Cloughbawn pip neighbours
Devastation for Davidstown with one-point final defeat
CLOUGHBAWN 3-2 DAVIDSTOWN-C’CUDDY 1-7
A THREE-GOAL blast from Cloughbawn proved the real difference as it helped them to emerge with a one-point victory over a shattered Davidstown-Courtnacuddy side in this hugely exciting New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 4 championship final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
Jack Doyle, who started this game in place of injured full-back Ewan Codd, was the hero as four minutes from the end he pounced for his side’s third goal, a score that drove them on to the narrowest if luckiest of victories, as they had found real difficulty in even matching their opponents for lengthy periods.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy had the chance to bag a county title for the club but they spurned a number of opportunities. Despite this, they still looked capable of holding out for victory as their opponents struggled for scores.
While they were the better side for most of this game, their failure to turn chances into scores came back to haunt them, but even at that, Cloughbawn were considerably lucky to have snatched victory with that late goal strike.
Playing with the breeze, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy opened impressively with three points inside the opening seven minutes through the impressive Lucas Fitzpatrick with two from full-forward, and Brian Smith, but during this spell of dominance they saw two goal attempts from Fitzpatrick and Gavin O’Connor go narrowly wide.
The Cloughbawn goalkeeper, Callum McCormack, also made an excellent save from Fitzpatrick, before they eventually opened their account with an Eamonn Kehoe eleventh-minute pointed free.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy were doing most of the attacking, restricting their opponents to long-range attempts on goal, but once again Fitzpatrick saw a low shot across the goal and just wide.
After a Fitzpatrick point had extended his side’s lead to 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, Cloughbawn created a chance but Jack Kavanagh’s shot flashed just wide of the right-hand post.
Four minutes before the interval, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy got a real breakthrough when Gavin O’Connor crashed home a fine goal to leave his side leading by 1-4 to 0-1 at the interval.
But credit to Cloughbawn as they set about reducing the deficit and within three minutes of the re-start, just two points separated the sides, after an Eoin Murphy point was followed by a James O’Connor goal (1-4 to 1-2).
Despite the concession of those early scores, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy maintained their composure to battle back for two Brian Smith pointed frees, restoring their four-point advantage.
While the response was positive they were unable to add to their lead, shooting a number of wides, and leaving Cloughbawn with real hope when Shane McDonald found the net from close range nine minutes from the end (1-6 to 2-2).
It looked as if Davidstown-Courtnacuddy had weathered the storm until a Ben Keeley 28th-minute free rebounded off an upright, but Jack Doyle was on hand to finish to the net.
Cloughbawn led by 3-2 to 1-6, but their opponents dominated the closing minutes, although all they had to show was a Brian Smith pointed free with two minutes remaining.
Despite incessant late pressure, they were unable to fashion a levelling score as Cloughbawn held out for a dramatic victory.
Cloughbawn: Callum McCormack; Ryan Sinnott, Paul Byrne, Shane Kehoe; Ken Fenlon, Eamonn Kehoe (0-1 free), Barry Sweetman; Ben Keeley, James Connors (1-0); Shane McDonald (1-0), Eoin Murphy (0-1), Cathal Kehoe; Jack Doyle (1-0), Conor Ryan, Jack Kavanagh. Subs. - Adam Doherty, Paddy Doyle, Daniel Kehoe, John Connors, Jonathan Walsh, Ewan Codd.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Conor Hassey; Jamie Wickham, Seán Nicholson, Fionn Andrews; Bill Quigley, Joe Doyle, Ryan Whelan; Callum Murphy, Josh Doyle; Páuric Doyle, Brian Smith (0-4, 3 frees), Eoin Cloke; Gavin O’Connor (1-0), Lucas Fitzpatrick (0-3), Ciarán McCleane. Subs. - Alan Creane, Ciarán Dealney, Shane Jordan, James Delaney, Páuric O’Donoghue, John O’Donoghue, Colm O’Neill, Emlyn Sludds.
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin).