Minor Reports
23 March, 2009
Ulster Bank Co Premier 1 Minor Hurling League – Group 1.
Sarsfields got back into winning ways when they saw off they challenge of Bishopstown in Cloughdubh on Wednesday night last. Aided by goals from James Burke and Eoin O’Sullivan and some fine points from Niall Horgan, Tiernan Hourihan and Burke they went in at the break leading 2-06 to 1-06 with Brian Dooley raising the green flag for Bishopstown while Brian Coffey and Olan Ryan also got their names on the score-sheet. On the resumption Bishopstown through the efforts of Shane Dunne, John O’Brien, Brian Murray, Brian Dooley and Diarmuid Lester came more into the game. Eventually Sars began to apply the pressure with Joe Cashman, Cathal Duggan, Niall Horgan, Anthony O’Leary and Tiernan Hourihan leading the charge. Two goals from Eoin O’Sullivan, who ended up with a personal tally of 3-06, and one from Hourihan proved vital and although Bishopstown kept up their challenge to the last with a stunning goal from Lester it was the case of too little too late as their opponents had too much in hand and ran out 5-09 to 2-12 winners.
Midleton maintained their good run when they had a solid 4-11 to 3-06 home victory over Douglas on Saturday afternoon last. Playing with the wind in the opening half Midleton made most of their chances and with strong performances from Finbarr O’Mahony, Cormac Walsh, Tommy Wallace and Conor Lehane they took the game to their opponent from the outset. Aided by goals from Leahane, Joe Murray and Brian O’Sullivan they confirmed their authority and with Lehane, O’Sullivan, Wallace and Eoin Murray sending over some neat points they went in at the break leading 3-06 to 1-00 with Eoin O’Connor raising a green flag for Douglas. On the resumption Douglas came more into the game with Paul Beale, Graham Carroll, Fionn Cronin and David Cuthbert leading by example. Goals from Olan Birmingham, who came in as a sub for the second half, and Cuthbert gave them some hope but the home side upped a gear and with a second goal from Lehane and further points from the same player, Joe Murray and Phillip O’Neill they secured a comfortable victory despite the best attempts of their opponents who had second half points from Cronin, Birmingham and Martin Barry.
Ulster Bank Co Premier 2 Minor Hurling League
In Group 1 of the Ulster Bank Co Premier 2 Minor Hurling League a point four minutes from time from Brian Mulcahy gave St Catherines victory over Aghada by the bare minimum in this most entertaining contest which was played in Ballynoe on Friday night last. In what a close encounter throughout in which the sides were level on six occasions they home side opened the scoring with a point from Stephen O’Brien. Michael Russell equalised for Aghada and with Brian Mulcahy (two), O’Brien and Denis Lane trading points with Giorgio Corrigliano, Tommy Dobbins and Eoin Healy the sides were still on level term at 0-05 apiece with half time approaching but a point from Daniel Mangan saw St Catherines go in at the break leading 0-06 to 0-05. Aghada who had impressive displays from Eoin Healy, Michael Russell, Tommy Dobbins, Giorgio Corrigliano and Padraig Mulry came out in a more determined mood on the resumption. A goal and a point from Healy saw them take the lead and although Stephen O’Brien replied with a point for the home side the visitors increased their advantage with points from Cian Cashman and Michael Russell to lead 1-08 to 0-07 at the three-quarter stage. On seeing the game slipping away from them St Catherines upped their performance and with Brian Mulcahy, Stephen O’Brien, Conor Hegarty and Patrick Roche coming more into the fray they began to take the game to their opponents. A point from James Neville heralded their comeback and in the 48th minute they gained equality with a super goal from Mulcahy. As both sides vied for the lead the honour fell to St Catherines with another superb point from Mulcahy to see his side take the lead and although Aghada tried their utmost this was not to be their night as the home side held out for a narrow 1-09 to 1-08 victory.
Killeagh/Itas got back into winning ways when they saw off the challenge of Fermoy in Killeagh on Sunday afternoon last. Playing with the wind in the opening half the home side led at the break 2-03 to 1-03 thanks to goals from Stephen O’Brien and Alan Frahill-O’Connor with Frahill-O’Connor, Patrick O’Brien and Stephen O’Brien adding the points. In the second half the home side maintained their composure with Kevin Lane, Patrick O’Brien, Ian Cahill, Eddie Coleman and Alan Frahill-O’Connor to the fore. Although Fermoy came more into the game some missed oppertunities were to prove costly as Killeagh/Itas with the aid of goals from Tadhg Crotty and Colin McMahon and points from Frahill-O’Connor and Michael Fitzgerald gave them a comfortable 4-05 to 1-07 victory.