Clara cheer as under-21s claim crown in Kilkenny county final

Christmas came early for the Clara under-21 hurlers as they secured the Roinn D spoils in a tight win over St Lachtain’s (Freshford).

Played on a cold afternoon, the two sides warmed the crowd up on the Kells Road with a game which may have been low on scores but was high in intensity.

The winners made a lightning start to this game, grabbing a goal after just 15 seconds from corner-forward Rory Glynn. Lachtain’s had to wait a while to reply, but opened their account with a point from captain Mark Donnelly inside five minutes.

A brace of Conor Hoyne points, one from play with the other from a free, had Clara 1-2 to 0-1 clear by the eighth minute.

The losers had the best of the next 10 minutes with three pointed frees from Cian Donnelly.

Clara captain Conor Cody receives the under-21 Roinn D trophy from Pat Cooney, chairman Junior Board Picture: Willie Dempsey

A 25th minute free by Conor Hoyne left Clara 1-3 to 0-4 clear but shortly afterwards a fine Freshford passing movement ended with Cian Donnelly finding the net with a cool finish from close range. With Conor Hoyne (play) and Cian Donnelly (free) trading scores St Lachtain’s went in a point ahead at the interval (St Lachtain’s 1-5, Clara 1-4).

Clara were first out of the blocks again in the new half and, by the 40th minute, had gone back in front with three unanswered points. Conor Hoyne landed the first from a free, before fine distance scores from play by Rory Glynn and David Barcoe pushed their side ahead. Clara were now 1-7 to 1-5 in front.

From here to the finish both sides struggled to judge the harsh crossfield wind. No quarter was asked or given in the sticky conditions, but Clara came out the better in most of the rucks that ensued. 

Cian Donnelly had two pointed frees, sandwiched by a similar placed ball score by Conor Hoyne (1-7 to 1-5).

When Clara’s Conor Hoyne pointed from play three minutes into added time. They now had a small bit of breathing room, and referee Conor Everard blew the long whistle just a minute later.

In a solid team performance Clara had fine displays from Ben Murphy, Ned Langton, David Barcoe, Rory Glynn and Conor Hoyne. This was a young Clara team with most of the squad again eligible for this grade in 2025. This was Clara’s seventh victory in the under-21 grade, albeit the first in the lower D grade. Their earlier wins saw Roinn A titles won by the club in 1968, 1979 and 1984, along with B victories in 1983, 2003 and 2017.

For St Lachtain’s, the better performances came from their defensive unit, with Cian Donnelly the standout forward.

Teams and scorers

Clara - Conor Hoyne (0-7, 0-4 frees), Rory Glynn (1-1), David Barcoe (0-1).

St Lachtain’s - Cian Donnelly (1-6, 0-6 frees), Mark Donnelly (0-1).

Clara - Cian Kelly; Ben Crow, Zach Lawlor, Hugh Kelly; Ben Murphy, Harry Boyle, Luke Lawlor; Philip Carrigan, Ned Langton; Joe Power, David Barcoe, Sean Cardigan; Rory Glynn, Conor Cody (captain), Conor Hoyne. Subs: Jake Maher; Daniel Ryan, Dillon Cummins, John Bergin, Eoin Corr, Noel O Brien, Alex McDonald.

St Lachtain’s - Michael Murphy; Cathal Bowden, Conor Donnelly Jimmy Cantwell; Jerry Bergin, Cathal Hickey, Luke Phelan; Mark Donnelly (captain), Caillin McCabe; Matthew Durnan, Conor Dalton, James O’Connor; Cian Donnelly, Jack Whitty, Marty Campion. Subs: Ben Dermody, Jamie Denieffe; Bobby Darcy, Evan Kenny Landers, Sean Kennedy, Sean Counihan, Colin McGree, Jack Dalton, Leo White, Conor Dowling, Cian O’Connor, Liam Kenny Landers.

Referee - Conor Everard (Graigue-Ballycallan).