Holycross Ballycahill retain their U19A Mid crown with defeat of Thurles Sarsfields

Johnny Butler Minibus Services Mid U19 A Hurling Championship Final

Holycross Ballycahill 0-21

Thurles Sarsfields 2-13

By Michael Dundon

Three unanswered Robbie Ryan points in the closing minutes carried Holycross Ballycahill to a third successive Johnny Butler Minibus Services Mid U19A hurling title as they saw off the challenge of Sarsfields in a fine contest at Templemore on Wed evening last.

Previous experience at the under-age level suggested this would be a cliff-hanger and so it was but Holycross were the better side over the hour and deserving winners, with several of the Sarsfields team showing the effects of a third game in a week between this and the U17 grade, as their bid to unseat the champions faltered in the second half.

The statistics show 21 scores to fifteen in favour of Holycross, a fairly accurate reflection of the balance of play, Sarsfields goal in each half boosting their charge, and they were leading up to 50 minutes, but a fresher Holycross side reeled off six of the last eight points to set them up for a clash with Toomevara in the county semi-final.

Sarsfields got the ideal start when Keith Loughnane’s long-range free after two minutes somehow reached the back of the Holycross net. With Loughnane and Euan Murray leading the way, Sarsfields had established a 1-6 to 0-4 lead by the end of the first quarter, Murray landing three points from play.

Robbie Ryan, after a dodgy start, was Holycross’ big threat and he lived up to his considerable reputation with six of the ten first-half points, three from play. Holycross were the stronger side in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 6/3, Audie Lohan adding two from play but at the break, Sarsfields were 1-9 to 0-10 ahead.

Significantly, Holycross would have the aid of the fresh breeze in the second half, a second half made all the more stamina-sapping for the players because of a heavy downpour. Seven minutes after resuming Holycross had moved to within a point (0-13 to 1-11) of Sarsfields when Tristan Kelly punished a defensive slip with a second Thurles goal that looked like restoring the initiative to them.

Not so, however, as Holycross were by far the stronger team in the last twenty minutes, Robbie Ryan (2), Sean McGrath, James Doyle, and Jimmy Lahart all on target as Holycross drew level at 0-18 to 2-12). Leelan Donoghue temporarily halted the Holycross march with a point in the 54th minute but the closing minutes were all Holycross as their star performer Robbie Ryan hit three points, two from 65, to seal a deserved win.

The victory sets Holycross up for another crack at that elusive county title in the grade and they go forward well-equipped to achieve that goal.

The inclusion of a number of their senior side in the team gives it vast experience and this was seen in the leadership shown by Robbie Ryan, Jim Ryan, and Evan Morris in particular, while Cathal O’Reilly, captain of the Tipp minor All-Ireland winning team, James Doyle, Audie Lohan and Jimmy Lahart also had big games for them.

With many of their U17 team who qualified for the Mid final on Monday night, and who the previous week played in the U19 semi-final against Boherlahan, which went to extra time, the pressure of so many games in a short time took its toll on Sarsfields.

Their second-half showing dipped considerably from the opening period and while they gamely stayed in the contest, they were tiring rapidly. 

The loss through injury of team captain Paul Noonan at the start of the second half was also a big blow and while the boys can be proud of their effort, they cannot quibble with the result. Euan Murray, Keith Loughnane, and Kieran Rossiter led by example with Tristan Kelly, Leelan Donoghue, and Evan Nolan also having good games.

Holycross Ballycahill: James O’Dwyer; Cathal O’Reilly, Evan Morris, Sean McGrath (0-1); Jack Lahart (0-1), Jim Ryan (0-1f), Liam Doyle; James Doyle (0-1), Tiarnan Ryan; Tony Maher; Robbie Ryan (0-12, 0-6f), Audie Lohan (0-2); Cian Ryan, Pierce Briody (0-1), Jimmy Lahart (0-2).

Thurles Sarsfields: James Woodlock; Keelan Dunne, Paul Noonan, Aaron Moore; Bill Fogarty, Kieran Rossiter (0-1), Evan Nolan; Daniel Rossiter, Keith Loughnane (1-4, 0-2f); Alex Coppinger, Euan Murray (0-3), Leelan Donoghue (0-2); Ronan O’Brien (0-1), Tristan Kelly (1-1), Cillian Minogue (0-1).

Subs used: Kieran Purcell for Moore; Stephen Dwan for Noonan; John Broderick for O’Brien; Michael McCormack for  Coppinger.

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea)