Junior A Hurling Final- ’Boro fare best in exciting city derby

There was junior joy for Dicksboro, and city bragging rights to boot, as they got the better of O’Loughlin Gaels to win the county Junior A crown.

The ’Boro took the spoils in what was a high quality encounter at UPMC Nowlan Park, their first success in this grade since 1994.

The action opened with Jack Sheridan getting O’Loughlin’s off the mark with a pointed free, but that was replied to by a placed ball score from Billy Fitzpatrick. The Gaels kicked on again and by the ninth minute were three points clear thanks to score from Tervine Wallace, Fitzpatrick (free) and Mark Holohan.

The ’Boro didn’t hang around and levelled things up within a matter of minutes Paddy Cantwell (OL) and Fitzpatrick traded scores, as did Mark Holohan (OL) and Matthew Kelleher, to leave it all square (0-6 each) at the water break.

Things remained on an even keel after the restart as Eoin Dalton’s fine solo score in from the wing was cancelled out by an individual catch and turn score by Sheridan. Dalton edged the ’Boro ahead again before, with 21 minutes on the clock, came the game’s decisive score. Kevin Moore was the architect, playing a long ball in towards the O’Loughlin’s goal, where man of the match Tom McPhillips struck to raise a green flag.

That strike gave the ’Boro an advantage they would not lose. While Sheridan and Fitzpatrick traded pointed frees, Dicksboro were 1-9 to 0-8 up on their crosstown rivals at the break.

O’Loughlin’s needed a fast start to the new half and got just that when corner-forward Kevin Murphy cut inside and struck the opening point. Nick Doheny and McPhillips recorded Boro points from play, replied to by two O’Loughlin scores from Finn Hogan and Jack Sheridan, leaving the goal between the sides (0-11 to 1-11). The game remained tit-for-tat up to the second water break, as Matthew Kelleher (DB) and John McNamara traded fine points from play by the 38th minute. While Dicksboro did stretch their advantage to five courtesy of points from Fitzpatrick (free) and Nick Doheny, minor scores from Holohan and McNamara had O’Loughlin’s back to within a goal by the three-quarters stage (1-14 to 0-14).

There was little to separate the teams as time ticked on. O’Loughlin’s added two further points to their tally through Sheridan and Kevin Murphy, Fitzpatrick and Doheny ensured Dicksboro were still a goal to the good with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining ( 1-16 to 0-16).

The game was now end to end as O’Loughlin’s searched for a way to take control. They got close - Sheridan (2) made it a one-point game to leave his side breathing down Dicksboro’s necks. The ’Boro did not panic, however, and injury-time scores from McPhillips and Moore saw them bridge a 29-year gap and take the title.

The winners were best served by Tom McPhillips, Mick Carroll, Matthew Kelleher, Billy Fitzpatrick, Nick Doheny and goalie Tom O’Neill. O’Loughlin’s, who gave their all in this final, had stars in John McNamara, Mark Holohan, Nick Doheny and Kevin Murphy.

Teams and scorers

Dicksboro - Tom O’Neill; Mick Carroll, David Conway, Daire Maher; Kevin Nolan, Tom Carroll (captain), Tom McPhillips (1-2); Evan Clarke, Kevin Moore (0-1); Matthew Kelleher (0-2), Jim Dollard, Billy Fitzpatrick (0-7, 0-6 frees); Eoin Dalton (0-2), Marco Reussman, Nick Doheny (0-4).

Subs: Colm O’Hara, Shane O’Brien, Sean Keenan for Dalton.

O’Loughlin Gaels - Jamie Malone; Kevin O’Brien (captain), Gary Bryan, Alex Molloy; Padraig Meany, John McNamara (0-2), Ben Kinchella; Gavin Mahony, Paddy Cantwell (0-1); Tervine Wallace (0-1), Eddie Kearns, Mark Holohan (0-3); Michael Henebry, Cathal O’Leary, Jack Sheridan (0-8, 0-4 frees).

Subs: Ruaidhri Galwey, Finn Hogan (0-1), Lee Hehir, Kevin Murphy (0-2).

Referee - Vivienne Holmes (Bennettsbridge)