Cork U20 hurlers end Rebel All-Ireland famine

Cork 2-19 Dublin 1-17

Cork, following a very good start, held out for a win over Dublin in the Bord Gais Energy 2020 All-Ireland U20 hurling championship final at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Saturday. Victory marked Cork’s first success in Under 21/20 HC since 1998.

The Rebels got the perfect start. From the throw in Tommy O’Connell gained possession and placed Padraig Power for the first point. Alan Connolly followed with a point. By the 2nd minute Cork were 3 points clear, when good play by Ciaran Joyce led to point number 4 by Shane Barrett.

The first goal for the young Rebels came in the 8th minute, when Padraig Power’s goal bound effort was saved by Eddie Gibbins, with the rebound coming to Sean Twomey who netted. Dublin had their opening score in the 10th minute by Liam Murphy. Liscarroll/Churchtown’s Colin O’Brien followed with a good point, after combined play with Daire Connery and Ballygiblin’s Darragh Flynn.

Dublin battled hard and Liam Murphy had their second point. Conor O’Callaghan made some excellent clearances as Dublin tried very hard. Good play by O’Callaghan led to a Shane Barrett point, that saw Cork lead 1-6 to 0-2 at the first water break.

On the restart, Dublin registered a wide from Darach McBride.

They followed, however, with two points as they came within five points - 1-6 to 0-4. Colin O’Brien pointed a sideline cut from a tight angle and the Rebels moved 6 points ahead. By the 22nd minute both sides exchanged a point. Micheál Murphy kept

Dublin in touch with a point. Ballygiblin’s Darragh Flynn stretched Cork’s lead coming up to half-time with a very good point. Then, in injury time, Dublin had a point from Kevin Desmond after good play by Darragh Purcell. At the break, Cork were double scores ahead 1-11 to 0-7. ALWAYS IN CONTROL

On the changeover, Cork moved Tommy O’Connell to wing forward with Bride Rovers clubman, Brian Roche, going to midfield. Darragh Purcell pointed for Dublin. Cork goalkeeper, Eoin Davis from the St

Catherines club, saved a free from Dublin goalie, Eddie Gibbons. Both sides were off target, before Dublin registered a point, leaving the scoreline at 1-12 to 0-10. A foul on Sean Twomey led to a pointed free by Blackrock’s Alan Connolly.

Darragh Flynn followed with a good point under pressure and from here on, both sides made a number of substitutions: Cork introducing Jack Cahalane for Colin O’Brien (40), Eoin Carey for Sean Twomey (41), Brian Hayes for Alan Connolly (49) and Shane O’Regan for Darragh Flynn (52); with Dublin bringing in Donal Leavy for Enda O’Donnell (39), Ciarán Foley for Mark Sweeney (45), Luke McDwyer for Darach McBride (47), Brian Sheehy for Tommy Kinnane (55), Pádhraic Linehan for Darragh Power (56) and Donal Leavy for Michael Murphy (57).

Cork held the lead, being five or six points clear entering the final quarter and at the second water break, the Rebels were 1-15 to 0-13 ahead.

Dublin got the margin back to four points, before Connolly, with another free, restored the 5 point lead - 1-16 to 0-14. Cork’s second goal came in the 51st minute when Brian Hayes and Kilworth’s Eoin Carey worked well for Blarney’s Padraig Power, who goaled, opening up an 8 point lead - 2-16 to 0-14.

Shane O’Regan worked well for Jack Cahalane, who pointed with Tommy O’Connell giving Cork a 10 point advantage, 2-18 to 0-14. Dublin rallied very well. Eddie Gibbons pointed a long range free with Darragh Purcell adding a point after good play by Donal Leavy and Luke McDwyer. Dublin’s goal came in the 60th minute, when a close in free by ‘keeper Eddie Gibbons was saved, with Luke McDwyer finding the net from the rebound.

Cork were still four points clear 2-18 to 1-17. Both sides exchanged late points, with Cork holding out for victory.

After the game, John Horan 2020 GAA President, presented the cup to the winning captain, Conor O’Callaghan, Dromtarriffe.

