Eddie O'Donnell Monumental Works East U-21 Hurling Final

De La Salle 3-25 Erins Own/Ferrybank 2-18 (after extra time)
Well done to our U-21 hurlers sponsored by John Kelly Opel who retained the eastern title after a hard fought win over Erins Own/Ferrybank in an exciting and sporting final that required extra time in Walsh Park last Sunday. This was a game that we were relieved to get to extra time as it took a long range free by Shane Ryan with the last puck to draw the game but a scoring blitz of 1-4 in the first three minutes of that extra time decided the game. There was great delight after the game when board chairman Michael Wadding and sponsor Eddie O'Donnell presented the Liam O'Donnell Memorial Cup to our outstanding captain Adam Farrell.

Congratulations to our lads, manager Bryan Phelan, selectors Ian Flynn, Stevie Brenner, Barry Murphy and Martin Doyle, Joe Kenny on first aid and the rest of the backroom members. Commiserations also to a gallant Erins Own/Ferrybank team and congratulations to Ferrybank's Mark O'Brien who despite picking up an injury which forced his replacement in the first minute of injury time was selected as man of the match.

Erins Own/Ferrybank opened their account from a free in the third minute and Shane Ryan did likewise a minute later. Thomas Douglas put us ahead in the sixth minute after good play from Jack Fagan but Erins Own/Ferrybank equalised immediately. Points from Jack Fagan and Shane Ryan had us ahead but Erins Own/Ferrybank goaled in the 11th minute to take the lead. They added a point in the 14th minute but right at the midway point we regained the lead when Dylan Foley made a great catch and run before giving it to Mikey Costigan who crashed the ball to the net. Points from Shane Ryan and Adam Farrell stretched our lead to three and we maintained that margin to half time with Shane Ryan adding two more frees to see us lead 1-8 to 1-5 at the break. The start of the second half gave an indication of what was to come when Erins Own/Ferrybank goaled and immediately added a point. We were back in front when Thomas Douglas shot was saved by the goalkeeper and half time replacement Cormac McCann buried the rebound in the net and at this stage there was only two minutes played. Erins Own/Ferrybank pointed in the third minute and Adam Farrell replied immediately. Erins Own/Ferrybank then hit four points in a row to lead 2-11 to 2-9 after eight minutes.

It was around this time that the outstanding Stephen Dalton was moved to full back to compensate for the unavailability of regular Jack McCarthy and he proceeded to have an even bigger influence on the game from there. Brian Cunningham pointed in the 10th minute after excellent play by Adam Farrell but Erins Own/Ferrybank replied likewise. We then took control of the game for the next ten minutes with four point from Shane Ryan, Dylan Foley (2) and a Jack Fagan free after a foul on Dylan Foley had us ahead 2-14 to 2-12 with ten minutes left.

Two points had Erins Own/Ferrybank level two minutes later but a Shane Ryan free after a foul on Thomas Douglas had us ahead again in the 23rd minute. Erins Own/Ferrybank equalised again a minute later and there was no further score until we entered four minutes of injury time. Erins Own/Ferrybank went in front in the 32nd minute and we missed a chance to equalise from a free before Tom Moran was fouled coming forward and Shane Ryan made no mistake with what was an extremely difficult long range free under pressure to make it 2-16 each. Extra time began and twelve seconds later the sliotar was in the Erins Own/Ferrybank net when Dylan Foley surged forward and gave to Cormac McCann who goaled. Points followed from Eddie Meaney, Brian Cunningham (2) and Cormac McCann to put us 3-20 to 2-16 with three minutes gone.

Erins Own/Ferrybank pointed in the fourth minute and Jack Fagan replied a minute later from a free when Eddie Meaney was fouled. Erins Own/Ferrybank pointed in the eight minute to make it 3-21 to 2-18 at half time. The second period was all De La Salle with points from Brian Cunningham, Eddie Meaney, Ryan Duke and a Shane Ryan free putting a gloss on the scoreboard.

Scorers: Shane Ryan 0-9 (0-8 frees), Cormac McCann 2-1, Brian Cunningham 0-4, Jack Fagan 0-3 (0-2 frees), Mikey Costigan 1-0, Adam Farrell, Dylan Foley and Eddie Meaney 0-2 each, Thomas Douglas and Ryan Duke 0-1 each.

Panel: Shaun O'Brien, Evan Whelan, Lee Wall, Adam Doyle, Gavin Coppinger, Tom Moran, Stephen Dalton, Brian Cunningham, Adam Farrell, Mikey Costigan, Dylan Foley, Thomas Douglas, Jack Fagan Shane Ryan, Eddie Meaney, Ryan Duke, Cormac McCann, James Stone, Darragh Fitzpatrick, Thomas Kenny, Donal Carey, Jeff Cahill, Ian Condon, Sean Carton, Chris Kong, Sean Power, Kieran O'Donohoe, Jack O'Donohoe, Jack McCarthy, Michael Roche Conor Giles-Doran (injured).