U13 County Hurling Finals: Wins for Cashel King Cormacs and Kilruane MacDonaghs last weekend

Reports by Liam Hogan

County Tipperary U13A Hurling Championship Final

Cashel King Cormacs 0-10

Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-5

Kilruane’s dreams of retaining the County Under 13A Hurling title after they were defeated by a well-marshalled Cashel King Cormacs side in a well-contested encounter at Dundrum last Sunday afternoon.

Cashel’s better all-round thirteen pulled out all the stops in the second half scoring five unanswered points in the last twelve minutes.

It was a momentous win for Cashel King Cormacs who bridged 40 years since the famed club last won an A Juvenile title.
No stone was left unturned as they had all their matchups precise as Brian O’Dwyer and Joshua Mulcahy were to the fore in defence while Rory Dunne mastered the half-back area with Adam Hayde, Scott Ryan and Ben Fitzgerald led the attack.

Kilruane never gave up but they must thank goalkeeper Shane O’Meara who excelled way above what is expected at under 13 level as he produced a string of great saves and but for him, Cashel would have been home and hosed well before they took command in the last ten.

Tadgh Teeffey was very good at full-back with Mark Cleary, Michael Hutchinson and Jack O’Meara catching the eye Shane O’Meara was called on in the second minute to make a great save when he denied Scott Ryan at the expense of a 65.

Robbie Dunne’s opening point in the third minute had Cashel in front before both defences began to take charge and we had to wait until the 16th minute before Cashel doubled their lead with Scot Ryan on target.

It was three minutes later before Senan O’Leary had Kilruane’s opening score from a free but Cashel replied when and Scott Ryan’s free had them two clear.
The North champions needed scores to stay in the game and with play entering added time they secured two valuable points through Jack O’Meara and Michael Hutchinson to make scores level 0-3 each at halftime.

Kilruane began the second half in full stride somewhat similar to their North final performance and were rewarded with a Michael Hutchinson point after forty seconds.

However, Adam Hayde levelled a minute later before Kilruane went in front again with a Seanan O’Leary free in the third minute.

That, however, was Kilruane’s last score and Cashel began to build momentum with Scott Ryan edging them in front when a goal looked a possibility from close in.

There was more to come but Shane O’Meara produced a point blank save on M J Kennedy also from close in. After a foul on Adam Hayde another Scott Ryan free had Cashel in front and they doubled their lead with an Adam Hyde point in the 15th minute.

Indeed, Cashel might had a greater lead but their accuracy let them down in front of goal but they went two in front with Scott Ryan scoring twice inside thirty seconds.

Leading by four Cashel looked safe but they were coming for more with Cathal Bonnar forcing Shane O’Meara to make another save on the fiftieth minute.

With additional time on board, Kilruane fought gamely for that goal but the Cashel defence held film and at the other end Robert Kelly put the seal on the title.

Cashel King Cormacs: Kacper Marshall; Joshua Mulcahy, Brian O’Riordan; Will Riordan, Robert Dunne (capt) (0-1), Ronan Devitt; Robert Kelly (0-1), Ben Fitzgerald; Adam Hayde (0-2), Scott Ryan (0-6, 0-2f), MJ Kennedy; Cathal Bonnar, Cormac O’Donoghue.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Shane O’Meara; Ben Williams, Ben Teeffey; Cian O’Looney, Mark Cleary, Dylan Hussey Sheahan; Tiernan Casey, Jack O’Meara (0-1); Lukah Williams, Tarla Dorris, Michael Hutchinson (0-2); Paul Williams, Senan O’Leary (0-2f).

Subs used: Colm Gaynor for Hussey Sheahan (20th min second half); Tommy Ryan for L Williams (20th min second half).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)

County Tipperary U13 D Hurling Championship Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-7

Rockwell Rovers 0-1

Kilruane MacDonaghs retained their title thanks to a 12-point win over Rockwell Rovers in the opening of four finals played at Dundrum on Saturday morning.

The 10.30 am throw-in start failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Kilruane boys who were 2-3 to nil in front after 15 minutes.

Ciaran Foote and Shane Carroll were the goal scorers with Foote adding two points (one from a free), Rory McLoughney and Jack Ryan adding a point each. The holders led 2-4 to nil by halftime and added three more points in the second half including one from Colin Gaynor.

Rockwell Rovers did come more into the game in the second half and tried for goals but the Kilruane defence had their number. Kilruane had done enough and as the game came to an end both sides introduced their full quantity of subs.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Mark Gaynor; Odhran Goulding, Rian Harte; Robert Cleary, Colin Gaynor (0-1); Shane Carroll (1-0), Sean Whelan; Issac Hussey Sheahan, Jack Ryan (0-1); Rory McLoughney (0-1), Ciaran Foote (1-4, 0-2f), Riain Harte.

Subs used: Harry Gannon, Liam Dollery, Aidan Fahey, Daniel O’Brien, James Last, Liam Killackey, Ben Shields, Luke Flannery, Tom Hannan, Cathal McLoughney, and Sam Harding.

Rockwell Rovers: Jack Donnelly (Capt); Cian White, Tom Doherty; Conor Moloney, Daniel O’Brien; Harry Stafford, Rory Shanahan; Luke Fitzgerald, Oisin McGivern; Ollie Hennessey, Patrick Reilly.

Subs used: Cormac Durkan, Adam Ryan, Richard Fitzgerald, John Ed O’Connor, Fionn O’Dwyer and Lorcan Kelly.

Referee: Donie Horan (Éire Óg Annacarty)