James Stephens pushed all the way in intermediate hurling league final
James Stephens 2-23 Dunnamaggin 0-24
James Stephens were crowned Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate League winners for a second year on the trot when claiming a five point victory over Dunnamaggin in UPMC Nowlan Park last Saturday afternoon.
Willie Spencer and Eoin Guilfoyle bagged goals for the winners and while they were rather convincing victors in the end, it was still Eoin Larkin’s outfit’s biggest test of the season to date.
The Village led for the majority of the contest and apart from the goalscorers, there was big displays from the likes of Ed Lauhoff, Oisin Bateman, Stephen Manogue, Sean Deely and Ed McDermott as the city side maintained their unbeaten league campaign.
Dunnamaggin can still take plenty of positives despite the defeat with the performance of Denis Walsh a particular highlight as he scored 14 points in total. Dunna made the better start with Denis Walsh and Noah Cahill pointing before the Village hit back with 1-3 without reply as the 2025 county finalists began to flex their muscles.
Efforts from play via Tadhg O’Dwyer and Ed Lauhoff helped James Stephens take the lead for the first time and they soon hit the net when Willie Spencer combined with Eoin Guilfoyle before firing a shot under the body of James Logue. The league decider became a bit of a shootout between Tadhg O’Dwyer and Denis Walsh with the two free takers exchanging scores over the next while.
The Village gradually grew the lead out with O’Dwyer joined by Sean Deely, Oisin Bateman and Ed McDermott on the scoresheet as they took a six point advantage into the break (1-13 to 0-10).
That scoreline was a bit contentious with Owen Kenny appearing to give Dunnnamaggin an extra score in that first half but on this occcasion it at least proved to be immaterial.
While Dunna remained in touch at the break, they really came out for the second period with a purpose and after immediately scoring three points on the trot, they very quickly got the deficit down to a puck of the ball.
Eoghan Kearney and half-time sub Brian Hickey added to another Denis Walsh free and it looked all to play for at this stage.
Oisin Bateman and Stephen Manogue steadied the Village with successive scores but Dunnamaggin again hit back with Walsh and Ross O’Neill pointing to leave the scoreline reading 1-15 to 0-15 in James Stephens favour.
A mini spurt of 1-2 without reply between the 41st and 43rd minutes essentially settled the game in the Village’s favour with points from McDermott and Manogue added to by a fine finished goal from Eoin Guilfoyle.
Dunnamaggin wouldn’t go away easily however and inspired by a superb Denis Walsh sideline cut, Noel Lahart’s team remained in the contest and with Brian Hickey making a big imapct off the bench, the Dunna men kept James Stephens very much on their toes.
Any time Dunnamaggin threatened to get close, James Stephens always had a response and with Tadhg O’Dwyer knocking over three more points before the end, the winners were relatively comfortable on the scoreboard at least.
The midfield pairing of Ed Lauhoff and Luke Scanlon rounded off the scoring for the Village with efforts from play in stoppage time though they did get a bit of a fright when they conceded a penalty late on but Sean Manogue stood tall to deny Denis Walsh as the Village claimed some early season silverware.
Teams and Scorers
James Stephens: Tadhg O’Dwyer (0-11, 9fs); Eoin Guilfoyle, Willie Spencer (1-0 each); Ed Lauhoff (0-3); Oisin Bateman, Stephen Manogue, Ed McDermott, Sean Deely (0-2 each); Luke Scanlon (0-1 each)
Dunnamaggin: Denis Walsh (0-14, 10fs); Brian Hickey (0-3); Ross O’Neill (0-2); Eoghan Kearney, Andy Hickey, Ray Cody, Noah Cahill (0-1 each)
James Stephens: Sean Manogue; Luke Murphy, Sam McEvoy, Ben Lawlor; Niall Mullins, Niall Delaney, Willie Spencer; Ed Lauhoff, Luke Scanlon; Sean Deely, Tadhg O’Dwyer, Oisin Bateman; Eoin Guilfoyle, Ed McDermott, Stephen Manogue.
Subs: Shane Donohoe for Deely, 47 mins.
Dunnamaggin: James Logue; Ian Walsh, Michael Cody, Pierce Costello; Darragh O’Keeffe, Eoghan Kearney, Alex Moore; Andy Hickey, Ray Cody; John Fitzpatrick, Denis Walsh, Ross O’Neill; Paul Kirwan, Peter Kenneally, Noah Cahill.
Subs: Brian Hickey for John Fitzpatrick, h-t; Ciaran Hickey for R.Cody, 41 mins; Joe Fitzpatrick for Kenneally, 45 mins; Shaun O’Keeffe for D.O’Keeffe, 50 mins; Dylan Crehan for M.Cody, 52 mins.
Referee: Owen Kenny