Roscrea inched out by determined Drom

There was unbelievable joy along by the supporters of Drom & Inch who witnessed their young hurlers clinch their third County Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling title when defeating Roscrea in a very entertaining final

GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Final

Drom & Inch 3-12

Roscrea 1-14

Report: Liam Hogan in Templederry

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: John Campion (Drom & Inch)

SCORERS - Drom & Inch: Cormac Fitzpatrick 1-7 (0-6 frees); Jack Lillis, Cormac Cahill 1-0 each; Brian Moore 0-2; Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Paudie Kinnane, John Campion 0-1 each.

Roscrea: Conor O’Donovan 1-7 (0-7 frees); Jamie Ryan, Kenny Lee 0-2; Diarmuid McLoughlin, Conor Dooley, Harry Loughnane (free) 0-1 each.

There was unbelievable joy along by the supporters of Drom & Inch who witnessed their young hurlers clinch their third County Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling title when defeating Roscrea in a very entertaining final on Saturday.

In a fitting finale to the 2023 season, both sets of supporters can be satisfied with what they witnessed, especially the final quarter when the game hung in the balance in the wake of three goals in as many minutes, two scored by the winners which proved decisive.

Those goals didn’t give the victors much freedom as three points separated the teams with Roscrea fighting desperately for an equalising goal in those final minutes which if successful would probably force extra time.

But the Drom & Inch defence held firm before the game’s top-scorer Cormac Fitzpatrick edged them four in front, and even then, there was another minute of added time, but time ran out for the North champions.

It was 22 years since Drom & Inch last won this title, after winning back-to-back championship which spurred the club onto senior glory so hunger for success was very much on the minds of the Mid champions who survived very stiff tests on route to the final, including a great victory over Thurles Sarsfields, notwithstanding the opposition posed by Boherlahan-Dualla who brought Drom to extra time.

In the opposite corner, Roscrea had a bigger bridge to overcome as they sought their first title in the grade in 39 years, and with four of their players overage for next year who is to bet against Roscrea coming close again in 2024.

Drom & Inch had the perfect start with a goal just eighty seconds into the game giving them a narrow advantage after Jamie Ryan had scored some twenty seconds earlier.

After the goal, Drom looked the part as John Campion, Darragh Kennedy, Tony Cahill and Maidhc Fitzpatrick were on a lot of ball but failed to increase their lead as they hit four wides in a row.

Accuracy would be their Achilles heel throughout the hour as they squandered sixteen wides in total as Roscrea hit just five.

But with the breeze at their backs, Roscrea needed two Conor O’Donovan frees to bring parity after nine minutes.

Both Cormac Fitzpatrick and Conor O’Donovan then swapped frees before Drom went two in front thanks to Paudie Kinnane and Fitzpatrick (free) after sixteen minutes.

But Roscrea refused to let the under-dog tag upset them as two O’Donovan frees had scores level again after nineteen minutes. Frees were the currency with both sets of defenders on top with Eoghan Kennedy (Drom) and Lee Doran (Roscrea) the stand out players.

Approaching the 20th minute, the sides were level once more as Maidhc Fitzpatrick had Drom in front after winning a long puckout by Diarmuid Brennan before Diarmuid McLoughlin levelled matters for the fourth time before Drom regained the lead with two Cormac Fitzpatrick frees, 1-6 to 0-7 lead, a margin that should have been greater only for squandering good chances with the tally of wides reaching eight while Roscrea had just two at the break.

After half time, Drom & Inch increased their lead with early points by the influential John Campion and Brian Moore. However, Roscrea responded with three unanswered points through Jamie Ryan, O’Donovan from a free plus one from play by Conor Dooley.

The sides went toe-for-toe by adding two points each with Cormac Fitzpatrick on target from placed balls while Roscrea refused to let their opponents out of sight and the minimum separated the teams (0-12 to 1-10) after Kenny Lee scored a brace, the second in the 46th minute.

A minute later, Cormac Fitzpatrick’s goal, out of the blue, gave Drom breathing space, but Roscrea responded with style when Conor O’Donovan scored a spectacular goal after his first time ground shot hit the roof of the net after he completely mishit a forty metre free.

The minimum stood between the teams once more, but Drom’s greater scoring potential paid off as Cormac Cahill weaved his way past the Roscrea cover to find the net in the 48th minute thus ending three spell-binding minutes.

Drom were four points in front and could have sealed victory but squander-mania in front of goal kept Roscrea in sight and the North champions were back within a goal of the leaders after Leigh Loughnane scored to make it 3-11 to 1-14 with two minutes remaining.

The possibility of an equalising goal was on everybody’s mind but Cormac Fitzpatrick’s sixth placed ball in the 62nd minute sealed victory for Drom and the Jimmy Doyle Cup was heading to Mid Tipp.

TEAMS - Drom & Inch: Diarmaid Brennan (7); Eoghan Kennedy (8), Jack Ryan (7), Jack Johnson (7); Jimmy Mullen (6), Tony Cahill (7), Paul Mullen (7); John Campion (8), Darragh Kennedy (Capt 7); Cormac Cahill (6), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (7), Brian Moore (7); Cormac Fitzpatrick (7), Jack Lillis (7), Paudie Kinnane (6).

Sub: Darragh Fitzpatrick (NR) for Lillis (58).

Roscrea: Harry Loughnane (7); Lee Doran (8), Conor Phelan (7), Cathal McDonald (7); Brian O’Rourke (6), Luke Seacy (Capt, 7), Conor Shanahan (7); Conor O’Donovan (8), Kenny Lee (7); Diarmuid McLoughlin (6), Dylan Hogan (6), Leigh Loughnane (6); Sam Dooley (6), Conor Dooley (6), Jamie Ryan (6).

Subs: Paul Dooley (6) for Ryan (51); Conor Hoctor (6) for McDonald (55).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).

ABOVE: County Board Chairperson Jimmy Minogue presents the Jimmy Doyle Cup to Drom & Inch captain Darragh Kennedy.