Late Byrne points sees Kildavin-Clonegal get over the line against Burren Rangers
The victorious Kldavin Clonegal team that won the U16 'B' title on Monday night in Fenagh. All Photos: Pat Ahern
Kildavin-Clonegal were deserving winners of this U16 Hurling Division 1B Final at The Training Centre, Fenagh, on Monday.
But after being nine points in arrears in the second half their next door parish rivals drew level and had chances to win the game.
In the end, a late, late point from James Byrne divided the sides in what was a superb and skilful game.
The eventual winners were three points in front early on and they had a goal from Donnacha Cosgrove to stretch the lead. Busiest of the two net-minders was Burren’s Lorcan Cleary who made some great saves while the Kildavin side also missed some good chances.
Just before the interval, Joe Kirwan swopped for a second goal to give Kildavin-Clonegal a 2-6 to 0-3 interval lead. Colm Donald (2) and Ciaran Redmond were the Rangers scorers in that opening half.
Minutes into the second half, Burren fashioned a three-pointer when Charlie Salter Bermingham went for broke from a free. Kildavin hit back with another goal from Cosgrave but Burren’s Sean Og Dempsey cancelled that one out almost immediately.
When Treacy long range strike dropped under the Kildavin-Clonegal crossbar for a third Burren goal it was game on.
It was all Rangers in the final quarter. Their rivals lived on scraps and while they were under the cosh, they still kept their shape.
Extra-time beckoned when Salter Bermingham knocked over the equalising Burren free.
Yet Kildavin-Clonegal found the energy to go again and Byrne was the hero when finding the posts from distance to take a victory which was as hard-earned as any championship final has ever been.
D Cosgrave 2-0, Eoghan Treacy 0-5 (65 2fs), J Byrne 0-4, J Kirwan 1-0.
C Bermingham 2-3 (1-3fs), C Donald 0-4 (3fs), S Og Dempsey 1-0, C Redmond 0-1.
Lee Cummins; Louis Stone, William O’Reilly, Sean Dunne; Pauric Kelly, Michael Redmond, Ben Treacy; Eoghan Treacy, Podge Finn; Adam Cox, James Byrne, Joe Kirwan; Robbie Maher, Brandon Nolan, Donnacha Cosgrave.
James Kirwan for Maher (39), Oisin Redmond for Stone (52), Danny Farrell for Dunne (55), Cian Dunne.
Lorcan Cleary; Thomas Shanahan, Joseph Keating, Joe Haskins; Shane McCaffrey, Callum Richards, Aidan O’Brien; Charlie Salter Bermingham, Zach Bolger; Sean Og Dempsey, Colm Donald, Will O’Toole; Ciaran Redmond, Patrick O’Toole, Daire Nolan.
Padraic Hogan for O’Brien (21), Ryan Watchorn for Richards (h/t), Tadhg Campbell.
Chris Blake (Éire Óg).
