Southern Gaels worthy winners over Fr Dalton’s in U-19 decider

Southern Gaels emerged as decisive winners over Fr Dalton’s in the Westmeath U-19 Division 2 hurling final in miserably wet and chilly conditions at Tubberclair last Saturday afternoon.

With the weather playing spoil sport, this local derby never reached any great heights as a spectacle, but that will hardly bother Southern Gaels, who won their first title at this relatively new age grade.

Fr Dalton’s have had a very memorable year, winning the Westmeath senior ‘B’ title, and they will compete at senior ‘A’ level next year, but they rarely looked like adding the U-19 Division 2 crown to their trophy cabinet. The Ballymore-based side never got their noses in front at any stage and they were unable to conjure a goal they needed to turn the tide in the second half.

Southern Gaels won the group game between the sides by 2-18 to 1-14 in Ballymore and though scores were less plentiful in the final, the same margin separated the sides at the end.

It’s not often that Tubberclair hosts hurling action and it was a shame that the weather was so inclement for the occasion. Players on both sides could be seen swinging their arms and rubbing their hands as they tried to stay warm when the sliotar wasn’t in their vicinity.

Listed Southern Gaels midfielder Tadhg Baker, who recently captained Caulry to the U-17 Division 2 football title, was unable to start the game through injury, with Luke Whelan introduced in his place.

Chulainn Dowd opening the scoring from a free inside the first minute, before scoreable frees were missed at either end. Johnny Martin blasted over a second point for the Athlone outfit (there was a hint of a goal chance) after good play from Seán Murphy set up the opportunity. On five minutes, Jack Duncan opened Fr Dalton’s account with a fine catch and shot.

Fleet-footed Southern Gaels wing-forward Páidí Ó Leochain sent over a splendid point, but wind-assisted Fr Dalton’s drew level by the eighth minute courtesy of scores from Oisin McGauran and Shane Fahy (from long range). Dowd and Con Martin then exchanged points from frees, leaving it 0-4 apiece.

With Cian McCarthy an influential figure at centre-back, Southern Gaels then opened up a bit of daylight between the sides with three points on the trot. Two of them came from Dowd frees (the second from near halfway), either side of a point from open play by Murphy.

Fr Dalton’s needed to respond and Ivan Smyth’s determined run earned a free-in which Martin converted. Yet that 19th-minute point would prove the Ballymore side’s last of the first half. Dowd converted another free (after a foul on Evan Farrell) and then Cian Geary sent over a superb free from near the sideline inside his own half.

Some missed chances undermined the hopes of Fr Dalton’s hopes and, in the 30th minute, they were indebted to goalkeeper Kian Maloney for deflecting Ó Leocháin’s firmly struck shot over for a point. In added time, Ó Leocháin made another incisive run forward and passed to Murphy but the latter was unable to take advantage of this goal chance. The Athlone side led by 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time.

Fr Dalton’s opened the second-half scoring through a free from Smyth but this was soon cancelled out by a long range point from Ó Leocháin, his third white flag of the afternoon. Dowd recovered from a robust challenge in order to point the resulting free (43rd minute), leaving it double scores again (0-12 to 0-6).

Duncan tried to find the net with a flicked effort, with Southern Gaels defender Paul Hogan tidying up the loose ball. In general, the men in yellow and maroon defended doggedly with McCarthy ably assisted by Diarmaid Murtagh among others. With substitute Tom Kelleher making an impact, a point from Luke Whelan added to the winners’ lead. In the deteriorating conditions, another pointed free from Smyth (50th minute) was all Fr Dalton’s could add to their tally in the time remaining.

The final score of the game came from Murphy, sealing a seven-point win for Southern Gaels. There was a brief skirmish at the final whistle involving a number of players, before mentors on both sides restored order. Afterwards, Southern Gaels captain Evan Farrell was presented with the trophy by Westmeath Coiste na nÓg secretary Kevin Jordan, also a stalwart of the winning club.

Scorers - Southern Gaels: Chulainn Dowd 0-6 (6f), P Ó Leocháin 0-3; S Murphy 0-2; J Martin, L Whelan and C Geary (f) 0-1 each. Fr Dalton’s: I Smyth (2f) and C Martin (2f) 0-2 each; J Duncan, O McGauran and S Fahy 0-1 each.

Southern Gaels: Conn O’Hara; Cian Ó Suilleabháin, Paul Hogan, Luke O’Connell; Ryan Fallon, Cian McCarthy, Diarmaid Murtagh; Chulainn Dowd, Cian Geary; Páidí Ó Leocháin, Luke Whelan, Eoin Hardiman; Johnny Martin, Seán Murphy, Evan Farrell. Subs used: Tom Kelleher for Martin; Alex Devaney for Whelan; Calum Devaney for Hardiman. Management: Tony O’Keeffe, Tommy Murphy, Martin Geary.

Fr Dalton’s: Kian Maloney; Nathan Creagh, Brian McCabe, Peter Ballesty; Luke Smyth, Sean Dillon, Shane Fahy; Eoin Bracken, Dylan Murtagh; Oisin McGauran, Ivan Smyth, Con Martin; Michael Murray, Jack Duncan, Evan Finerty. Subs used: Colm Seery for Murray; Patrick Kiernan for Finerty. Management: Brian McCabe, Sean Smyth, Thomas ‘Spike’ McCormack.

Referee: Caymon Flynn.