News Story
JUNIOR A HURLING FINAL REPORT - (Number of times read: 804)
Derry Farr | Evening Echo | Tuesday 14 September 2010
Diarmuid Ó’Mathúnas 3 – 12 Dohenys 1 - 15
Everyday may not be good but there’s something good in everyday and yesterday’s high point was surely an absorbing South West JAHC final at Enniskeane. Here we had a seasoned Mathúna’s, having already won the title four times in this decade, up against pretenders Dohenys whose last success was way back in 1963. For a while the losers again lost their way as the winner’s, helped by two goals in quick succession eased ten points clear in the first twenty six minutes but this Doheny team proved they don’t do panic as they fought their way back only to be denied by some heroic Mathúna defending in the closing moments of an absorbing local derby.
When push came to shove Mathúna’s greater experience was their supreme asset as the likes of Johnny O’Sullivan (what a game he had), Micheál Fehily, Ted Lordan and John Paul O’Callaghan, who have sharpened their teeth in many a hectic encounter, produced the goods when Dohenys were at their most vulnerable. That was in a tentative opening half when the winner’s used the wind advantage astutely to feed a nippy inside line. From here man of the match John Paul O’Callaghan sprinted on to a David Nyhan delivery before shooting to the net but this sixteenth minute goal wasn’t as damaging as what was to follow. Dohenys now four points adrift were still good value for money until the winner’s produced their scoring blitz that ultimately won them their fifth title.
It began when a Ted Lordan delivery was hammered home by Seán Crowley in the twenty third minute and immediately afterwards John Paul O’Callaghan positioned himself well to bat to the net a Darren Coughlan delivery. Then O’Callaghan added a point and the winner’s were ten clear but unknown to them the traffic lights were to flicker at amber on numerous occasion subsequently before finally showing green. Having had a goal disallowed earlier in the game Dohenys couldn’t afford to ponder on what might have been and knowing that hard work was the only thing to overcome hard luck they took up the challenge. Their defence where veterans Fachtna McCarthy and Clement Deane went on to make telling contributions, settled as Killian Crowley and Tadhg O’Leary swopped central positions for a while with the desired effect. Cian Lynch continued to hurl defiantly while David Collins really came good after the break.
Midfielder Alan Sheehan also improved immeasurably while Donal O’Sullivan moved to centre forward in an attack where Darren Sweetnam’s freetaking carried the razor-edge necessary to deflate the winner’s cushion. From all distances and angles the Cork minor whipped over some delightful frees to belie his tender age in the white heat of battle. Slowly the gap was narrowed despite some outstanding play by a committed Mathúna’s fullback line where Aidan Collins did well to hold Sweetnam to a point from play. In front of him Micheál Fehily continued to sweep up the breaks in an under pressure halfback division but luckily for them durable wing forward Tim Crowley relieved a lot of pressure by winning numerous Johnny Nyhan puck outs.
John Paul kept sniping away to enable Mathúnas stay well clear until Denis Healy, out of nothing, fired home the loser’s goal nine minutes from time. With just two points between them Mathúna’s character was being tested and how they responded. Wave after wave of Doheny attacks were repelled with the durable Jerry Nyhan clearing off his line before team captain Johnny Nyhan stood up and saved his side from going under with two magnificent saves. His heroics were typical of one of the best custodians around and made all the difference in a fine sporting contest marred only by the last minute sending off of Clinton O’Mahony (Mathúnas) and Brian O’Sullivan (Dohenys).
Scorers; Mathúnas; JP O’Callaghan 2-8 (0-6 frees), S Crowley 1-0, D Nyhan 0-3, J O’Sullivan 0-1.
Dohenys; D Sweetnam 0-11 (0-10 frees), D Healy 1-0, J McCarthy 0-3, P McCarthy 0-1.
Teams; Diarmuid Ó’Mathúnas; Johnny Nyhan; Jerry Nyhan, A Collins, C O’Mahony; S Nyhan, M Fehily, M McCarthy; J O’Sullivan, T Lordan; D Nyhan, D Coughlan, T Crowley; J Shannon, S Crowley, JP O’Callaghan. Subs; P Crowley for J Shannon, B Horgan for M McCarthy, Seán Nyhan for S Crowley, J Buttimer for P Crowley.
Dohenys; V Healy; C Deane, K Crowley, F McCarthy; C Lynch, T O’Leary, D Collins; A Sheehan, N Collins; J McCarthy, P McCarthy, D O’Sullivan; P Collins, D Sweetnam, D Healy. Subs; B O’Sullivan for P Collins, S Collins for C Deane.
Referee; Michael Collins, Clonakilty.
Thanks to Derry Farr and the Evening Echo for this report