Doyle goal helps Mount Leinster Rangers overcome Naomh Eoin
MLR captain Darragh Coleman lifts the Cental U16 hurling 'A' trophy on Monday evening. All Photos: Pat Ahern
The pre-match favourites were pushed all the way by Naomh Eoin but in the end, Mount Leinster Rangers were deserving winners of this Under 16 Division 1A final on Monday at The Training Centre in Fenagh.
The games were scheduled to take place in Netwatch Cullen Park but with so much footfall and more to come at the County Grounds, the two underage finals were re-routed. It was disappointing but understandable.
As it turned out the weather played its part and conditions were excellent at the alternative venue considering the time of year.
The first half was a ding-dong affair. Cillian Doyle netted for Rangers in the first quarter and after that Adam Joyce pulled the strings for the eventual winners. Also on the mark were Michael Murphy and James Flood.
For Naomh Eoin, Daniel O’Neill was accurate from placed balls and play while Liam Murphy and Jack Richardson raised a number of white flags for the Myshall side.
At the interval, Rangers led 1-10 to 0-9.
That goal was to be the decisive moment of the match. Naomh Eoin threw everything they had at their rivals and in the final quarter, they got within three points of Rangers.
The three-pointer that could have changed the game was tantalisingly close but the Rangers defence stood firm and kept their protagonists at arms-length.
With time running out, Flood and Joyce knocked over the insurance points for Rangers which broke the resistance of the Myshall side who battled all the way to the end.
A Joyce 0-11, J Flood 0-5, C Doyle 1-0, M Murphy 0-2.
D O’Neill 0-8, J Richardson 0-3, L Murphy 0-3, M O’Toole 0-1, E Redmond 0-1.
Jack Ivers; Jimmy Kavanagh, Sean O’Brien, Ronan Murphy; Evan Kelly, Darragh Coleman, Charlie Griffith; James Dalton, Dara Coady; Michael Murphy, Adam Joyce, Eoin Condron; James Flood, Jake Fitzpatrick, Cillian Doyle.
Dian Foley for Doyle (55), Aaron Doyle, Joey White, Darragh O’Brien, Ben Foley, Thom Og Cullen, Ruairi Murphy, Ruairi O’Brien, Joe Walsh, Shane Jordan, PJ Doyle.
Cillian Murphy; Adam Donohue, Peter Jordan, Jack Spruhan; Loughlin Murphy, George O’Shaughnessy, James Nolan; Liam Murphy, Jack Kavanagh; Davie Donoghue, Jack Richardson, Bill Roberts; James Lyons, Daniel O’Neill, Michael O’Toole.
Eoin Redmond for Lyons (40), Alfie Donohue, Jack Fitzpatrick.
Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen).
