Brave Newport fall to impressive Durlas Og

GAA: Tipperary Coiste na nOg Minor ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final

Durlas Og 4-28

Newport 3-11

Report: Michael Dundon at Kickham Park, Dundrum

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Euan Murray (Durlas Og)

SCORERS - Durlas Og: Eoin Webb 3-10 (0-6 frees); Kieran Rossiter 0-6; Aaron Darmody 1-3; Darragh O’Dwyer 0-4; Euan Murray 0-3; Charlie Lawlor, David Ayilaram 0-1 each.

Newport: Ollie Roche 1-3 (0-2 frees); Charlie Tobin 2-0; Cormac Shanahan 0-4; Colm Ryan 0-2; Darragh Healy, Luke McIntyre 0-1 each.

Newport’s bid for a first County Minor ‘A’ Hurling title collapsed in the second half on Saturday where a superior Durlas Og side surged clear to retain their crown with a quality performance.

The North champions knew going into the game the magnitude of the task facing them against a team that had won All-Ireland Feile honours two years ago and which boasted players who had won All Ireland minor and post primary schools medals.

Also without injured county minor Kevin Fitzpatrick, Newport matched their opponents in a thrilling first half, marked by excellent scoring in an end-to-end affair that had a fine crowd enthralled. Unfortunately, the Newport lads faded from the picture quickly on the restart and long before the finish their fate was decided.

Ollie Roche’s goal for Newport after four minutes was just what they needed to settle them but within a minute Eoin Webb had the ball in the Newport net – setting the tone for as good a first half’s hurling as you will see at this level.

Charlie Tobin goaled for Newport after ten minutes for a 2-2 to 1-3 lead but Durlas Og, with Eoin Webb, Euan Murray and Kieran Rossiter leading the way, were level by the 12th minute, 1-5 to 2-2. The ebb and flow of the game had the crowd in fine voice, thrilled with the frequency and quality of the scores that saw the sides level yet again 1-11 to 2-8 after 25 minutes.

Once more Newport struck home, Charlie Tobin bagging his second goal but in the 30th minute captain Aaron Darmody goaled for Durlas Og who added points by Darragh Dwyer and Eoin Webb for a half-time advantage of 2-13 to 3-9, whetting the appetite for more of the same on resuming.

It wasn’t to be however as the Newport challenge never materialised in the face of a top-drawer showing from Durlas Og whose superiority was reflected in their 2-15 tally for the period with Newport managing just two points.

Eoin Webb set the ball rolling for Durlas Og with a goal after two minutes and they were 3-20 to 3-10 ahead at the start of the last quarter when Webb again netted, completing his hat-trick to put the winners 4-20 to 3-10 clear, and reducing the closing minutes to formality with both managements using their subs.

A second title on the trot reflects the quality in this Durlas Og squad which bristles with talent. Head and shoulder above all others was county minor Euan Murray whose all-round play, fielding, tackling, distributing, and scoring marks him out as a special player. Eoin Webb’s 3-4 from play speaks for itself, while Kieran Rossiter, Ciaran O’Mahoney, Aaron Darmody, Darragh O’Dwyer, and Brody Donoghue also excelled.

Newport’s disappointment is understandable but they can reflect on a very successful campaign that yielded a North title, a considerable reward for their efforts, and which promises brighter days ahead for the club.

Having been so much in the contest in the first half they will be wondering what happened in the second half.

However, their first half performance should give great encouragement for the future and reflects the excellent work being done at underage in the club. Oisin Kennedy, Charlie Tobin, Ollie Roche, Stephen O’Brien, Cathal McNamara, and Harry Noone were foremost in furthering the Newport cause.

TEAMS - Durlas Og: Diarmuid Barrett; James Mockler, Oran Fogarty, Jakub Magalinski; Brody Donoghue, Ciaran O’Mahoney, Andy Rossiter; Kieran Rossiter, Darragh O’Dwyer; David Ayilaram, Euan Murray, Darragh Cornally; Eoin Webb, Aaron Darmody, Charlie Lawlor.

Subs: Cillian Ryan for Mockler (23); Niall Gleeson for Cornally (55); Bobby O’Dowd for Magalinski (56); Jack Fitzgibbon for Lawlor (56); Cormac Ryan for Fogarty (56).

Newport: Cian Donohue; Ronan Gaffrey, Aaron Lane, Stephen O’Brien; Cathal McNamara, Darragh Healy, Michael Shanahan; Conor McLoughlin, Harry Noone; Oisin Kennedy, Charlie Tobin, Luke Mcintyre; Colm Ryan, Cormac Shanahan, Ollie Roche.

Subs: Sean Carrig for Ryan (38); Caleb Byrne for McIntyre (55); Harry McKeogh for McLoughlin (56); Daire Nolan for Gaffrey (56).

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla-D Kickhams).