Kilkenny U21 Final: Dicksboro win back to back county titles
Dicksboro 3-21 James Stephens 1-14
Dicksboro retained their JJ Kavanagh & Sons U21A title with a commanding win over near-neighbours James Stephens in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.
The win marks an historic period for this crop of Boro players who have won three out of the last four U21 county titles with this year's U21 panel now kingpins of underage hurling, securing the clean sweep of honours at Roinn A from U14 upwards.
The outcome never seemed to be in doubt with an impressive Village team unable to score from play for much of the first half, relying heavily on Stephen Manogue frees to keep them in touch.
Dicksboro made a blistering start and were 0-5 to 0-1 in front inside ten minutes with a combination of prolific forwards and sturdy backs meaning every position was dominated by the men in maroon.
Among their arsenal of dangerous forwards was Cillian Hackett and Brian Moore who found a goal apiece in the opening half as a dominant 'Boro led 2-15 to 0-7 at half-time.
James Stephens showed great spirit in the second half and gave Dicksboro reason to worry in the second period.
The Village reduced a 14 point deficit at the break to eight by the 50th minute with unerring free-taker Stephen Manogue along with Sean Deeley and Ed Lauhoff on the half-forward line opening up new avenues for scores in the second half.
However, Dicksboro's win never appeared to be in jeopardy and despite a consolation goal from Manogue in the second half, a second netted goal from Brian Moore in the dying stages put any slim Village hopes to bed.
Full Match Report in this week's People Sport
Starting Teams: Dicksboro - Tom O'Neill; Johnny Keane, Niall Rowe, Stevie Demody; Evan Murphy, Timmy Clifford, Donnachadh Hennessy; Kevin Moore, James Carroll; Matthew Kelleher, Harry Shine, Mikey Stynes; Cillian Hackett, Brian Moore, Sean Keenan.
James Stephens - Daniel Power; Stephen Power Kellett, Adam O'Connor, Darragh Behan; Noah Manogue, Sam McEvoy, Oisin Bateman; Eoin Deeley, Sean Bergin; Stephen Manogue, Sean Deeley, Ed Lauhoff; Zak Scanlon, Ed McDermott, Daniel Ring.
Referee - Stephen Delaney (Graigue Ballycallan)