CRCC come out victorious in Minor B final goal-fest over Clara/Brosna Gaels. 

IT WAS goals galore on Saturday morning between Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle/Coolderry (CRCC) and Clara/Brosna Gaels in Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park, with 10 goals in total tallied up between the two sides as neither gave an inch for the cause. A hat trick from Evan McEvoy and 2-11 from man of the match Andrew Hogan saw CRCC emerge victorious in the Minor B Hurling final. 

CRCC come out victorious in Minor B final goal-fest over Clara/Brosna Gaels. 

Carrig-Riverstown/Crinkle/Coolderry 7-18

Clara/Brosna Gaels 3-13

Some of the hurling on display was simply fantastic, especially for a Saturday morning. Tadhg McGrath was terrific on frees as his placed balls were all sailing over the black spot and some from a far distance too. He landed seven in the first half and four in the second. So too was Andrew Hogan, who is deadly from any distance and angle when given a free shot at goal, as an opening five minute individual display in the second interval from him saw CRCC open up a huge lead and soon killed the game off as an unfortunate fumble by keeper Daithi Shirley resulted in Matthew Ryan kicking in the loose ball to give CRCC one hand on the cup. 

Despite the best efforts of McGrath from frees, Clara/Brosna Gaels just didn’t have enough fire power from play: while they did manage to grab three goals which on any day is a great return, two points from play out of 3-13 just simply wasn’t good enough. Hogan continued to send over frees, while Evan McEvoy caused major problems in the full forward line with his speed and strength. An incredible couple of minutes saw four goals in a matter of minutes with two coming from each side courtesy of Eoin Phelan and Sean Mullen for Clara/Brosna Gaels, with Evan McEvoy grabbing a brace to cap off a terrific display from him.

Two goals in the space of 30 seconds from both sets of teams made it a cracking start to proceedings, as Offaly minor hurler Andrew Hogan batted his effort into the net for CRCC before a terrific solo attempt from Reece Johnson cancelled out the goal and left Clara/Brosna Gaels in front after the opening 10 minutes. A first half goal fest saw another two fly in when Ben Hogan played a delightful pass into Harry O’Sullivan before he blasted his effort home, and just on the stroke of half time Andrew Hogan once again hit goal when he buried a 21 yard free past Daithi Shirley in nets to give CRCC the advantage at the break. 

Harry O’Sullivan, Andrew Hogan and Corey King all had very a positive first half for CRCC, while James McKenna was very good at winning puck outs for Clara/Brosna Gaels, with McGrath and Reece Johnson posing massive threats. Matthew Ryan was also a big figure in the CRCC forward line and used his power and strength to his advantage, along with Joey McLoughney also putting in a massive shift at centre back.

Clara/Brosna Gaels certainly looked the better side in the first half, but Andrew Hogan’s 21 yard on the stroke of half time found the net and that was the changing of the game, giving CRCC the incentive to kick on in the second half to end their season with a minor title success and bringing to an end a fantastic game of hurling with excellent scores throughout the contest. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Andrew Hogan(CRCC): Evan McEvoy is a close second as he finished the game with a hat trick of goals with all three coming in the second half, while the free taking exploits of Tadhg McKenna for Clara/Brosna Gaels was superb. 

Harry O’Sullivan and Matthew Ryan also had very positive showings in the half forward line, but it was Andrew Hogan who stole the show with a magnificent individual display as he ended with 2-11 and was overall the dominant figure all over the pitch. His strength, power and eye for goal was crucial to the way CRCC played and without him CRCC wouldn’t have been near as dominant. 

THE SCORERS

CRCC: Andrew Hogan 2-11 (1-7 frees),  Evan McEvoy 3-2, Harry O’Sullivan 1-2, Matthew Ryan 1-1, Declan O’Meara and Corey King (1free) 0-1 each. 

Clara/Brosna Gaels: Tadhg McGrath 0-11 (11frees), Reece Johnson, Eoin Phelan and Sean Mullen 1-0 each, Oisin O’Meara and Ben Melia 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

CRCC: Ruebien O’Meara; Corey King; Sean Walshe; Oisin Dolan; James Purcell; Joey McLoughney; Callum Connolly; Darragh Hoyne; Philip Larkin; Declan O’Meara; Matthew Ryan; Harry O’Sullivan; Ben Hogan; Andrew Hogan; Evan McEvoy. Subs– Cillian Hynes for Purcell (47m); Jack O’Connor for O’Meara (55m); Caleb O’Meara for Ryan (57m).

Clara/Brosna Gaels: Daithi Shirley; Sean Doherty; David Minnock; Callum Bracken; Barry Bradley; Tom Carroll; Luke Finn; Ryan Handy; Oisin O’Meara; Tadhg McGrath; Luke Fitzgerald; James McKenna; Reece Johnson; Leon Nolan; Ben Melia. Subs- Sean Mullen for Bradley (35m); Eoin Phelan for Nolan (46m); Dylan Minnock for Fitzgerald (55m); Dylan Deehan Kavanagh for Melia (55m) . 

Referee – Shane Guinan (Drumcullen).

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan took charge of Saturday’s opening game in Birr, and did a good job without any of his decisions having any bearing on the final result. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Andrew Hogan’s 21 metre free on the stroke of half time changed the complexity of the game as Clara/Brosna Gaels were looking the stronger of the two sides heading into the break, before he hit 1-1 in quick succession to give CRCC the advantage at half time and thus allowing them to kick on in the second half and see the game out. 

VENUE WATCH

St Brendan’s Park was the venue and while there was a relatively small crowd, it hosted the game very well and the pitch was looking very good. 

STATISTICS

Wides: CRCC – 9  (3  in first half,  6 in 2nd half); Clara/Brosna Gaels – 7  (7 in first half, 0 in 2nd half).

Yellow cards: CRCC - (2) Darragh Hoyne and Philip Larkin; Clara/Brosna Gaels – (1) Oisin O’Meara

Red cards: CRCC– (0 ); Clara/Brosna Gaels – (0).