyers net.
This goal proved to be a wakeup call North Wicklow Gaels needed and free-taker Willie Cash brought the northern group team back to within a score with two well struck frees while Kieran Ovenden was proving excellent at the back for Karl Cooke’s side.
North Wicklow Gaels needed a strong finish to the opening half but it was Dwyers who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck with Eoin Sheridan profiting from advantage from referee Eddie Leonard and James Boland dropping over a beautiful score right on the stroke of half-time to send the west side in leading by 1-5 to 1-2.
North Wicklow Gaels’ goose looked well and truly cooked when Dwyers opened up a 1-8 to 1-2 lead within five minutes of the restart. Scores from Eoin Sheridan, Austin Brennan (65), and Sam Gough pushing Pat Brennan’s team well ahead.
But Willie Cash had an amazing day from placed balls despite the conditions and he stroked over five of the next six points for the Gaels with Senan Rogan grabbing the other to close within two of the Dwyers again.
But where the Gaels could get close and look to be almost getting to parity, Dwyers could step it up a gear or two and put some more daylight between the sides thanks to the strong performances of Austin Brennan, James Boland and Rian Waters.
Jack O’Toole pointed a free before substitute Robert Murtagh fired over a peach to give the shivering supporters plenty to cheer about on the sideline with only five to go and the gap back to 1-12 to 1-8.
But back came North Wicklow Gaels who never gave up and Michael Shannon fired home to the back of Adam Williamson’s goal to give them huge hope with time almost up.
However, like on so many occasions earlier in this game, Dwyers were able to step it up once again and they brought the play down the far side of the field where Luke Frawley was called upon to make a great save and where Jack O’Toole would fire wide from a free but it was almost as good as a score as it wasted time and kept the ball down at the wrong side of the field for the Gaels.
Time would run out for North
Wicklow Gaels. It would have been wonderful to see these two teams go head to head on a beautiful day on hard ground but when it came to the trenches the Dwyers had that little bit too much.
– Michael Dwyers: Matt Miley 1-1, Jack O’Toole 0-3 (3f), Sam Gough 0-3, Eoin Sheridan 0-2, James Boland 0-1, Robert Murtagh 0-1, Austin Brennan 0-1 (f).
North Wicklow Gaels: Willie Cash 0-7 (5f, 1 65), Senan Rogan 1-1, Michael Shannon 1-0.
Adam Williamson; Finn Behan, Ciaran Coyne, Charlie Shamley;
Scorers MICHAEL DWYERS:
Conor Manifold, Austin Brennan, Cian Deering; James Boland, Rian Waters; Jack O’Toole, Sam Gough, Conor Richardson; Brian Richardson, Eoin Sheridan, Matt Miley. Sub: Robert Murtagh for C Manifold, Ross Sheridan, Sean Darker, Luke Byrne, Alex Kendrick, Patrick William Cullen Dunne, David Peppard.
NORTH WICKLOW GAELS:
Luke Frawley; Tomas O’Connell, Kieran Ovenden, Fintan Potts; Evan Cooke, Kevin Booth, Cian O Lionaigh; Jamie Grehan, Sean Byrne; Oisin Taggart, Michael Shannon, Charlie Frawley; Willie Cash, Senan Rogan, Mikey Hatton O’Brien. Subs: Conor O’Mahoney, Chase Scully, Evan McGuinness, Ronan O’Boyle, Jamie Grehan, Donal O’Murai, Oisin Shanahan.
REFEREE:
Eddie Leonard (St Patrick’s)