Newport impress in claiming County U15 'A' Football title
GAA: Tipperary Coiste na nOg Under 15 ‘A’ Football Final
Newport 6-10
Boherlahan-Dualla 1-5
Report: Mark Dunne at Kenyon Park, Templederry
A commanding and well-rounded display saw Newport dispatch Boherlahan-Dualla to claim the County Under 15 ‘A’ Football title on Saturday evening.
Playing with the aid of the elements in the opening half, the North champions were quick to take full advantage and did so in style. Two goals in the first five minutes from captain Ryan Bryne and Bobby O’Connor set the tone. James Ryan who played his part in the opening goals kicked a fine point of his own.
O’Connor was proving to be a handful for the Boherlahan defence, and he kicked a free to put the score 2-2 to no score before the tenth minute. Boherlahan-Dualla, playing into the stiff breeze, needed to carry the ball and they did so through fine plays from Bobby McLoughlin, Harry Ryan, and Dara Crosse.
The discipline of the Newport defence though was sublime and Boherlahan failed to get the crucial score for their side. Newport kept the pressure on up top and a fine catch from O’Connor was rewarded when he found James Ryan who netted for his second goal.
Boherlahan, to their credit, kept plugging at that Newport defence but it stood strong. O’Connor tapped over a fine score before Boherlahan got the break they needed. A fine run from McLoughlin saw him taken out inside the large parallelogram, up stepped Harrington who saw his initial shot well saved by Coffey, but he was quickest to the rebound and scored.
Newport didn’t let this goal phase them and kicked the next two scores, the first a free from Byrne which found its way to the net. O’Connor continued his good run of form with two more fine points before Ronan O’Mahony added his sides sixth point in the 26th minute.
Boherlahan did not give up and kicked two fine points before the beak; Crosse finishing a well worked move before Luke Keane kicked his first free on the stroke of half time. 4-6 to 1-2 the scoreline read.
The Mid champions begun the second half with a fine Dunnacha Harrington score. Despite playing against the elements, Newport’s physique was evident across the park and their ability to turn over the ball a joy to watch. James Ryan teamed up with O’Connor who kicked their opening score of the second half before Boherlahan captain Harry Ryan chipped in with one of his own.
The second half didn’t see the flow of the first but both teams worked extremely hard both on and off the ball. Newport kicked the next two scores from O’Connor and Roche before Boherlahan were awarded their second penalty of the encounter; Bobby McLoughlin stepped up, but his shot went narrowly right and wide.
Newport took control of the closing stages. O’Connor once again scoring before captain Ryan Byrne capitalised on a loose ball and netted for his sides fifth goal. Luke Keane got his sides fifth and final point before Ryan Byrne finished off an excellent final with another goal.
Boherlahan-Dualla can be proud of their efforts. Despite coming up against a fine Newport side, they had good displays from Harry Ryan, Dara Crosse, Harrington, and McLoughlin to name a few. Newport though showed their power up front with O’Connor and Byrne immense from start to finish. Their defensive tackles were of a very high quality and set the tone for their victory.
Player of the Match: Ryan Byrne (Newport)
Newport: Michael Coffey; James Egan, Noah Ryan Quinn, Jack Landers, Eoin O’Gorman, Tom McCabe, Jack Casey, Rhys Guiney, Ronan O’Mahony (0-1), Andrew Coffey, Darragh Healy, James Ryan (1-1), JJ Roche (0-1), Bobby O’Connor (1-5, 1-2f), Ryan Byrne (4-0).
Subs: Harry Molony for Casey; Ben Maher for Roche; Gavin Gaffney for Byrne; James Long for Ryan Quinn, Jack Caplis for Egan.
Boherlahan-Dualla: Lawrence Óg Hickey; Jamie Maher, Niall Fitzgerald, Robert Mulcahy, Cian Fogarty, Albert Maher, Niall Quirke, Harry Ryan (0-1), Bobby McLoughin, Jake Gleeson, Dara Crosse (0-1), Dunnacha Harrington (1-1), Daniel Burke, Luke Keane (0-2f), Jack Maher.
Subs: Seimí O’Gorman for Jamie Maher; Charlie Maher for Jack Maher; Michael McCarthy for Burke.
Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane).