County under 15 A Hurling Final – Tuesday, 23rd July 2019
Clooney/Quin 2-15 St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-13
For the first time in 16 years, Clooney/Quin are County under 15 A hurling champions after running out five-point winners in Cusack Park on Tuesday evening.
Dannan Fox and Lorcan O’Connor struck priceless majors in the first half but it was their ability to bounce back under pressure that secured the victory.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield were defending champions and started in fitting fashion as Michael Nash and Brendan Keane tallied within 60 seconds.
But Clooney/Quin eventually settled. Following O’Connor’s opening score, a quick delivery on five minutes resulted in Dannan Fox hitting the net and it was 1-1 to 0-2 in their favour.
The teams shared the next four points before Ronan McMahon’s side got their second major. Sam Scanlon’s run on 13 minutes opened up gaps and O’Connor was waiting to make it 2-3 to 0-4.
Clooney/Quin led 2-6 to 0-6 at half-time as Fionan O’Sullivan, Fox and O’Connor found the target but it was St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who rallied back after the restart.
A Brian Hoey brace and Seamus Og Enright reduced arrears to three and Nash forced a block from Evan Maxted. But on 41 minutes, they were level. Cillian O’Sullivan and Enright were the providers for Nash to hit the net and it was 2-6 to 1-9.
When Doora/Barefield reflect on this final, their wide count will cause regret as they hit 14 to their opponents’ six.
But only one of Clooney/Quin’s came in the second 30 minutes as they were economical with anything on offer.
Scanlon, Maxted, Fox and O’Connor responded to St. Joseph’s goal to make it 2-10 to 1-9 entering the final quarter. And there was still more gas in the tank after one more Doora/Barefield rally.
Hoey, Nash and Keane (2) brought the deficit back to one point entering the final eight minutes with only Fox tallying in return. But two more from Clooney/Quin’s corner forward restored the three-point cushion.
The game was still in the melting pot but Clooney/Quin didn’t relent. O’Connor registered two more white flags to secure their first ‘A’ crown since 2003.
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Scorers – Clooney/Quin: Lorcan O’Connor 1-7 (five frees), Dannan Fox 1-5, Fionan O’Sullivan 0-1, Sam Scanlon 0-1, Evan Maxted 0-1.
Scorers – St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Michael Nash 1-4, Brian Hoey 0-5 (two frees, one ‘65), Brendan Keane 0-3 (one free), Seamus Og Enright 0-1.
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Clooney/Quin: Oisin McMahon; Cormac Egan, Cillian O’Gara, Alex Madigan; Enda O’Halloran, Evan Maxted, Ronan Harrington; Jack O’Neill, David Considine; Niall Murphy, Lorcan O’Connor, Fionan O’Sullivan; Callum Hassett, Sam Scanlon, Dannan Fox.
Subs used: Isaac O’Sullivan for Murphy (35 mins), John Cahill for Harrington (35 mins), Adam McMahon for O’Sullivan (55 mins).
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Evan Creaven; Senan Crosbie, Conor Cleland, Francis Meaney; Marti Frawley, Seamus Og Enright, Cormac Maher; Daire Connolly, Conall Dorgan; Conor Murphy, Brian Hoey, Ciaran O’Driscoll; Brendan Keane, Michael Nash, Cillian O’Sullivan.
Subs used: Eoin McMahon for O’Driscoll (HT), Eoin Lahiffe for Cleland (HT), Ian Williams for O’Sullivan (54 mins).
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
