Carlow Town/Setanta always in control of U16 Hurling final
The Carlow Town/Setanta under 16 hurling 'A' winners Photo: Pat Ahern
Carlow Town/Setanta were pillar to post winners of this Under 16 Division 1 Hurling Final on Thursday at Netwatch Cullen Park. On a bitterly cold night, it was an intense encounter with both sides fiercely contesting the exchanges. Skill levels from both sides was top-class and while it was a classic team effort there were also some superb individual performances from the respective opponents.
Two points from Peter Lynch got the eventual winners on their way but they lived dangerously for a frantic few seconds when having to defend well not to concede a goal as the ball ran loose in the small square.
Kieran Donald got Rangers off the mark with a point from play while later in the half, Patrick O’Toole also raised a white flag. In the meantime, the amalgamated side went about their business and with Lynch scoring a goal late in the half, they led 1-6 to 0-2 at the interval.
A seven-point margin was not insurmountable and particularly when Cathal Treacy scored a goal on 31 minutes for Burren Rangers.
The reply was impressive and four points on the trot cancelled out the goal with a vengeance. As Burren flagged, they were hit by two more three-pointers through Mark Buggy and Lynch to put a chasm between the teams with a quarter of the game to go. That was game, set and match for the champions in waiting. Another goal from Seanie McMahon underlined the quality in their side.
Burren also got something out of the final finishing well with Colm Donald scoring a goal as they hit 1-3 without reply in conditions which were getting colder by the minute.
P Lynch 2-4 (3fs), S McMahon, M Buggy 1-2 each, F Racklyeft 0-2, S Gurhy 0-1.
C Treacy 1-1, C Donald 1-0, C Slater Bermingham, James Bergin (f), K Donald, P O’Toole 0-1 each
CARLOW TOWN/SETANTA: Daniel Nolan (Carlow Town Hurling Club); Callum Swayne (Setanta), Liam Ryan (S), Donnacha Moran (CTHC); Cein McNamara (S), Harry Delaney (CTHC), Adam Haughney (CTHC); Seanie McMahon (CTHC), Finlay Racklyeft (CTHC); Mark Buggy (CTHC), Peter Lynch (CTHC), John Hendricken (CTHC); Shane Gurhy (S), Cathal Kennedy (CTHC), Alex Donnelly Finn (S). Subs: Jack McDonald (S) for Swayne (48), Robbie Carbery (S) for Kennedy (51), Fiach Donnelly (CTHC) for Donnelly Finn (51), Alex McGrath (S) for Moran (55), Sean Nolan (S) for Hendricken (56), Josh McGrath (S), Brian O’Sullvan (S), Danny McMahon (CTHC), Ben Nolan (CTHC), Shay Ryan (S), Patrick Murphy (CTHC), Tom Treacy (S), Dmitriy Shablain (S).
Zach Bolger; Adam Cox, Michael Shanahan, Matthew O’Brien; Callum Richards, Charlie Salter Bermingham, Michael Redmond; Kieran Donald, Eoghan Tracey; James Bergin, Tiarnan Whelan, Edward O’Byrne; Freddie Gibson, Patrick O’Toole, Cathal Treacy. Subs: Joe Keating for O’Brien (9), Colm Donald for Gibson (21), Evan Hennessy for Richards (51), Sean Og Dempsey for O’Toole (54), Aidan O’Brien for O’Byrne (59), Will O’Toole.
Brian Deering (Rathvilly).
