Silvermines power into county Under 21 final

GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Silvermines 4-19

Galtee Rovers 0-12

Report: James Hayden in Cappawhite

Silvermines booked their place in the County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling decider following a decisive victory over West champions Galtee Rovers who finished with twelve men at a gloomy and overcast Cappawhite on Sunday.

The North champions faced a tough Galtee Rovers side who battled hard throughout and although they were admirable for the most part, the West champions were ultimately undone by their own lack of on-field discipline coupled with their inability to find the back of the Silvermines net.

Three second-half straight red cards for substitute Eoghan Byrnes, centre-forward Bill Quirke and defender Cian Dwyer undoubtedly proved detrimental to their cause, while Silvermines also lost Cathal Treacy also to a red card following a schemozzle involving a number of players from both sides after a wayward pull from Byrnes across the legs of the Treacy in front of the stand sideline served to ignite hostilities with a little over 43 minutes elapsed.

Silvermines were the crisper and more clinical side throughout though and with a two-man numerical advantage for the closing quarter there was no way in which they were going to be surpassed by the West champions after calm was eventually restored.

Galtee Rovers, playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze, were quickly out of the blocks in the opening half thanks to a well-struck Bill Quirke free before the very impressive Sean McGrath popped up the first point of the half for the ‘Mines and the first of three from play for the industrious midfielder. Bill Quirke added a second for the Rovers before a brace from Conor McKelvey edged the ‘Mines into an early lead.

Centre-forward Eamonn Quinn brought Galtee upsides with a fine point before Seán Nolan popped up with a sublime individual goal on fourteen minutes to fire the Silvermines into a lead they would never relinquish.

Conor McKelvey quickly added a close-range free before seconds later McKelvey snapped a pinpoint accurate Luke O’Brien delivery out of the air, pirouetted neatly to avoid the attentions of the advancing Sean Gubbins and finished neatly high into the roof of the Rovers net, 2-4 to 0-3.

Galtee Rovers responded with an Eamonn Quirke effort before three points on the bounce from Ger Leamy, Conor McKelvey (free) and another from Leamy fired the ‘Mines nine points clear after 21 minutes.

Credit to the Rovers though they regrouped and retorted with three unanswered points of their own, two frees from the stick of Bill Quirke and a booming long-range free out of defence from their keeper, Robbie McGrath.

The West men had the better of the exchanges in the closing five minutes of the half too but Mines’ goalkeeper, Conor Murphy parried away two goal-bound efforts to thwart the best Rovers attack could muster. Meanwhile at the other end the Mines’ picked off three late unanswered points to ensure they took a comfortable 2-9 to 0-8 lead to the dressing room at the break.

Galtee Rovers introduced Emmet Bonnar for Evan Kennedy at the break in a bid to freshen up their options but an early brace of points from Seán Nolan and Seán McGrath served to dent any aspirations of a second-half comeback.

Conor McKelvey added to his tally with a 35th minute close-range free before Bill Quirke found his range for the Rovers. Cathal Treacy responded with a sublime effort before Sean McGrath popped up once more to knife over yet another ‘Mines point after great approach play from Luke O’Brien and Seán Nolan.

Michael Corcoran continued to pull the strings in defence for the ‘Mines and following a dominant opening half the county under-20 defender had far too much nous and experience for a battling Galtee Rovers attack.

Unfortunately for Galtee Rovers their frustrations got the better of them mid-way through the half with three dismissals in the space of few minutes effectively killing off any hopes of a final quarter revival.

Silvermines powered on in that closing quarter with goals from Ger Leamy and Danny Quinn coupled with points from Ger Leamy, Darragh Treacy and Seán Nolan ensuring a wholly deserved victory for the North champions.

Silvermines were full value for their victory with Sean Ryan Prendiville, Kevin Hayden, Cynan Bailey, Luke O’Brien, Cathal McGrath, and Michael Corcoran to the fore in defence. The midfield partnership of Adam Steed and Sean McGrath impressed with McGrath picking off three points from play while in attack, Conor McKelvey, Ger Leamy, Seán Nolan, and Danny Quinn caught the eye throughout.

For Galtee Rovers, Seán Gubbins and David Harold-Barry in defence, Robbie Byron in the middle of the field and Bill Quirke and Eamonn Quirke in attack had noteworthy performances.

Silvermines will now face the winners of Gortnahoe/Glengoole or Killenaule in what will be a hotly anticipated final which is down for the decision on Saturday 30th December.

Player of the Match: Sean McGrath (Silvermines)

Silvermines: Conor Murphy (8); Kevin Hayden (7), Sean Ryan Prendiville (7), Cynan Bailey (7); Luke O’Brien (7), Michael Corcoran (8), Cathal McGrath (7); Sean McGrath (0-3, 8), Adam Steed (7); Cathal Treacy (0-1, 7), Conor McKelvey (1-8 (0-7f) 8), Darragh Treacy (0-1, 7); Ger Leamy (1-3, 7), Danny Quinn (1-1, 7), Sean Nolan (1-2, 7).

Subs: William Murphy (7) for Hayden (38); Justin Ryan Donnellan (6) for G Leamy (53); Brian Leamy (6) for Steed (53); Ronan Cunneen (6) for McKelvey (54); Sean Murphy (6) for C McGrath (54).

Galtee Rovers: Robbie McGrath (0-1f, 7); Tadgh Gubbins (7), Sean Gubbins (7), Cian Dwyer (6); Killian Byrnes (7), David Harold-Barry (7) (C), Liam Finnane (7); Robbie Byron (0-1, 7), Evan Kennedy (6); Robert Moloney (7), Eamonn Quirke (0-2, 7), Joe Callaghan (7); Callum McCarthy (6), Bill Quirke (0-8 (0-7f), 6), Conal Grogan (6).

Subs: Emmet Bonar (6) for Kennedy (HT); Eoghan Byrnes (5) for K Byrnes (37); Evan Kennedy (6) for Callaghan (53); Ciaran McCarthy (6) for C McCarthy (53).

Referee: Tadgh Lonergan (Kilsheelan-Kilcash).