Goals decisive as Birr capture under 13 A hurling title

EJ – Access Solutions Under 13 A Hurling Championship Final

BIRR 5-3

BALLINAMERE/DURROW 2-7

BIRR captured the Offaly under 13 A hurling title with a well deserved five point victory over Ballinamere/Durrow in a well contested final at The Faithful Fields on Sunday morning.

Birr were the better team over the hour but a string of missed chances kept Ballinamere/Durrow in the game and Birr had a few nervous moments near the end before seeing out the game and claiming the trophy.

The winners took control from an early stage with two goals in the first six minutes of the game and although they dominated a lot of the first half after that they failed to score in the final 17 minutes of that half and Ballinamere/Durrow had cut the deficit to two points at half time, 2-2 to 1-3.

Ballinamere/Durrow reduced the gap to a single point early in the second half but Birr struck for two more goals in a five minute spell to re-establish their dominance on the scoreboard. To their credit Ballinamere/Durrow never gave up and they had the gap down to four points with six minutes left but Birr held on. The sides exchanged late goals before a final point sealed the win for Birr.

Over the 60 minutes Birr enjoyed the better of the possession but they didn't really make it count on the scoreboard. They hit 13 wides over the hour in comparison to just two for their opponents and dropped a lot of balls short into the goalmouth. Amazingly Birr failed to score a point from play in the game but it was certainly a case of goals being decisive and they certainly found the net with enough regularity to see them home.

Ballinamere/Durrow tried hard throughout and took some good scores but they were unable to put enough pressure on the Birr defence on a consistent basis. They kept pushing to the end but Birr had enough in reserve to see the game home.

Birr enjoyed the better of the first half but didn't make their territorial advantage count on the scoreboard, at the end of which they only led by two points. They put good pressure on the Ballinamere/Durrow goalmouth but Ballinamere/Durrow defended stoutly and kept scoring chances to the minimum. Birr also wasted good opportunities by hitting six wides in that first half against just one for their opponents. They went 25 minutes without scoring in the middle of the game but seemed to be able to come up with a goal when they most needed it.

Goalkeeper Conall Smith made one particularly fine save at an important stage of the second half while in defence, Billy Carroll, Charlie de Forge and Michael Conneely impressed. Justin Tuohy had an excellent game in the middle of the field ably assisted by Rory Milne while in attack Ryan Kelly, Nathaniel Szoma and Joey Canham were best.

Ross Spollen, Darragh Galvin and Jack Waters worked hard in the Ballinamere/Durrow defence while Connall Buggy did very well in the middle of the field. In attack Matthew Cunningham, Frankie Sheehan and Daire Spollen tried hard.

Birr got a great start when in just the second minute a long ball from the middle of the field from Michael Conneely eluded everyone and bounced into the net. Ballinamere/Durrow replied with a well taken Connall Buggy point after a good run but Birr struck for their second goal after just six minutes when Justin Tuohy played the ball in and it was won by Joey Canhamm who headed goalwards before batting the ball to the net. Ryan Kelly pointed a free and they were just goals clear inside eight minutes.

Connall Buggy and Joey Canham exchanged points from frees before Matthew Cunningham picked off a good point from play to leave five in it. Then five minutes before half time a good move involving Sean McLoughlin, Matthew Cunningham and Daire Spollen ended with Frankie Sheehan finishing the ball to the Birr net and the gap was down to just two at half time, 2-2 to 1-3.

Three minutes into the second half Daire Spollen reduced the gap to a single point and the game was in the melting pot. Birr hadn't scored since the 13th minute but they struck for a third goal eight minutes into the second half when a high ball from Justin Tuohy was batted out and Ryan Molloy was on hand to kick the ball to the net.

Five minutes later Birr raised another green flag when another ball was sent in by Justin Tuohy and sub Harry Watkins nicked it past the advancing goalkeeper and flicked the ball to the net.

Ballinamere/Durrow didn't give up and Frankie Sheehan and Connall Buggy scored a couple of quick points and then Connall Buggy had another effort when he fired for goals but Conall Smith did very well to deflect the effort over the crossbar.

Ballinamere/Durrow sensed a chance but Birr hit back and with four minutes left found the net again. Michael Conneely's free was knocked down and Ryan Kelly picked it up about 20m out and fired a great shot to the top corner. Ballinamere/Durrow came back again and won a 20m free. Connall Buggy's effort was well saved but the ball was cleared straight back out to him and he fired the ball to the net. Joey Canham added a late free for Birr as they celebrated victory.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

BIRR: Conall Smith; Sam Cleare, Billy Carroll, Kajus Martinkevicius; Charlie de Forge, Michael Conneely, Logan Dwyer; Rory Milne, Justin Tuohy; Ryan Kelly, Nathaniel Szoma, Bosun Olowu; Ryan Molloy, Joey Canham, Cormac Owens. Sub. Harry Watkins (for Bosun Olowu, 40 mins).

BALLINAMERE/DURROW: Larry Wright; Joe Haverty, Ross Spollen, Jack Brennan; Liam Deering, Darragh Galvin, Jack Waters; James Hyland, Connall Buggy; Devon Molloy, Matthew Cunningham, Harry Devery; Sean McLoughlin, Frankie Sheehan, Daire Spollen. Sub. Daniel Lynam (for Harry Devery, 34 min).

REFEREE: Brian Gavin (Clara)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Birr midfielder Justin Tuohy had an excellent game. He was in the thick of the action throughout, carried the ball well and delivered good ball into the forward line in an all round fine display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Six minutes from the end Ballinamere/Durrow were pushing hard and eating into Birr's lead. They had pulled two points back when Connall Buggy went through and fired goalwards but Conall Smith made a great save and diverted the ball over the crossbar. Less than two minutes later Birr found the net at the other end to restore their seven point advantage. A Ballinamere/Durrow goal at that stage would have cut Birr's lead to two points but within minutes they were seven points down again and that was too much leeway to make up.

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin took charge of this game and handled it well. He was firm and always in control and there were no contentious issues.

WHAT’S NEXT

Birr end the season as under 13 A champions, the first time this title has come to Birr since 2008.

VENUE WATCH

The Faithful Fields was in excellent condition for this final. There were plenty of stewards on duty to control parking and eveything was in perfect order, with the playing of Amhran na bhFiann all helping make it a big day for these young players.

STATISTICS

Wides; Birr 13 (6 in first half) Ballinamere/Durrow 2 (1 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Birr 1 (Nathaniel Szoma) Ballinamere/Durrow 0

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Birr; Joey Canham (1-2, 0-2 frees), Ryan Kelly (1-1, 0-1 free), Michael Conneely, Ryan Molloy, Harry Watkins (1-0 each).

Ballinamere/Durrow: Connall Buggy (1-4, 0-1 free), Frankie Sheehan (1-1), Matthew Cunningham, Daire Spollen (0-1 each).