County Under-21 Hurling Championship Final

Tallow/Shamrocks 3-7, Mount Sion 2-8

A WHIRLWIND opening quarter that saw them race into a 3-2 to 0- 1 lead set Tallow on the road to retaining their Under-21 title with this two points win over Mount Sion at Walsh Park on Sunday last. This was a hard-fought game that produced hurling of the highest standard in the most difficult underfoot conditions.

There was no let-up in the pace of the game as Mount Sion battled back from a horrendous start.

Tallow, however, always had a little extra in hand and though Mount Sion went close to snatching it in the closing minutes, the western champions were the better balanced side over the hour and were full value for their deserved victory.

DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

The Walsh Park surface was very cut up by the junior final of the previous day and consequently players found it difficult to control the ball on the ground early on.

The first real scoring chance fell to Mount Sion in the second minute when Thomas Baldwin received a yellow card for a foul and Eoin Kelly opted to shoot for goal from the 20 metre free.

The shot was saved brilliantly but Sean Ryan ran onto the rebound to send over the opening score.

Three were some fine passages of hurling before Tallow made the breakthrough in the 6th minute. Mount Sion full back, Michael Frisby, was deceived by a cross from Paul O’Brien and the ball ran on to Willie Henley who had a clear run on goal to smash it to the net from close range for a lead that was never lost.

Points from Aiden Kearney and a Paul Kearney free settled Tallow and when Colm Geary’s looping effort deceived Ian O’Regan in the 13th minute, Mount Sion were in real trouble. It got worse for the challengers two minutes later when the Sion defence failed to deal with a dropping ball and corner forward, Nat Smith, pounced to volley to the net from the edge of the square.

AMAZING START

Trailing now by 3-2 to 0-1, Mount Sion had to find something quickly and after Richie Murphy and Eoin Kelly were wide from good positions, Matthew Creed had their second point in the 17th minute. Eoin Kelly’s point from a free closed the gap further but Tallow’s ten points lead was restored by the 24th minute as Henley and Geary sent over good points from play.

Mount Sion moved Sean Ryan to full forward in a switch with Mark Hoban and a foul on Hoban in the 25th minute gave Eoin Kelly his second chance from a 20 metre free. This time, though the shot was parried, the power carried the ball over the goal line and Mount Sion were back in the game.

The initiative was now swinging Mount Sion’s way and in the 27th minute, Sean Ryan finished off good work by Matthew Creed and Richie Murphy with a magnificent goal. Mark Hoban and David O’Mahony went close as Mount Sion finished the half strongly with another Sean Ryan point leaving the half time score:

Tallow 3-4, Mount Sion 2-4.

On the turnover, it was Tallow who made the impressive start as Colm Geary raced in only to blaze the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. With Paul O’Brien now hurling well in midfield, Tallow should have gone further ahead but Geary and Henley again missed good chances.

SUPER DEFENCE

A great point from a free inside his own half by Eoin Kelly lifted his side as the Mount Sion defence took control and a point from play by the same player left just two points between the teams in the 45th minute. Once again, however, Paul O’Brien steadied the champions with an excellent point and a goal still separated the teams going into the last ten minutes.

The Tallow defence was now coming under strong pressure as Sion sub, Darren Ryan, pointed. Sion’s Pat Kelly had the ball in the Tallow net but was whistled back for another player’s square infringement. Paul Kearney’s 55th minute point saw Tallow keep their three points cushion and it was all hands on the pumps in the Tallow defence as Mount Sion piled on the pressure in the closing minutes.

Mount Sion’s best chance came in the 28th minute when Eoin Kelly got possession in front of the Tallow goal. He was unable to make headway without his hurley, however, and Tallow won a relieving free out. Mount Sion maintained the pressure but could only add a late point from Pat McGrath as Tallow held on for a great victory.

In Sean O’Neill, Tallow had a very safe and capable goalie, with Mark O’Brien, Aidan Kearney and Jodi O’Neill most prominent in defence. Colm Geary had a fine game in midfield and was well supported by Paul O’Brien when he moved out. In attack, Paul Kearney was outstanding with Dan O’Neill and William Henley in support. After the early lapse that saw three goals conceded in the opening quarter, the Mount Sion defence settled down with fine displays from Paul Kehoe, Michael Frisby, Michael Gaffney and Ian Power. Matthew Creed and Eoin Kelly had good spells in midfield while in attack, Sean Ryan always posed a big threat with the best support coming from Mark Hoban and sub, Darren Ryan.

Scorers: Tallow: C. Geary 1-2, W. Henley 1-1, N. Smith 1-0, P. Kearney 0-2, A. Kearney and P. O’Brien 0-1 each.

Mount Sion: E. Kelly 1-3, S. Ryan 1-2, M. Creed, D. Ryan and P. McGrath 0-1 each.

TALLOW: S. O’Neill, J. Feeney, M. O’Brien, T. Baldwin, E. Forbes, A. Kearney, J. O’Neill, J.G. Kelly,C. Geary, P. Kearney, D. O’Neill, P. O’Brien, M. Keating, W. Henley, N. Smith. Substitute: K. Kearney for Keating.

MOUNT SION: I. O’Regan; P. Kehoe, M. Frisby, M. Gaffney; P. McGrath, I. Power, J. O’Farrell; E. Kelly, M. Creed; R. Murphy, S. Ryan, P. Kelly; M. Brophy, M. Hoban, D. O’Mahony. Subs: D. Ryan for Brophy; B. Foley for O’Mahony.

Referee: P. Moore (Abbeyside).