Blistering second half ensures victory for Raharney side

Raharney 0-19, Clonkill 0-13

Following a tough hour’s hurling last Friday evening, played under the lights in Kinnegad in wet and windy conditions, Raharney earned the bragging rights in this Under 20 hurling championship final following victory over traditional rivals Clonkill.

The Loughegar side were the first to settle and were off the mark on the scoreboard after just one minute, with Carl McCormack sending the ball over the bar following good work from Conor Maleady to feed him the ball in space. Kian Loughlin was unlucky not to double his Clonkill side’s lead in the third minute when his shot had the distance but not the accuracy. It took Raharney until the fifth minute to open their account when Cormac McKeogh pointed from play to equalise with a fine left sided strike. McKeogh then doubled his, and his team’s account, with another point from play in the sixth minute to give Raharney the lead for the first time. Kian Loughlin equalised for Clonkill from a placed ball in the eighth minute.

Despite a valiant effort from both sets of players, the game was slow to ignite due to the heavy conditions. Joe Mulvaney got himself on the scoreboard in the twelfth minute with a well taken free to restore Raharney’s one point lead, after Eoin Briody had been tripped when soloing towards goal. The scoreline now read 0-3 to 0-2.

On 14 minutes, the decent sized crowd witnessed the first guilt-edged goal opportunity. Donnacha Briody broke through on goal, however his shot from about 12 metres out was excellently saved by Clonkill goalkeeper Darragh Egerton. Joe Mulvaney was unsuccessful with the resultant ’65 to keep the minimum between them. Kian Loughlin and Mulvaney, again, exchanged frees in the 16th and 19th minutes respectively to leave the score Raharney 0-4 Clonkill 0-3.

Despite some good tackling by Mark Doherty and Cian Weir at the back for Raharney to break up another Clonkill attack in the 20th minute, the clearance from defence lacked distance and fell to Kian Loughlin, who confidently struck the ball over the bar to equalise for Clonkill. Referee Eoin Cawley branded his first yellow card in the 22nd minute when he correctly adjudged that his namesake, Oisin Cawley, had slapped the hand of his opponent after winning possession of the ball. Kian Loughlin was unable to convert the free.

The game remained very close with no more than a score between the teams. Raharney twice took the lead in the 23rd and 25th minutes following points from play from Joe Mulvaney and Cian Fleming, only for Clonkill to respond on each occasion through Conor Maleady (play) and Kian Loughlin (free). Following an exchange of points scored by Michael Moloney (Clonkill) and Joe Mulvaney (Raharney), the game was level for the seventh time at 0-7 apiece. Clonkill then appeared to take the initiative when Michael Moloney (30th minute) and Kian Loughlin (31st) gave them a two-point lead at half-time - the scoreboard reading: Clonkill 0-9, Raharney 0-7.

Raharney roared into life at the start of the second half, scoring six unanswered points in the opening 11 minutes of the half to turn a two-point half-time deficit into a four-point lead. The scores in this productive period for Raharney were registered by Joe Mulvaney (four) and Cormac McKeogh (two). The Clonkill management team of Mick Murtagh; Sean Loughlin and Darragh Egerton could clearly be seen to shout encouragement into their team, and they responded well.

Michael Moloney (41) and an excellent Padraig Monaghan (45) point from play was followed by another Kian Loughlin pointed free. Raharney were now only the minimum ahead, with the scoreline showing Raharney 0-13 Clonkill 0-12.

Oisin Cawley and Kian Loughlin exchanged points from play in the 47th and 48th minutes respectively. This turned out to be Clonkill’s final score of the game. This was not for the want of trying. Clonkill attempted to launch several attacks with Niall Brady, Carl McCormack and Michael Moloney feeding the ball into the forwards, however no scores resulted.

A Joe Mulvaney free increased the Raharney lead to two points on 49 minutes. On 50 minutes, Clonkill had a huge opportunity to take the lead when a goal opportunity presented itself. Michael Moloney swung his right boot at the sliotar when finding himself unmarked in front of goal, but the ball went agonisingly outside Oran Smith’s post from about six metres out.

A goal opportunity presented itself to Raharney just two minutes later. Joe Mulvaney sent a high ball into the square. Caolan Ready did well to win possession, but his shot was blocked by Darragh Egerton and a ’65 resulted for Raharney. Joe Mulvaney almost inevitably slotted the ball over the bar to extend Raharney’s lead to three points.

Raharney were able to close out the game, with Joe Mulvaney scoring another three points from placed balls in the 54th; 58th and 64th minutes, leaving the scoreline Raharney 0-19 Clonkill 0-13. When Eoin Cawley blew the final whistle, there were jubilant celebrations among the Raharney players and management as they celebrated a deserved under 20 hurling championship victory.

Scorers - Raharney: Joe Mulvaney 0-13 (0-10 frees, 0-1 ’65); Cormac McKeogh 0-4; Oisin McCawley and Cian Fleming 0-1 each.

Clonkill: Kian Loughlin 0-7 (0-4 frees); Michael Moloney 0-3; Carl McCormack 0-1; Padraig Monaghan and Conor Maleady 0-1 each.

Raharney Team: Oran Smith; Sean McGee, Eoghan Daly, Ryan Murphy; Mark Doherty, Cian Weir, Aaron Flanagan; Calum McKeogh, Cian Fleming; Joe Mulvaney, Cormac McKeogh, Oisin McCawley; Donnacha Briody, Caolan Ready, Eoin Briody. Sub: Ronan Lawlor for Eoin Briody (half-time).

Clonkill Team: Darragh Egerton; Andrew Brennan, Jack Murtagh, Peter Conneely; Jamie Kelleghan, Conor Daly, Niall Brady; Michael Moloney, Carl McCormack; Luke Meyler, Kian Loughlin, Padraig Monaghan; Alex Smyth, Conor Maleady, Jake Muldoon.

Referee: Eoin Cawley (Cullion).