Under-21 hurling glory as young men from Glen’ end year on high

Glenmore capped a great year for the club with a fully deserved victory over Kilmacow in the JJ Kavanagh under-21 C Hurling Final, before a great attendance at Mooncoin last week.

Many of this batch of players had also been involved in the under-19 Roinn C league and championship double earlier this season.

In full-forward Ian Byrne, the club had a definite stand-out player in this under-21 final, the Glenmore captain recorded all bar a point of the Glen total.

For Kilmacow the defeat was a second successive final loss in this competition, having fell at the final hurdle last year also, versus Mullinavat.

In the game, played on a slippery surface, in greasy conditions, scores were often at a premium, with defenders coming out on top, particularly in the first half exchanges.

Glenmore had opening points by Ian Byrne on three and five minutes, the first a 50-metre score from play, the other from a free.

Kilmacow got back on terms by the 11th minute with points from a Sean Dowling (free), and a well worked Callum Regan point.

By the 20th minute Byrne had added two further Glenmore pointed frees, 0-4 to 0-2.

Dowling (free) and James Walsh added two Kilmacow points by the interval, sandwiching an 80-metre score by Glenmore’s Billy Reid.

Half-time Glenmore 0-5; Kilmacow 0-4.

It was still tight in the opening ten minutes of the new half, two Ian Byrne points, the latter from play, putting them three points clear.

Kilmacow got a 42nd minute point by James Walsh from a free to reduce the margin to two points, but then Ian Byrne got the first of his two goals.

He got possession close to goal, rounded Kieran Dowling in the Kilmacow goal, and batted home (1-7 to 0-5).

He followed with a 45th minute free, but Kilmacow battled on, and were right back in the game six minutes later when Fergal Suffin goaled.

In the 54th minute a Byrne pointed free left them four ahead, 1-9 to 1-5.

Two Kilmacow scores from their best player on the afternoon, ex county minor James Walsh, the first a free, the other from play, left just two points between them, 1-7 to 1-9, but these were the losers final scores in the tricky conditions.

A further 1-1 by the outstanding Ian Byrne, the goal after a long delivery from a colleague, gave Glenmore a merited six-point win, 2-10 to 1-7.

Other than Byrne, players like Ciaran Vereker, Billy Reid and Tomas Mullally were the winners star performers.

Glenmore - Mikey Kirwan, Shane Duhig, Ciaran Vereker, Darragh Vereker, Jack Ryan (VC), Billy Reid (0-1), Jack Cody, Thomas Mullally (Weatherstown), Cathal Sheehan, Evan Halligan, Colm Roche, Charlie Phelan, Padraic Cody, Ian Byrne (captain, 2-9, 0-6 frees), Paul Murphy.

Subs – Cian Conick, Paul Brophy, James Hendrick, Patrick O’Conor (Foristalstown), Dominic Roche, Jack Dollard, James Reid, Jason Cody, Oisin Mullally, David Walsh, James Connolly.

Kilmacow – Kieran Dowling, Lorcan Suffin, Donnacha Williams, Billy Phelan, Tadhg Connolly, Liam Lacey, Dev Lowe, Sean Dowling (0-2, frees), Tom Butler, Tom Reddy, James Walsh (0-4, 2 frees) , Fergal Suffin (JC, 1-0), Calum Regan (0-1), Ted Doyle, Jack O’Neill.

Subs – Fionn Blanch, Caoilin Kelly, Stephen Moore, Fionn Walsh, Jack Murphy, Darragh Kelly, Conor Walsh, Ben Doyle, Ciaran Murray, Eoin Walsh, Paddy Regan.

Referee - Paul Whelan