Big second half display sees Emeralds win junior league title
Emeralds 2-22 John Lockes 2-18
Emeralds were crowned JJ Kavanagh junior hurling league champions after getting the better of John Lockes in an action packed decider at UPMC Nowlan Park last Sunday afternoon.
It was very much a game of two halves with the first belonging to Callan as Ollie O’Donovan and Ryan Bergin both found the net with John Lockes leading by five points at the interval.
A Darragh Queally goal kept Emeralds in touch during that opening period and they were completely dominant in the second period with team captain Conor Martin contributing 14 points in total while Daniel Tobin also netted a goal as Pa Doheny’s men ended the league campaign in fine style.
John Lockes had a dream start to the final with Ryan Bergin finishing to the net in the second minute after being set up by Adam O’Sullivan.
Emeralds responded well with points from Darragh Queally, Liam Grant and Adam Barnaville levelling up matters after five minutes of play.
Shortly afterwards Emeralds full-forward Conor Martin shot into the side netting and John Lockes took advantage of that missed opportunity with quickfire scores from Eoghan Lynch, Michael Lynch, Ryan O’Donovan Cooke and Owen McGrath leaving them four points to the good.
In a back and forth opening period, it was then the Emeralds turn to go on the attack with Darragh Queally flicking the sliotar to the net to leave the teams all square at 1-5 apiece by the halfway mark of the half.
Conor Martin would go on to score four more points for the Emeralds in the second quarter but a second John Lockes goal just before the break when Ollie O’Donovan blasted past Enda Kelly ensured, it was the Lockes that were the happier at the change of ends.
Emeralds turned the tide straight from the off in the second half with Conor Martin, Gerry Troy and Killian Doyle all pointing in the early minutes as they narrpwed the deficit to the minimum.
Callan briefly pushed the lead out when Tomas Roche, Ryan Bergin and Ollie O’Donovan split the posts to give them a 2-15 to 1-16 advantage but Emeralds were only getting going and they took full control inside the final quarter.
The second goal really gave the winners the initiative as Daniel Tobin expertly shot to the net on the back of a great run past a few defenders and when it was backed up by further points from Martin and Queally, the Urlingford side looked home and hosed as they opened up a five point gap.
Callan hit back with a couple of Tomas Roche scores but their effort fell up short with Conor Martin converting two more frees in stoppage time to round off on a 2-22 to 2-18 success.come the final whistle.
Teams and Scorers
Emeralds: Conor Martin (0-13, 9fs); Darragh Queally (1-3); Daniel Tobin (1-0); Adam Barnaviille, Killian Doyle (0-2 each); Gerry Troy, Liam Grant (0-1 each)
John Lockes: Ryan Bergin, Ollie O’Donovan (1-2 each); Tomas Roche (0-5, 3fs); Ryan O’Donovan Cooke (0-3); Eoghan Lynch, Owen McGrath (0-2 each); Adam O’Sullivan, Michael Lynch (0-1 each)
Emeralds: Enda Kelly; Shane Norton, Toddy Moriarty, Michael Ahern; Darragh Hickey, Sean Burke, Niall O’Gorman; Killian Doyle, Eoin Moriarty; Daniel Tobin, Darragh Queally, Liam Grant; Adam Barnaville, Conor Martin, Gerry Troy.
Subs: Oisin Deegan for T.Moriarty, 18 mins; Padraig Phelan for O’Gorman, 51 mins; Callum Lawlor for Troy, 64 mins.
John Lockes: Brian Doheny; Paddy O’Brien, Jack McDowell, Tommy Hoyne; Adam O’Sullivan, Michael Lynch, Denis O’Sullivan; Owen McGrath, Ryan Donovan Cooke; Ollie O’Donovan, Eoghan Lynch, Ryan Bergin; Danny Carey, Tomas Roche, Zak O’Halloran.
Subs: Cathal McGrath for Hoyne, 52 mins; Shane Crowley for O’Halloran, 59 mins.
Referee: Stephen Delaney