U-15 B Hurling Championship Final
Rossa 1-09-2-13 St Johns
Kevin Herron reports from Davitt Park
St Johns weathered the elements at Davitt Park on Tuesday evening and claimed the U-15 B Hurling Championship with a 2-13-1-09 win over Rossa.
Caolan Wilson’s goal in first half injury time wiped out Rossa’s lead through Conor Delaney’s 27th minute major.
The Whiterock side then kicked on with Odhran Steele’s 52nd minute goal helping them run out winners with a bit to spare in the end.
Rossa settled quicker to the breezy conditions at Davitt’s Park and opened up with three scores on the bounce.
Daniel Murray fired over their opener, Oisin Boyle then flicked on for Finn Collins to drop a shot between the posts and Boyle would convert a free.
The Johnnies were finding things difficult in the early stages, shooting into the wind, but opened their account through a 65’ from Caolan Wilson and converted free from the midfielder had a single score separating the sides.
A fantastic Finn Collins point from play extended his sides lead, but St Johns edged ahead for the first time in proceedings as Tomas Adams landed three points in succession from the placed ball to move 0-05-0-04 ahead.
Parity was restored for the second time when Adam McCahy dropped a shot short, and Finn Collins gathered and popped over his third score of the half.
Although Tomas Adams would restore St Johns lead with his fourth converted free of the half, the Whiterock side fell behind to the opening goal of the game on the 27th minute.
Conor Delaney picked up the ball out wide and somehow steered a low angled shot across the face of goal and into the corner of the net past Jack Cunningham to give Rossa a 1-05-0-06 lead.
A further point from Daniel Murray extended his sides lead after a perfect ball from Cormac O’Hare found the corner forward.
Rossa appeared as though they had made the most of the elements in the opening, but St Johns hit back and levelled before the break.
Tomas Adams dropped in a free that swirled in the wind and a touch off the stick of Caolan Wilson in the crowded area saw the ball past Conor og-Marley to make it 1-06 each at the break.
Having battled the strong elements, St Johns had the slightly easier task after the break and hit the front again through a fantastic Alex Robb point, only for Oisin Boyle to respond with an angled free.
The Johnnies began to pull clear and hit four unanswered points to move 1-11-1-07 ahead. Daniel Kelly measured a shot and swung it over, Caolan Wilson converted his third placed ball of the game and Tomas Adams brought his tally to six- popping over his first from play before converting his fifth free.
Oisin Boyle (free) and Adams traded points before St Johns secured victory with their second goal on the 52ndminute.
Substitute Odhran Marley floated a high ball forward that was taken under control by Odhran Steele and he let fly with a shot that took a deflection and left Conor og-Marley stranded as ball wizzed to the net to make it 2-12-1-08.
Finn Collins would convert a free in response for Rossa- though his side required goals if they were going to force a grandstand finish.
It wasn’t forthcoming however and Lewis Rafferty added a late point to ensure that St Johns took the honours at the conclusion, running out 2-13-1-09 winners.
Rossa: C og-Marley, T McDonnell, O McGarrity, F McKenna, A McCahy, Dylan Donnelly, Dara Donnelly, C O’Hare, D Friel, I Rogan, O Boyle (0-03f), F Collins (0-04, 0-01f), C Delaney (1-00), R Mooney, D Murray (0-02). Subs: P Hamill for R Mooney (41), C Gray for F McKenna (55), L Doran for D Murray (59), G Delaney for A McCahy (60+1).
St Johns: J Cunningham, S McGivern, F McElroy, D Mervyn, E Millar, O Gregory, C McCallin, C Wilson (1-03, 0-02f, 0-01 65’), O Donnelly, D Kelly (0-01), A Robb (0-01), T Adams (0-07, 0-05f), O Steele (1-00), L Rafferty (0-01), B Gough. Subs: O Marley for B Gough (45), M McCorry for O Steele (60+1).
Referee: Terry Reilly (Gort na Mona)
