Drom & Inch walk into U21A hurling decider with big win over Holycross Ballycahill

Donal & Rose Younge U21A Mid Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Drom & Inch 2-17

Holycross-Ballycahill 0-15

Favourites Drom-Inch were in the driving seat early for a place in the Donal and Rose Younge Mid U21A hurling final with two goals in the opening ten minutes against Holycross-Ballycahill at Holycross on Sunday.

With a liberal sprinkling of their senior squad in action, the Drom lads are many people’s fancy to annex honours in this grade, and Dara Fitzpatrick’s goal after three minutes set them confidently on the road to a spot in the final. His second goal six minutes later put them 2-3 to 0-1 ahead and after ten minutes it was 2-5 to 0-1 in their favour.

It was all too easy for the Drom lads up to then. They looked sharp, focussed and were playing some fine hurling, even if their finishing left something to be desired even at this early stage.

However, anyone who thought Holycross were “dead and buried” was greatly mistaken as they got their game going and with Ben Hennessy very accurate off frees, they registered the next six scores without reply to come within four points of their rivals(0-7 to 2-5) after 23 minutes.

That’s as good as it got for the home side, however. Drom steadied themselves and had points from Fitzpatrick, Dara Kennedy and Jack Ryan to lead at the interval 2-8 to 0-7 but their wides tally was already in double figures.

It didn’t matter though as they continued to dictate and by the three quarter stage their advantage was 2-15 to 0-8. Again Holycross produced a rally scoring seven of the next eight points but they were never really threatening to catch their rivals who were availing of the opportunity to give fringe players a taste of the action in the closing stages.

By any measure this is a strong Drom-Inch team and they will take beating. The experience of their senior players is a big influence on the team and will again be vital in the final against whatever opposition. However, some fine-tuning is required, particularly in relation to the number of chances squandered, which could prove costly in a more challenging situation. That said, it was the first championship outing, and no doubt this game will bring them on a ton.

Drom’s key men led by example with Fintan Purcell, John Campion, Lorcan Campion, and Tony Cahill all having good games. So too did Darragh Fitzpatrick, Eoin Kennedy and Brian Moore, but all round Drom-Inch were the masters, and comfortably in control.

Holycross-Ballycahill faced into the game without such as Joe Caesar and Tony Lambe, big players for them at this level, and while they battled gamely they were on the back foot from the start and always struggling to gain a foothold, and missing the leadership the absentees would have provided.

They could not be accused of a lack of endeavour however with Jim Ryan, Eoin Craddock, Ben Hennessy, Eamon Ryan, Jimmy Lahart and James Doyle doing their utmost to turn the tide in their favour.
The club has had a great run of success at under-age level this year, but this grade is a step higher for their young players, most of whom will be eligible for a couple of more years. Their day will surely come.

Drom & Inch: Diarmuid Brennan; Eoin Kennedy, Lorcan Campion, Jim Bob Kennedy; Jack Ryan (0-1), Fintan Purcell, Paul Mullen; Tony Cahill (0-2), Dara Kennedy (0-4f); Madhc Fitzpatrick, John Campion (0-4), Brian Moore (0-3); Jack Lillis, Ben Stapleton (0-1), Dara Fitzpatrick (2-2).

Subs: Jack Johnston, Paidi Kinane, Jimmy Mullen, Donncha Barry, Daniel McAllister.

Holycross Ballycahill: James O’Dwyer; Rory Fleming, Eamon Ryan (0-1), Liam Doyle; Jamie Lee Dwan, Frank Hanafin, Jim Ryan (0-1); Tadhg Gould, Seanie McGrath; Ben Hennessy (0-5f),Eoin Craddock (0-3), James Doyle (0-1); Jimmy Lahart (0-2), David Fogarty (0-2), Stephen Quinlan.

Subs: Audi Lohan, Conor Ryan.

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)