Superb Silvermines prevail in epic final
Superb Silvermines were crowned County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling champions following a thrilling finale to an epic final victory over Gortnahoe/Glengoole on Saturday.
GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Final
Silvermines 2-13
Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-14
Report: James Hayden in Golden
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Michael Corcoran (Silvermines).
SCORERS – Silvermines: Conor McKelvey 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees); Sean Nolan 1-2; Adam Steed 0-2; Sean McGrath, Danny Quinn 0-1 each.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Damien Corbett 1-6 (0-4 frees); Oisin Cleary 0-3; Conor Gleeson, Bobby Doheny, Paddy Norton, Darragh Maher, Jason Kelly 0-1 each.
The North champions displayed maturity and resilience beyond their years to wrestle victory from the very jaws of defeat after they ousted a Gortnahoe/Glengoole side who appeared destined for victory in what proved an enthralling decider.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, the Mid champions led by two points and victory seemed well within their grasp only for the ‘Mines to hit 1-2 without reply to ensure the Mick Brophy Cup would be winging its way back to the foothills of Sliabh Ciamaltha.
In a game which ebbed and flowed throughout a thrilling final quarter saw Gortnahoe seize the initiative thanks mainly to a sublime Damien Corbett goal on 47 minutes after the full-forward doubled first-time on Oisin Cleary’s well-struck sideline cut to fire the Mid champions into a 1-10 to 1-6 advantage.
The North champions' response was immediate however with points from Adam Steed, Conor McKelvey and Sean McGrath cutting the deficit to just a solitary point before Conor McKelvey brought the ‘Mines upsides with a tremendous 55th minute effort, 1-10 apiece.
Gortnahoe came on strong again though and responded with a Damien Corbett free and a third point for wing-forward Oisin Cleary. As the game hurtled headlong towards a thrilling crescendo, Adam Steed popped up with a booming long-range effort before the Mid champions hit back with another brace, the first an audacious over the shoulder Jason Kelly effort from close to the sideline and the second a superb Paddy Norton effort.
With the game edging towards time added on Silvermines were in dire need of something to bolster their efforts and county under-20 defender Michael Corcoran must have sensed this also, embarking on a surging, penetrating run through the heart of the Gortnahoe defence before a neat flick pass found Danny Quinn unmarked in front of goal. Quinn’s effort was snuffed out by a tremendous block from Brandon Ryan Webster but corner-forward, Sean Nolan was on hand to pounce on the loose sliotar and fire home a crucial goal for the ‘Mines with a deft one-handed flick past the advancing Robbie Gleeson in the Gortnahoe goal.
The sides were now level, 2-11 to 1-14, but all the momentum was now with the men in blue and white. Michael Corcoran was once more hugely involved, snatching Oisin Cleary’s sideline out of the sky, and clearing up field to Danny Quinn before a kind break of the ball afforded Conor McKelvey the chance to fire Silvermines into the lead for the first time in the game, a point which sent their supporters into raptures.
Silvermines were irrepressible at this stage though and although a 64th minute Conor McKelvey free trailed to the left and wide, up popped that man Sean Nolan again with a tremendous match-clinching point from an angle even Pythagoras would have struggled to find.
The ‘Mines were forced to deal with a late close-range free though but Oisin Cleary’s attempt to sneak the sliotar into the top left-hand corner was well thwarted to ensure Silvermines added a county title to their North titles at both the under 19 & 21 grades.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole will look back at this game and rue the fact that they almost had the game put to bed. Arguably the better side in the opening half Michael Cleary’s charges raced into an early 0-4 to 0-1 wind-assisted advantage thanks to a brace from Damien Corbett and additional points from Liam Hayes and Oisin Cleary.
Silvermines, who were without the services of the influential Cathal Treacy, were slow to settle but two opening points, the first from a placed ball and the second from play, from scorer-in-chief and captain, Conor McKelvey ensured his side kept within touching distance.
