Newport Under 14's claim North Hurling title

GAA: North Tipperary Coiste na nOg Under 14 'A' Hurling Final

Newport 2-11

Roscrea 1-6

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Newport turned in a dominant display to overcome a battling Roscrea side in what proved a one-sided North Tipperary Under 14 ‘A’ Hurling final on Saturday.

Buoyed by a cracking Hughie Duggan goal just before the break, Newport fashioned a tremendous second half display to be deservedly crowned champions.

Newport, who went into this decider as red-hot favourites, proved the stronger side throughout but they were made to work hard by a Roscrea side who refused to succumb easily.

In what proved a tense opening quarter, Newport were first to register thanks to a well-struck Sean Coffey point after six minutes. Roscrea replied with a tenth minute Rylei Heaney free before Hughie Duggan clipped over a neatly struck 12th minute free to edge Newport back in front.

Duggan knifed over another point from a placed ball six minutes later to extend Newport’s advantage to two before a sublime Robbie Loughnane effort from a difficult angle doubled Roscrea’s tally.

Newport responded with two quick-fire points before Robbie Long arrowed over an effort from range to put three between the sides in time added on.

Newport weren’t finished yet though and when Hughie Duggan gathered neatly and broke through the Roscrea cover there was only one thing on his mind as he netted with aplomb to give his side a 1-6 to 0-2 interval lead.

The goal and the timing of it came as a huge blow to a Roscrea side who would have been happy to go in at the break trailing by four but a split-second lapse in their defence allowed Newport in for a perfectly-timed goal.

Roscrea have always proved a resilient side though and they emerged determined to reduce the deficit and a quick-fire Rylei Heaney point directly after the break offered his side some early hope.

Colin McBride responded for Newport though before a second goal nine minutes into the second half served as a hammer blow to Roscrea.

The industrious Sean Coffey followed up on a well-saved Newport effort on goal which ricocheted off the hurl of MJ Lynch in the Roscrea goal before cannoning off the upright and back into the path of the inrushing Coffey.

Hughie Duggan tagged on another free for Newport to increase the yawning gap between the sides before a brace of points from the impressive Ashton Moloney reduced the deficit somewhat.

Newport were in full control though and despite Roscrea battling for all they were worth, the Mulcair boys just had too much in the tank for them.

Further points from captain, Ronan Toohey, Jim O’Mahony and Hughie Duggan (free) served only to embellish their tally while a Rhys Begley point coupled with a late Fionnan O’Brien goal following a goalmouth scramble served as some consolation for a battling Roscrea side.

Impressive for Roscrea were Rylei Heaney, Ashton Moloney, Robbie Loughnane and Patrick Maher while Ronan Toohey, Hughie Duggan, Sean Coffey, Tadhg Malone and Robert Long were to the fore for a dominant Newport side.

Newport: Luke Healy; Cathal O’Meara, Will Brassil, Bobby Ryan; Darragh McLoughlin, Tadhg Malone, Ethan Daly; Robert Long (0-1), Ronan Toohey (Capt 0-2); Sean Coffey (1-2), Jim O’Mahony (0-1), Cathal Grimes; Hughie Duggan 1-4 (0-4f), Darragh Harrington, Colin McBride (0-1).

Subs: Olly Moloney for Ryan (HT); Darragh Hogan for McBride (48); Calvin Mooney for Moloney (48).

Roscrea: MJ Lynch; Adam Dooley, Harley Loughnane, Rhys Begley (0-1); Harry Crofton, Patrick Maher, Dylan Martin; Ashton Moloney (0-2), Fionnan O’Brien (1-0); Sean Mulrooney, Rylei Heaney (0-2f), Leo Dooley (Capt); Rory England, Robbie Loughnane (0-1), Sean Mathews.

Subs: Ben Monaghan for Mathews (HT); Cian Deveraux for England (HT); Zach Mulready for Mulrooney (49).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).