Drom & Inch bag three second half goals to clinch Division 1 Mid League Hurling title

Sign On Templemore Mid Junior Hurling League Division 1 Final

Drom & Inch 4-24

Holycross Ballycahill 0-22

Three second half goals and a Mikey Connor inspired performance propelled Drom & Inch to the Division 1 Junior Hurling title on Friday evening last in Drombane. 

The winners raced into a two points to no score lead inside the opening minutes with Connors and Jack Lillis opening their evenings account. 

Holycross Ballycahill returned with their first score, a Jack Dwan free, his first of the encounter. Connors and James Doyle then traded scores before the first goal of the game came in the fourth minute, with Tony Cahill netting for his side and extending Drom’s lead to four. 

Holycross Ballycahill responded with a good Éanna Ryan point before Drom Inch took hold of the game and scored the next six points unanswered the pick of them a Mikey Connors point from 70m out. 1-8 to 0-3 points. 

The hardworking Drom & Inch defence made life difficult for the Holycross forwards but to their credit narrowed the gap on the midway point of the half with the next three scores, Woods, O’Dwyer and Lahart all finding range. 

The game found some nuance of life into the closing stages of the half. Drom & Inch continued feeding the ball to Cahill and Connors who provided the scores for their side but Holycross began matching them and can be extremely happy with their finish to the half reducing the gap to two after hitting the final four scores unanswered, the pick a James Doyle score from far on the sideline. 

Drom Inch though will rue a late square ball which saw David Butler score but following consultation with his umpires, referee Kevin Jordan correctly awarded a free out. 1-12 to 0-13 the scoreline read at the half time whistle.  

Both sides searched for the opening score of the second half to propel their side and it was Drom & Inch once again who got the first white flag of the half, Tony Cahill continuing his good opening half to put three in the game. 

Again, the teams traded scores and a long distance Jim Ryan free brought two between the sides. Drom & Inch though found another gear getting the next two points before another killer punch for Holycross as Connors found half time substitute Ben Stapleton who netted to the bottom corner.  2-16 now played 0-15 with only seven minutes of the second half played. 

Connors pointed another free shortly afterwards before two good Holycross Ballycahill points put two goals between the sides. Holycross were going to need goals to threaten the eventual winners and these just did not come. 

James O'Dwyer, the Holycross net minder, pulled off a fine save in the 13th minute from captain Jamie Bergin who pointed the rebound. Credit to Holycross Ballycahill who made life difficult for the Drom & Inch attack at all avenues. 

The teams continued to trade scores with Jamie Lee Dwan’s 17th minute point the pick of the scores. Mikey Connors added to his match tally with a stunning goal to the roof of the net to extend their lead to nine. 

Dwan once again replied for his side before Connors once again pointed. Substitute Stapleton raised his second green flag and his sides fourth on 21 minutes to effectively kill the game as a contest. Both sides again raised white flags down the home stretch as Drom & Inch ran out 4-24 to 0-22 winners. 

Drom & Inch will be happy with the manner of the victory, proving goals win matches. Mikey Connors and Tony Cahills fine form is a plus heading into the summer months. 

Although defeated on the evening Holycross Ballycahill will be happy with the large spread of scores amongst their forwards with ten of the starting fifteen all getting onto the score sheet.

Drom & Inch captain Jamie Bergin received the Division 1 League Trophy from Mid Board Chairman Joe O’Sullivan and secretary Catherine Dunne. 

Drom & Inch: Paul Connors; Eoin Kennedy, Michael Purcell, Colm Kinnane; Paul Bergin (0-1), Darragh Kennedy, John Ryan Matt; Jack Lillis (0-3), Jimmy Mullen; Darragh Fitzpatrick, David Butler, Mikey Connors (1-12, 0-6f, 0-1 65), Jamie Bergin (0-1), Tony Cahill (1-5), Paudie Kinnane. 

Subs: Jamie Ryan for Kinnane (inj);  Ben Stapleton (2-1) for Mullen; Diarmuid Brennan (0-1) for Fitzpatrick.

Holycross Ballycahill: James O’Dwyer; Seanie McGrath, Eddie O’Gorman, Dots Manning; Stevie Ryan, Jim Ryan (0-2f), Liam Doyle (0-1); James Doyle (0-2), Kieran O’Dwyer (0-1); Jamie Woods (0-2), Jack Dwan (0-6, 0-1f), Eoin Morris (0-1); Éanna Ryan (0-2), Jimmie Lahart (0-2), Jamie Lee Dwan (0-3). 

Subs: Mikey Harty for Eddie O’Gorman; Aidan Stakelum for Éanna Ryan.

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)