Kilruane and Silvermines to meet in North Final

Silvermines 3-14

Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels 1-12

Scoring 2-2 in the last twelve minutes, Silvermines put daylight between themselves and Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels to claim a place in the North U21 ‘B’ Hurling final following their semi-final in Dolla last Sunday.

Many people’s favourites, Silvermines were deserving winners in a game they always had to keep focussed on as Lorrha Rovers refused to let them out of their sights with the more balanced ‘Mines side doing enough to see off their opponents.

After Colm Fogarty opened the scoring with a free after ninety seconds, Silvermines had the perfect response when Daniel Quinn scored a goal in the fifth minute after goalkeeper Paul Cahalan failed to deal with a long delivery he was hoping would go wide.

Lorrha, quickly returned to the other end and the ‘Mines goal-line escaped after Luke O’Brien denied Cathal Hogan from close range. The block resulted in a 65 which Colm Fogarty converted.

Silvermines hit back and won a penalty after Darragh McKelvey was fouled. McKelvey stood over the penalty, but Cahalan saved brilliantly at the expense of a 65. Once play settled, both sides had their share of possession as Conor McKelvey (2 frees) and Colm Fogarty (3 frees and a 65) battled it out with placed balls while Sean Nolan and Ger Leamy each added a point each from play to give the ‘Mines a 1-4 to 0-4 lead after eighteen minutes. It was Colm Fogarty who reduced the margin to three.

Silvermines increased their lead when Adam Steed scored from play, quickly followed by another McKelvey free. With Luke O’Brien defiant at centre back, the ‘Mines defence were giving very little away in terms of goal chances but in the 21st minute Donnacha O’Meara escaped the clutches of Kevin Hayden before setting off on a solo run only to see his effort for a goal well saved by keeper Conor Murphy.

The response was a Daniel Quinn point and the lead stretched to seven after Conor McKelvey converted a 65. Silvermines were always a danger and approaching half time they almost scored a second goal, but Paul Cahalan denied Gerard Leamy’s low shot with another fine save. Half time: Silvermines 1-8 Lorrha/Rovers 0-4.

The opening minutes of the second half showed that Lorrha/Rovers didn’t waste time in making inroads on the seven-point deficit as Colm Fogarty pointed a free before finding the back of the net on 33 minutes after Donnacha O’Meara provided the assist.

Silvermines responded with three unanswered points with Conor McKelvey pointing two frees aided by a Gerard Leamy point from play. Both Fogarty and McKelvey swapped frees but the six-point margin was quickly reduced to three thanks to two more Fogarty frees either side of a Donnacha O’Meara point from play. It was 1-12 to 1-9 with thirteen minutes remaining.

But any time Lorrha/Rovers threatened Silvermines found a way to deal with the threat and in the 49th minute Daniel Quinn scored his second goal which gave his team vital breathing space.

The next seven minutes saw five points dispersed with Lorrha Rovers securing three, starting with a Colm Fogarty free. Two McKelvey points, the first from play, had the lead back out to seven but the margin was back to five after Fogarty, from a free and Martin O’Gorman had scored from play in the 56th minute.

With victory well in sight, the ‘Mines defence held firm in the final minutes as Lorrha/Rovers tried for a goal, but their bid of a comeback was overshadowed by a brilliant Mark Leamy goal bang on the hour mark. Injury time lasted three minutes and the ‘Mines rejoiced while Lorrha/Rovers lost Conor Moylan to a red card.

Silvermines: Conor Murphy; Kevin Hayden, Sean Ryan Prenderville, William Murphy; Cynan Bailey, Luke O’Brien, Sean McGrath; Michael Corcoran, Adam Steed (0-1); Darragh Treacy, Conor McKelvey (0-9, 7f, 1’65) Cathal Treacy; Gerard Leamy (0-2), Daniel Quinn (2-1), Sean Nolan (0-1). Subs: Cathal McGrath for Murphy (47); Brian Leamy (1-0) for G Leamy (56); Ronan Cunneen for Quinn (56).

Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels: Paul Cahalan (L); Conor Moylan (L), Tom Duggan (L), Sean Hough (SR); Lee Hogan (L), Darragh Guinan (L), James Guinan (L); Oisin Guinan (L), Liam Donoghue (L); Colm Fogarty (L 1-10, 0-9f, 0-1’65), Michael Tierney (SR), Cathal Hogan (SR); Donnacha O’Meara (L 0-1), Martin Gorman (L 0-1), Conor Kennedy (L). Sub: Rob Duffy (L) for Donoghue (HT).

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe).

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-15

Burgess 1-11

Kilruane MacDonaghs overcame a strong second half comeback by Burgess to seal a place in next Sunday’s North final following their well-contested semi-final in Kilcolman on Sunday.

In hard fought encounter, there was little by way of separation in the opening half. Paidi Williams led the way with well-taken frees which before Brian O’Meara’s goal in the 27th minute that gave Kilruane MacDonaghs a 1-8 to 0-5 half time lead.

After Eoin Grace and Michael Ryan scored a point each from a free in the opening minutes the game sparked into life when Eoin Grace scored a goal in the 35th minute. Two more Burgess points followed and after the 39th minute the scores stood level at 1-9 each.

With Paidi Williams continuing to find the target Kilruane went three in front before a Michael Ryan free pulled it back to two with six minutes on the clock. Another Williams free helped Kilruane go three in front, but Eoin Grace cut it back to two as play entered added time.

It was all to play for until the 65th minute when Jack Mulcahy fired to the back of the net and seal deserved win and a place in the final.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Kevin Naughnane; Danny Cahalan, David O’Sullivan, Cian Moyles; Eamon Coonan, Ciaran Coffey, Sean Hayes; Cathal England, Brian O’Meara (1-0); Cormac Doheny, Paidi Williams (0-12, 8f, 1’65), Jack Mulcahy (1-1); Nathan Lynch (0-1), Aaron Morgan (0-1), Eoin Carroll. Sub: Paul O’Dwyer for Lynch.

Burgess: Oisin Tucker; Shane Hogan, Aidan O’Dwyer, Kiefer O’Brien; Dylan Haugh, Michael Ryan (0-3f), Daire Hogan; Liam Grace, Conor Cooney (0-1); Mikey (M) Ryan, Kieran Grace, Tomas Ryan; Eoin Grace (1-7, 0-6f), Michael Kyne, Cormac McCauliffe.

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Eire Og).