U21 hurlers loose out to Clyda Rovers in tense battle
July 01, 2024
The stronger and bigger Clyda Rovers team was forced to dig deep to defeat Killavullen in the Quarter final of the U21B Grade hurling championship, on Sunday morning last, in Doneraile. For one reason or another, the County winning team, on this age group was short a number of key personnel, and that was telling.
Killavullen opening the scoring from a Jamie Magner free, but Clyda quickly responded with a 65 metre shot, and took the lead with a converted free. The youthful Niall Feaheny scored a nice point for us, in the 6th minute but Clyda scored again from open play, and quickly followed up with another point before Jamie converted a free, after Michael Cagney was fouled. Clyda scored again, and Jamie, got another free before Kian Lane scored a nice point for us. Charlie in our goals pulled off a great save, and repeated that task several times during the course of the game, when Clyda threatened to overrun us. Then, Jamie scored a brilliant goal, with a rasping shot, and despite being over ran, we were ahead, in the 19th minute of the game.
Clyda got a point back but Ian O Mahony got a point back again, for us, with a shot over his shoulder, that sailed between the posts, which put us two points ahead, but Clyda got the next two scores, and were level again, by the 26th. Colm Hannon forced us ahead again, but Clyda equalised again, and then, forced themselves ahead again, so that there was a point between the teams at the short whistle, 1-07 to 0-11.
Clyda got a very quick point, also from the throw in and added another point, to open up a three point lead, within the opening minute. Ian got another point back for us, but Clyda pushed on with two more points. Our half back line, of Sean Bartley, Sean Palmer and anchored in the middle with Conor Griffin were resolute in their defending, and thwarted many a Clyda attack. Charlie made another great, point blank save to keep us, in the game, and we were really back in the mix, when Kian Lane pounced on a defensive mistake from Clyda to get us a green flag.
Clyda responded with a free and we introduced Thomas Fennell for Colm Hayes, rejigged our team, and brought Michael Walsh into the forward line. Jamie reduced our arrears further with a point from a free, and Seamus O Mahony set us up for a grandstand finish with a fine point, from distance. There was still 15 minutes or so, left in this game. Clyda pushed on again though with three points, on the spin to lead again by a margin of four points. We edged back into contention again though, with a series of points, but Clyda extended their lead with a goal in the 26th minute, by Kevin Graham. Killavullen did not lie give up the ghost though, and got a series of points back from Jamie and a goal from Michael Walsh who was very alert to a dropping ball in and around the Clyda square.
Clyda held on though, and won out by the narrowest of margins, 1-23 to 3-16 and we wish them well, in the semi final against Ballygiblin. Ben Nyhan was very good for Clyda, and Sean O Sullivan nailed some important free’s for them. The capable referee was Mike Browne, from Drom-Broadford in Co. Limerick.
The Killavullen team was
- Charlie Cremin
- Conor Brennan
- Eoin O Hanlon
- Michael Walsh (1-00)
- Sean Bartley
- Conor Griffin
- Sean Palmer
- Seamus O Mahony (0-02)
- Michael Cagney (0-01)
- Kian Lane (1-01)
- Jamie Magner (1-09, 0-06F)
- Colm Hannon (0-01)
- Colm Hayes
- Niall Feaheny (0-01)
- Ian O Mahony (0-02)
Substitutes.
- Thomas Fennell for Colm Hayes
- Darragh O Connor for
- Jack Martin