Birr withstand late Tullamore fightback to win under 16 title

EJ Access Solutions Offaly Under 16 A Hurling Final

BIRR 2-13

TULLAMORE 1-12

TWO goals in two minutes midway through the second half were decisive in helping Birr overcome Tullamore to claim the Offaly under 16 hurling title with a hard earned victory in an exciting final played at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr on Saturday.

Birr looked well on course for victory when they went 10 points up just after those two goals but Tullamore staged a great fightback to cut the lead back to three points on a couple of occasions and as the game finished in a welter of excitement Birr had to hit a couple of late points to ensure they held on for victory.

A fine sized crowd was treated to a good contest between two committed teams in difficult conditions. A difficult wind and sporadic showers didn't make it easy for the players but both sides battled hard to overcome the elements and produce a great finale.

Tullamore had first use of the wind but struggled to make it count for themselves on the scoreboard. Birr scored two points in the first two minutes but 17 minutes elapsed before the next score which was Tullamore's first, and they quickly added two more. It was tit for tat from that to half time with the sides level at the break, 0-5 each.

They were level for the fifth and final time early in the second half before Birr began to take control and a run of 2-5 without reply put them in a commanding position at the three quarter stage. Any notions they had that they could coast to the final whistle were quickly wiped out as Tullamore began to eat into their lead in the final quarter. A burst of 1-4 without reply in eight minutes left just a goal between the sides with eight minutes left and despite having the wind Birr were hanging on a bit at that stage. Crucially they got three of the next four points and that was enough to ensure that they held on to win the title.

Both sides took their time to settle into the game and scores were very hard to come by in the first 20 minutes. Both sides were guilty of some poor wides and they had registered seven wides each and just five points each at half time. Birr doubled their wides tally in the second half with Tullamore finishing with 11. Both improved immeasureably in the second half and the crowd really got involved in the final quarter as both sides battled hard for victory.

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Birr showed a bit more sharpness in attack and that was crucial in ensuring they won the title. Eight different players got on the scoresheet from play for them and while they wasted a lot of opportunities they came up with the scores when they were needed to keep them in front.

Like their juniors in the preceding final, Tullamore relied on their freetakers for points up to the latter stages. They had only one point from play after 52 minutes but managed three more in the remaining minutes after that but unfortunately for them had left themselves too much of a gap to make up and they were unable to haul Birr in.

Darragh Carty and Lorcan Owens impressed in defence and Barry Bennett came more into it in the second half. Oscar Boyd and Michael Kelly did well at midfield and in attack Edward Carty and Robert Landy impressed and Thomas Murray had a very good first half.

Aaron Mangan, Niall Lambe and Darragh Stewart worked hard in the Tullamore defence, Patrick Duffy showed a lot of good touches in the middle of the field and Adam Martin and Conor Rigney were best in attack.

Birr got off to a flier and Robert Landy scored a great point from the left wing after 30 seconds. Edward Carty added a second after taking a pass from his brother Darragh but they proceeded to miss chances, including three frees and had seven wides registered before Tullamore got their first point in the 19^th minute from an Adam Martin free. He levelled from another free and Gleann Keavney put them in front in the 24^th minute from a free from midfield. Birr had gone 23 minutes without a score before Edward Carty levelled from a free. Adam Martin put Tullamore in front from a free but Edward Carty flighted over a lovely sideline cut from the left about 20m out to level. Jayden Daly scored Tullamore's first point from play on the 30 minute mark but Robert Landy had time to level in injury time and the sides went in at the break level 0-5 each.

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Adam Martin restored the Tullamore lead a minute after the restart but Edward Carty levelled for the final time from a third minute free. Ryan Lagace, Edward Carty ('65') and Oscar Boyd added quick points for Birr to open a three point gap just six minutes into the half.

Six minutes later came the game's first goal. Peter Spain came outfield to gain possession and headed goalwards and despite being under pressure managed to slap his shot to the net. Just over a minute later Birr were back again. Ryan Lagace's shot was saved by Tom Lynch but sub Tom Enright was on hand to double the rebound to the net. Robert Landy added another point and Birr were 2-10 to 0-6 ahead.

It looked bleak for Tullamore but to their credit they battled back. Adam Martin pointed two frees and then with nine minutes left a high ball from Gleann Keavney broke in the goalmouth and Patrick Duffy was on hand to steer it to the net. Buoyed up by that Cian Rigney and Adam Martin from a free added further points and with seven minutes left the gap was down to a goal.

Birr were under pressure but a great point from the right wing by Campbell Naughton eased their nerves somewhat. Conor Rigney got another for Tullamore but straight away Michael Kelly fired over for Birr and Edward Carty pointed another free. Adam Martin added another point for Tullamore but they ran out of time and Birr were able to celebrate victory.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

BIRR: Michael Conneely; Isaac Mullarkey, Darragh Carty, Jack Carroll; Shane Milne, Barry Bennett, Lorcan Owens; Oscar Boyd, Michael Kelly; Thomas Murray, Edward Carty, Robert Landy; Ryan Lagace, Peter Spain, Campbell Naughton. Subs. Tom Enright (for Thomas Murray, 34 mins), Darragh Hand (for Isaac Mullarkey, 60 mins), Cathal Mooney (for Peter Spain, 62 mins).

TULLAMORE: Tom Lynch; Niall Lambe, Aaron Mangan, Jake Conlon; Daniel Bourke, Darragh Stewart, David Foley; Patrick Duffy Cian Rigney; Conor Rigney, Adam Martin, Jayden Daly; Conor Clarke, Gleann Keavney, Hugh Kelly. Subs. Caiden Hogan (for Conor Clarke, half time), Devin Donoghue (for David Foley, 47 mins).

REFEREE: Kieran Dooley (Drumcullen)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Birr captain Edward Carty led his side by example. He scored points from play, frees, a sideline cut and a '65', and he was always lively in the forward line in what was a fine all round performance.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The two Birr goals in two minutes near the end of the third quarter were decisive in putting Birr in the driving seat and although they had to withstand a late rally, those goals put them in a winning position.

REFEREE WATCH

Kieran Dooley was kept busy throughout this contest. He handed out six yellow cards, the majority of them to Birr, and while they was a bit of niggle, it wasn't much and the referee kept a lid on it. Overall he did a good job controlling everything.

WHAT’S NEXT

The season ends for both sides with Birr crowned as county champions.

VENUE WATCH

There was a sizeable crowd in for this final and the Birr club were well prepared with plenty of stewards on duty. The weather conditions weren't ideal but the pitch was in good condition, despite it being the second game of a double header. PA was in operation to announce teams and subs and everything ran smoothly.

STATISTICS

Wides; Birr 14 (7 in first half) Tullamore 11 (7 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Birr 5 (Thomas Murray, Michael Kelly, Robert Landy, Lorcan Owens, Ryan Lagace) Tullamore 1 (Jayden Daly).

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Birr; Edward Carty (0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-1 sideline cut, 0-1 '65'), Robert Landy (0-3), Peter Spain, Tom Enright (1-0 each), Ryan Lagace, Oscar Boyd, Campbell Naughton, Michael Kelly (0-1 each).

Tullamore: Adam Martin (0-8, 0-7 frees), Patrick Duffy (1-0), Gleann Keavney (free), Jayden Daly, Cian Rigney, Conor Rigney (0-1 each).

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