County U-21 Hurling Final

De La Salle 2-17 Abbeyside 1-14

Well done to our U-21 hurlers sponsored by John Kelly Opel who retained the county title after a hard fought win over Abbeyside in Fraher Field last Sunday. This was a game in which we knew we were going up against a side that would be highly motivated to bring home the Tony Mansfield Memorial Cup, named after one of their club greats. It is fair to say we struggled somewhat in the first half and were fortunate enough to be ahead at half time but in the second half our lads played very well and despite a late Abbeyside fight back we ran out deserving winners. There was great delight after the game when county board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan presented the cup to our outstanding captain Adam Farrell who was also selected as the man of the match.
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 Abbeyside team.

We opened the scoring in the second minute when the excellent Stephen Dalton took a pass from Thomas Douglas and pointed. A foul on Dylan Foley saw Shane Ryan point a minute later before Abbeyside got on the board in the fourth minute. Shane Ryan stretched our lead from another free in the seventh minute after Thomas Douglas was fouled but three points between the 10th and 12th minutes saw Abbeyside lead 0-4 to 0-3.

Jack Fagan pointed in the 13th minute but Abbeyside went back in front in the 18th minute. We were level again a minute later when Stephen Dalton tapped down the sliotar to Adam Farrell who sent over from the half way line. Two points in the 20th and 24th minutes gave Abbeyside a two point lead. An exchange of frees involving Shane Ryan after he was fouled himself had Abbeyside ahead 0-8 to 0-6 after twenty eight minutes.The turning point in the game came in the 29th minute when Brian Cunningham got on the end of Adam Farrell's delivery and finished to the net. We added two points when first Adam Farrell took a pass from Mikey Costigan to send over and then Shane Ryan pointed after he was fouled himself before Abbeyside pointed a late free to see us ahead 1-8 to 0-9 at half time.

Abbeyside began the second half with a point in the second minute but Adam Farrell replied immediately. Shane Ryan pointed a free in the fifth minute after Jack Fagan was fouled but Abbeyside hit back from the puck out. Powered on by senior players Tom Moran and Stephen Dalton in the half back line we took control and when at this stage we introduced Cormac McCann, as he did in both previous games he made a significant impact when in the ninth minute he got on the end of Jack Fagan's knock down to crash the sliotar to the net. Shane Ryan pointed a free in the 13th minute after Dylan Foley was fouled to make it 2-11 to 0-11. Brian Cunningham pointed in the 19th minute after more good work by Jack Fagan and Abbeyside sent over a free in the 21st minute.

Shane Ryan pointed in the 22nd minute after being set up by Adam Farrell. Shane then pointed a sixty five after Abbeyside had saved a goal bound effort from Cormac McCann and he won the resultant puck out and sent it straight over the bar. Further excellent points followed from Stephen Dalton and Jack Fagan to make it 2-17 to 0-12 with a minute of normal time left. Credit to Abbeyside they kept on going and added 1-2 to their tally before the final whistle sounded.
Scorers: Shane Ryan 0-9 (0-6 frees, 0-1 '65), Brian Cunningham 1-1, Adam Farrell 0-3, Cormac McCann 1-0, Stephen Dalton and Jack Fagan 0-2 each.
Panel: Shaun O'Brien, Lee Wall, Jack McCarthy, Adam Doyle, Gavin Coppinger, Tom Moran, Stephen Dalton, Mikey Costigan, Adam Farrell, Jack Fagan, Dylan Foley, Thomas Douglas, Brian Cunningham, Shane Ryan, Eddie Meaney, Cormac McCann, Ryan Duke. Evan Whelan, Darragh Fitzpatrick, Donal Carey, James Stone, Thomas Kenny, Ian Condon, Sean Carton, Chris Kong, Sean Power, Kieran O'Donohoe, Jack O'Donohoe, Michael Roche Jeff Cahill (injured), Conor Giles-Doran (injured).

Inter Provincial Hurling Final

Well done to John Mullane who was a selector on the Munster hurling team who defeated Leinster in the final of the Inter Provincial championship/Railway Cup last Thursday night.

New Arrival

Congratulations to senior hurler Paidi Nevin and Michelle McGrath on the birth of a baby girl Eva last week.

Christmas Greetings

Finally we would like to take this opportunity to wish a Happy Christmas to all our players, members, supporters and former members now domiciled abroad. Also to the staff of the various local media organisations who cover our games and who print our notes. Enjoy the festivities.