McKelvey was also being picked up by his county compatriot Conor Gleeson but kept the Gortnahoe centre-back on his toes with a second from play in the twelfth minute just after the impressive Oisin Cleary had arrowed over his side’s fifth point, 0-5 to 0-3. Further points from Damien Corbett (65') and Darragh Maher extended Gortnahoe’s advantage to four by the eighteenth minute and they should have pulled further ahead but wayward shooting in front of goals and an opening half tally of eight wides hampered their efforts.
With a squally shower serving to slightly dampen Gortnahoe’s challenge the ’Mines finally found their groove in the closing ten minutes of the half with a sublime Sean Nolan point adding to his side’s tally. Gortnahoe retorted with another Damien Corbett effort to keep their four-point lead intact.
Silvermines were now gaining in confidence though and with Michael Corcoran’s influence growing in the game it came as no surprise when in the 28th minute he embarked on a mazy run up field before affording Sean McGrath the opportunity to have a crack at goal. Robbie Gleeson parried McGrath’s effort well but the sliotar fell into the path of the inrushing Sean Nolan. Gleeson darted out of his goal to narrow the angle but collided with Nolan for a penalty which Conor McKelvey duly dispatched with aplomb high into the roof of the net, 1-4 to 0-8.
The Mid champions hit back impressively though and fired over two of the last three points of the half with efforts from Conor Gleeson and Damien Corbett (free) ensuring they led 0-10 to 1-5 at the break.
Conor McKelvey arrowed over a well-struck free for his side's final score of the half to leave the ‘Mines well within striking distance and marginally the happier side at the break considering the gap could have been much wider had Gortnahoe taken their chances.
Within minutes of the re-start Danny Quinn bisected the uprights with a beautifully struck effort and with the wind now noticeably abating the game entered a ‘lull’ period as both sides battled for supremacy.
Both defences were noticeably impressive in this third quarter with Cynan Bailey, Kevin Hayden, Sean Ryan Prendiville, Luke O’Brien and Cathal McGrath all tightening up while Conor Gleeson, Charlie Tobin, Adam Butler, and David Lanagan were to the fore for the Gortnahoe rearguard.
Damien Corbett’s memorable 47th minute goal served to light the fuse for a fizzing final quarter between the sides and the response from the Silvermines displayed the true hallmarks of a well-drilled and well-prepared side who rallied superbly with four unanswered points in four minutes.
The sheer intensity of the exchanges in the closing stages brought palpitations to many in the packed stand and although the momentum swung both ways in what proved a frantic finale it was Silvermines emerged on top to claim a dramatic, yet fully deserved final win.
Impressive for Gortnahoe/Glengoole were Conor Gleeson, David Lanagan, Bobby Doheny, Brandon Ryan Webster, Oisin Cleary, Darragh Maher and Damien Corbett while Sean Nolan, Conor McKelvey, Cynan Bailey, Michael Corcoran, Adam Steed, Sean McGrath, and Luke O'Brien were to the fore for Silvermines.
TEAMS – Silvermines: Conor Murphy (7), Kevin Hayden (7), Sean Ryan Prendiville (7), Cynan Bailey (8); Luke O'Brien (7), Michael Corcoran (8), Cathal McGrath (7); Adam Steed (7), Seán McGrath (7); Ger Leamy (7), Conor McKelvey (Capt 8), Darragh Treacy (7); Danny Quinn (7), Brian Leamy (7), Sean Nolan (8).
Sub: Ronan Cunneen (6) for B Leamy (57).
Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Robbie Gleeson (J-Capt 7); Brandon Ryan Webster (7), Charlie Tobin (7), Cormac Moloney (7); Adam Butler (7), Conor Gleeson (8), David Lanigan (7); Liam Hayes (7), Bobby Doheny (8); Paddy Norton (7), Darragh Maher (7), Oisin Cleary (J-Capt 8); Tomas Meaney (7), Damien Corbett (8), Kevin Laffan (7).
Subs: Cian Barnaville (7) for Meaney (38); Jason Kelly (0-1, 7) for K Laffan (47); Luke Kavanagh (NR) for Tobin (60).
Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).