Excellent hurling finals in Holycross as four U13 teams lift divisional honours

Templemore Jewellers Mid U13 Group 2 Final

Loughmore Castleiney 5-9

Upperchurch Drombane 3-13

By Mark Dunne

Loughmore Castleiney dug deep to see Upperchurch Drombane in a highly exciting Mid U13 Group 2 Final in Holycross on Saturday last.

A game that saw eight goals scored and two sides that showed a huge amount of skill entertained the large crowd in attendance. Upperchurch Drombane were quickest out of the blocks and found themselves four points to the good inside the opening three minutes, Oscar Corbett, Oisin Cooke (2), and Martin Ryan all on the scoreboard. 

Loughmore settled into the game with man of the match Dylan Considine getting his team off the mark. Jack Ryan pointed for his side before the first goal of the game. Tadhg Stapleton was both provider and scorer in a well-worked goal. 

Mikey Loughnane scored his first free of the day to tie up the sides. Jack Ryan added another before Tadhg Stapleton expertly disposed of the Upperchurch defence to finish to the net. Upperchurch though were unphased and responded almost immediately with Oscar Corbett netting. 

Jack Ryan quickly added another to put the Church two in front. Ryan and Cooke added another two in quick succession to bring their total to 1-9, a four-point lead. 

Loughmore scored the next two courtesy of Loughnane and Considine before Martin Ryan broke their trend. Loughnane got a good score to finish out the half and leave two between the sides at the break. 2-05 to 1-10.

Loughmore Castleiney regrouped at the break and were quickest out of the blocks. Loughnane got his side off the mark before Ollie Morris got on the end of a high ball and netted to put Loughmore two in front. 

Upperchurch looked for a goal of their own only for a fine save by Adam Tynan to send Martin Ryan’s shot over the crossbar. 

Ryan made no mistake though when the chance presented itself again and fired passed Tynan. Johnny Whelan landed a long-range free to give the Church a three-point advantage. 

Considine cemented his Man of the Match award with a fine long-range point. Upperchurch though got the next break, a long-range free from Whelan made its way to the back of the net, and suddenly the Church five to the good. 

Loughmore Castleiney’s never-say-die attitude which we all have become so accustomed to, shone through. Tadhg Stapleton fielded a superb catch from Considine and fired passed Corcoran in the Upperchurch goal. Daoire Kennedy scored a good long-range free to bring one between the sides. 

The momentum you felt was starting to swing and Loughmore got their noses back in front, Tomás Kennedy finding the net to put them two to the good. 

Upperchurch desperately sought more scores but Stapleton who was immense all day put three between the sides. With a goal as the only option for Upperchurch, they desperately sought this but it wasn’t to come. Martin Ryan tagged over a late 65m but Loughmore hung on for a fine victory. 

Loughmore Castleiney: Adam Tynan; John Sheehan, Tom Ryan; Milo McDonald, Daoire Kennedy (0-1), Killian Cleary; Dylan Consodine (0-3), Sean McGrath; Tomás Kennedy (1-0), Tadhg Stapleton (3-1), Mikey Loughnane (0-4); Ollie Morris (1-0), Kyle Kelly, Oisin Casey.

Subs: Conor Sweeney; Charlie Keoghl Daniel Kenney.

Upperchurch Drombane: Tadhg Corcoran; Iarlaith Woodlock, Jim Ryan; Noah Hackett, Johnny Whelan (1-2), James Ryan; Cormac Ryan, Paul Brett; Jack Ryan (0-4), Oisin Cooke (0-3), Jack Mockler; Martin Ryan (1-3), Oscar Corbett (1-1), Luke Harrington. 

Subs: Tommy Ryan; Paul Kennedy; Daniel O’Brien; Tadhg Quinlan; Darragh Downey.

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy)