Super Saints claim U-16 title
ST FECHINS KNOCKBRIDGE 4-11 1-6
AIDED by the breeze in the second half the young hurlers of St Fechins saw off a gallant Knockbridge side to capture the Louth U16 Championship title in Beaulieu last Tuesday evening.
It was Knockbridge who opened the scoring when Conor Quigley fired over a good point before the home side responded with the first goal of the game scored by Ryan Walsh. They extended their lead with a Sean Kerrisk pointed free and one from play from Eoin Hackett to lead by four points.
The sides exchanged the next two points before Knockbridge got themselves right back into the game when Quigley fired low into the bottom right hand corner of Josh Murtaghs net on 21 minutes, 1-3 to 1-2.
Knockbridge keeper Jake McNamara then misjudged the flight of the ball allowing a Sean Kerrisk effort into the net for the second goal. A pointed free from midfielder Adam Plunkett had Knockbridge trailing by just 2-3 to 1-3 at half-time.
An early mistake by the visiting keeper saw the Fechins netting goal number three from Paul McEvoy on the resumption. Aided by the breeze they added a further brace of points from the sticks of Sean Kerrisk (free) and Ryan Walsh.
Conor Quigley responded with a welcome pointed free on 39 minutes but it would be the home side who would set themselves up for the win scoring 1-4 without reply with Eoin Hackett netting the goal as well as a point alongside scores from McEvoy, Jay Hughes and Thomas McCreesh.
Quigley and Ben Goss Kieran did manage a couple of late consolation points for the Bridge but the title was going to the South end of the county as the Fechins wrapped up the deserving victory with points from McCreesh and substitute Mark Holohan.
Afterwards the cup was presented by the Louth Coiste Iomana Chairman Sean Byrne to the St Fechins captain Eoghan Ryan. ST FECHINS: Josh Murtagh; Zac Lennon, David Lally, Neil Boylan; Dylan Tiernan, Eoghan Ryan, Ciaran Brennan; Eoin Hackett (1-2), Paul McEvoy (1-2); Jay Hughes (0-1), Sean Kerrisk (1-2, 0-2 frees), Luke Black; Ryan Walsh (1-1), Conor Flynn, Thomas McCreesh (0-2). Subs used – Mark Holohan (0-1, Shahin Hoosadari, Steven O Reilly, Lee Grifferty, John O Connell.
KNOCKBRIDGE: Jake McNamara; Niall Quigley, Ciaran Brennan, Conor Brennan; Ross Murnaghan, Ben Goss Kieran (0-1), Daniel McArdle; Conor Quigley (1-4, 0-2 frees), Adam Plunkett (0-1 free); Micheal Belton, Neil Thornton, Dara Toner, Conor Byrne, Ewan McEntaggert, Cathal McElroy. Sub used – Cormac McArdle.
REFEREE: Paul Drumm.