News

Under 21 hurling

November 7, 2018

SOUTH TIPPERARY UNDER 21 B HURLING SEMI FINAL SUNDAY 8TH DEC

SKEHEENARINKY 4-14 ANNER GAELS 2-9

As the saying goes goals win games and this was certainly true in this Pat Cleere sponsored south U.21 ‘B’ semi-final in Cahir last Sunday afternoon. Skeheenarinky got goals at vital stages in the game and that was the difference between the teams at the end. They now go on to play Kilsheelan/Kilcash in the final.

Skeheenarinky were first off the mark in the first minute of the game when full forward Tommy Sweeney was fouled and the resulting free was converted by number 13 Fionan O’Sullivan. The combo quickly responded through their own number 13 Mark Slattery when he pointed after a pass from Robbie Meagher. The first goal of the game came in the 10th minute when Centre forward Marcus O’Halloran won the ball inside the 21 and gave the keeper no chance to put Anner Gaels up by a goal. Freetakers Fionan O’Sullivan (Skeheenarinky) and Cathal Hurley (Anner Gaels) exchanged points to leave the score 1-2 to 2 points after 15 minutes. The game changed in the next 5 minutes when Skeheen scored 1-3 without reply with Fionan O’Sullivan scoring 1-2 and Danny Barrett grabbing the other point. Anner Gaels will be especially disappointed with the manner of the goal scored as it went straight in from a sideline cut. A point each from Cathal Hurley and Marcus O’Halloran cut the gap to the minimum with 5 minutes to go in the half but that was as good as it got for the combination as Skeheenarinky took control of the rest of the half scoring 2-4 in the final 5 minutes to put them 11 points clear at half time. Once again it will be the manner of the goals that Anner Gaels will not be happy with as the ball should have been cleared well before Noel Vaughan stuck the ball in the back of the net and another sideline from corner forward Fionan O’Sullivan went straight into the back of the net. 3 points from Fionan O’Sullivan and 1 from Tommy Sweeney left the half-time score 3-9 to 1-4.

Skeheen were quickest out of the blocks once again in the second half when Neil Barrett won the ball from the throw in and passed into full forward Tommy Sweeney who pointed within 20 seconds of the restart. This was quickly followed by a 4th goal for Skeheenarinky when Noel Vaughan won the ball ahead of his man and buried the ball to the back of the Anner Gaels net to leave 15 points in it with over 25 minutes to play. The game was over now as a contest barring a miraculous comeback from the combination. They did manage to score the next 3 points of the game through Cathal Hurley (2) and Mark Mullally. However Fionan O’Sullivan’s accuracy from frees meant that there was always a safe gap between the teams as he scored 2 more points. Anner Gaels did outscore their opponents by 1-3 to 1 point in the final 5 minutes but it was too little to late and the game finished 4-14 to 2-9.

Skeheenarinky were best served by Noel Vaughan, John Martin, John O’Callaghan, Danny Barret and the outstanding Fionan O’Sullivan who was involved in almost all of Skeheenarinkys scores and ended up with a personal tally of 2-10. Skeheen keeper Jason Cahill also brought of an excellent save in the dying minutes While Brian Delahunty Nicky Kearney Cathal Hurley and Marcus O’Halloran tried their best for Anner Gaels.

Skeheenarinky: Mikey Kearney, Ben Macken, Bobby Breedy, Eoin Morrissey, Seamus O’Callaghan, Noel Vaughan(2-0), Rian O’Callaghan, John O’Callaghan, Neil Barrett, Danny Barrett (0-1), William English, John Martin, Fionan O’Sullivan (2-10), Tommy Sweeney (0-2), Shane lynch Subs: Jason Cahill, Mikey Sweeney, Anthony Crotty, Kevin Slattery, John Carey, Aiden O’Connor, Aaron Macken, Liam McEniry, David Russell.

Anner Gaels: Conor Cuddihy, Ciaran Mockler, William Morgan, Gerard Maher, Brian Delahunty, Nicky Kearney, Brian Healy, Cathal Hurley (0-4), Mark Mullally (1-2), Ciaran O’Meara, Marcus O’Halloran (1-1), Darren Boland, Mark Slattery (0-1), Robbie Meagher (0-1), Eoin Fitzgerald. Subs: Willie O Brien, David Hayes, Conor Gorey, Dylan Fitzgerald, Brendan Gleeson, Eoghan Hurley.

Referee Martin Doyle Ardfinnan

We thank the mentors Tomas McCormack and John Hurley for the work put into this team. With only two of this team over age for next year we should be in a much stronger position to contest this championship next year.