Gortnahoe Glengoole outclass North opponents in winning of U17B county hurling title

County U17B Hurling Championship Final

Gortnahoe Glengoole  3-21

Roscrea 2-16

By Ronan Loughnane          

Gortnahoe Glengoole captured the County Minor B hurling title in Templetuohy on Saturday evening last as they completely outclassed North champions Roscrea. 

The writing was on the wall for the losers right from the throw-in as Christopher Dunne pointed after just ten seconds. 

The Roscrea defence adopted a sweeper to deal with the threat of Dunne but this allowed time and space for the Gortnahoe defenders at the opposite end who used the ball intelligently and generally kept well away from the spare man. 

Lorcan Bourke was a constant menace at wing forward for Gortnahoe and was central to most attacks, while Mark O’Shea was also lively on the other wing. They landed two points apiece from play in the opening eight minutes while Dunne tagged on two frees in a very lively start. 

Liam Dunphy replied with two points for Roscrea but the Gortnahoe onslaught continued when Dunne set up Michael Campion for the game-opening goal in the 10th minute. Dunphy’s third and a lovely point from play from Declan Walsh gave Roscrea some respite but another Dunne free left the Mid champions 1-8 to 0-4 ahead at the end of the opening quarter. 

Some Roscrea switches made little difference as the Gortnahoe dominance continued. Further goals from Bourke and Dunne in the 20th and 27th minutes were complimented with points from Campion, Bourke, and Dunne (2). Aaron Moloney was introduced for Roscrea after 25 minutes and he landed a nice point from play while Dunphy landed two more placed balls to leave Gortnahoe well clear at the short whistle, 3-12 to 0-7.

A Roscrea comeback looked highly unlikely and with the sides sharing just eight points in the third quarter their chances of county glory were long gone. Dunne continued to be accurate from frees as he converted three while the ever-dangerous Campion landed another fine point from play. 

Dunphy converted two placed balls for Roscrea while Moloney added two more from play, leaving one wondering why he wasn’t involved from the start. The final quarter was a march to victory for Gortnahoe as they emptied the bench while Bourke (2), Campion, Dunne, and David Stanley all chipped in with points from play. 

To Roscrea’s credit, they never gave up the fight with Dunphy (3), Jack Walsh and Calum Mitchell all adding points. They finished with a flourish as they added two goals in injury time courtesy of Mitchell and Oisin O’Shea, but the day belonged to Gortnahoe Glengoole as captain Jack Gleeson raised the cup aloft to the delight of their supporters. 

They were in control right from the off and had fine displays from Adam Hogan in goal, Adam Norton, Aaron O’Dwyer, and Jack Gleeson in defence. Lorcan Bourke was the star of the show upfront while he was ably assisted by Michael Campion, Christopher Dunne, and Mark O’Shea. Roscrea have had many good days and will have many more, but Saturday is one they will want to forget. 

Try as they might they simply never got to the pitch of this one and once Gortnahoe were up and running the was no coming back. 

They fought valiantly to the end and had solid displays from Calum Mitchell, Liam Dunphy and Jack Walsh while substitutes Aaron Moloney and Jack Hayes impressed when introduced. 

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Adam Hogan; Eamon Hayden, Declan Teehan, Adam Norton; Billy Gleeson, Aaron Dwyer, Jack Gleeson; Billy Hogan, Thomas Coady; Mark O’Shea (0-2), David Stanley (0-1), Lorcan Bourke (1-5); Darragh Heffernan, Christopher Dunne (1-10, 0-8f), Michael Campion (1-3).

Subs used: Ronan Gleeson for Billy Gleeson (52); Shane Gleeson for O’Shea (54); Cian Dwyer for Campion (56); Patrick Brophy for Heffernan (59); Gavin O’Shea for Coady (59). 

Roscrea: Aaron Tooher; Jack Byrne, Michael Loughnane, Charlie Carroll; Matthew Moore, Aaron O’Donoghue, Jack Moloney; Luke Murphy, Calum Mitchell (1-1); Liam Dunphy (0-10, 0-8f), Oisin O’Shea (1-0), Sean Nolan; Michael Dooley, Declan Walsh (0-1), Jack Walsh. 

Subs used: Aaron Moloney (0-3) for Nolan (22); Jack Hayes for Moore (HT); Moore for Loughnane (48); Billy Kennedy for Dooley (57); Jayden Loughnane for Jack Walsh (61). 

Referee: Martin Ryan (Moyne Templetuohy)