South West U14 Hurling Final
Naomh Eanna 1-11 Tir na nOg 1-3
The U14 South West Hurling Championship final was played at a sun-kissed Dunsilly between Tir na nOg and Naomh Eanna on Saturday morning, with Naomh Eanna eventually coming out on top.
Both teams started quickly and pushed hard to gain the first score. After the frenzied start, a long delivery dropped in and around the Tir na nOg square, and Padraig Whyte was quick to capitalize, pulling on the ball firing it into the back of the net.
The score helped settle the Naomh Eanna players, who pushed for more scores. This was built from a solid performance by their half back line, led by captain, Liam Regan.
Lorcan McGarvey showed deadly accuracy from frees and with 15 minutes gone, Naomh Eanna led 1-3 to 0-0. Tir na nOg fought well and eventually got a return for their effort on the 20th minute with their first score.
Another free from McGarvey and a point from Olan Simpson had the Hightown men leading 1-5 to 0-1 at halftime. However, in the second half, Tir na nOg started stronger with the first point of the second half within 2 minutes.
After more sustained pressure, the lads from Randlestown earned a 21-meter free after turning over the ball in the Naomh Eanna half. Up stepped Cahir Sisk, the Tir nan Og netminder with only one thing on his mind and fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Immediately after, Fionn McGuckin split the posts from a free for another Tir na nOg point and the momentum of the game had shifted in their favour, with the score now 1-5 to 1-3.
They continued to pile the pressure on the Naomh Eanna defence with number 6, Ordhan Magill playing some strong hurling and only for two top class saves from Finnán Curran, the outcome might have been very different.
However, the saves gave the Naomh Eanna players a boost and they returned with 2 points from full forward Oisin Ryan and a long-range score and free from Lorcan McGarvey.
The team in amber and black then pushed on to secure the win with another long-range score, this time from Owen Graham, seeing out the game for the victory with a 1-11 to 1-3 win.
Referee: John Moran