TEAMS

Cork: Eoin Davis ( St. Catherines), Conor O’Callaghan (capt - Dromtarriffe), Eoin Roche ( Bride Rovers), Aaron WalshBarry (Carrigtwohill), Daire Connery ( Na Piarsaigh), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Dáire O’Leary (Watergrasshill), Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin, 0-2), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton, 0-2), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Shane Barrett (Blarney, 0- 3), Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers, 1-0), Padraig Power (Blarney, 1- 1), Alan Connolly (Blackrock, 0-3 – 0-2f), Colin O’Brien (Liscarroll/ Churchtown Gaels, 0-2 - 0-1 s/l). Subs: Jack Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s, 0-1) for Conor O’Brien, Eoin Carey (Kilworth) for Sean Twomey, Brian Hayes (St. Finbarr’s, 0-2) for Alan Connolly, Shane O’Regan (Watergrasshill) for Darragh Flynn, Cormac O’Brien

(Newtownshandrum) for Shane Barrett.

Dublin: Eddie Gibbons (Kilmacud Crokes, 0-2f), Tommy Kinane (Naomh Mearnog), Andrew Dunphy (St. Brigid’s), Alan Murphy (Lucan Sarsfields), Enda O’Donnell ( Whitehall Colmcille’s), Kevin Burke (Na Fianna), Iain O’hEithir (Ballinteer St. John’s), Mark Sweeney ( St. Vincent’s), Darragh Power (Fingallians, 0-1), Darach McBride (St. Vincent’s), Micheál Murphy (Na Fianna, 0-3), Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille’s), Darragh Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes, 0- 4), Kevin Desmond (Ballyboden St. Enda’s, 0-2), Liam Murphy (Cuala, 0-6 - 0-3f). Subs: Brian Sheehy (Kilmacud Crokes) for Tommy Kinane (blood), Donal Leavy (Naomh Olaf) for Enda

O’Donnell, Ciaran Foley (Naomh Olaf) for Mark Sweeney, Luke McDwyer (Ballyboden-St. Enda’s,

1-0) for Darach McBride, Brian Sheehy (Kilmacud Crokes) for Tommy Kinane, Padraig Linehan (Kilmacud

Croke’s) for Darragh Power.

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).

(Photo: Denis O’Flynn) Goalkeeper Eoin Davis, St Catherines, proudly displaying the James Nowlan Cup following Cork’s AllIreland victory over Dublin, pictured with, l-r: James Spillane, his brother Brian and parents Angela and Paul Davis.

Denis O’Flynn) Brian and Eoin Roche, Bride Rovers following Cork’s All-Ireland Under 20 win over Dublin, on a scoreline of 2-19 to 1-18 at UPMC Nowlan Park. The Rebel county secured a first All-Ireland title in the U20/U21 grade since 1998. (Photo:

(Photo: Denis O’Flynn) Cork, Under 20 All-Ireland hurling champions, having defeated Dublin 2-19 to 1-18. There was strong local representation, with St Catherines, Bride Rovers, Watergrasshill, Ballygiblin, Kilworth and Sarsfields all having members on the successful side.

(Pic: Winnie Hallahan) Kilworth’s Eoin Carey, with his grandparents John and Mary Carey, following Cork’s win in the 2020 Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U20 hurling final on Saturday night at UPMC Nowlan Park.

(Photo: Denis O’Flynn) Eoin Carey (Kilworth) being congratulated by his parents Elaine and Sean, following Cork’s victory.

(Photo: Denis O’Flynn) THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS - Watergrasshill’s Daire O’Leary with his parents Áine and Tom, family and well-wishers following Cork’s All-Ireland Under 20 success on Saturday, when defeating Dublin at UPMC Nowlan Park by 2-19 to 1-18.

(Photo: Denis O’Flynn) Ballygiblin’s Darragh Flynn (centre) with l-r: Lisa Corcoran, parents James and Aideen and brother Eoin, as Cork U20s tasted All-Ireland success on Saturday. Darragh scored 0-2 in the final.