First half blitz paves the way for fine Clonkill victory

Clonkill 4-25, Na Piarsaigh 2-9

By John Dermody

Clonkill powered to a convincing win in this Under 16 Division 1 hurling league final against a gallant and determined Na Piarsaigh team in Clonkill on Wednesday evening last. The platform for this Clonkill victory was setup in the first half when they registered an impressive 4-15 on the scoreboard, with Na Piarsaigh registering 0-5 in the same period.

Some of the hurling played by the Loughegar based outfit was simply sublime, and this performance and result sets them up well for the championship later in the summer. From a Na Piarsaigh perspective, they can take heart from never giving up over a difficult hour and it is time for a reset now as they prepare for the rest of the year.

Na Piarsaigh made an ideal start to the game. After winning possession from the throw in, Jamie Leech showed great anticipation to get out in front and catch a great ball struck into the central forward position. He was fouled when turning to run towards goal, and referee Ken Gunning blew for the free. Luke Dowling calmly stroked the ball over the bar to give his team an early lead in the first minute. The prolific Ben Loughlin confidently scored the first of his fourteen points from a free in the fourth minute to equalise for Clonkill. Loughlin then added two further points on six and seven minutes to move Clonkill into a two-point lead.

Na Piarsaigh responded with another Luke Dowling free in the eighth minute to put the minimum between the teams; Clonkill 0-3 Na Piarsaigh 0-2. This was to be the last score for Na Piarsaigh for 14 minutes as Clonkill took complete control of the game, adding another 3-8 to their tally by the time Na Piarsaigh were to register their next score in the 22nd minute, another pointed Luke Dowling free. Clonkill scorers during this period of dominance included Ben Loughlin (0-3); Adam Kiernan (0-2); Oisin Keena (0-1) and Michael Brennan (0-1). Two goals scored by James McHugh in the 12th and 14th minutes ended any chance of Na Piarsaigh remaining in contention for league glory. A third goal in the 18th minute scored by Colm Clinton left no doubt to anyone in attendance that the Division One league title was Clonkill’s.

To their credit, Na Piarsaigh battled with a huge level of determination despite the game having already being a lose for them. The hard-working and talented Lorcan Masterson added to Luke Dowling’s response to Clonkill’s scoring spree with an excellent point from over 50 metres out almost immediately after Dowling’s free. This left the score Clonkill 3-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-4. Ben Loughlin added another two pointed frees to the Clonkill scoreline to increase their lead (23rd and 25th minutes), with Luke Dowling responding with a point from a placed ball for Na Piarsaigh on 28 minutes.

Seconds later, a fourth goal for Clonkill was dispatched to the back of the Na Piarsaigh net by Oisin Keena. Further points from play for Clonkill scored by Adam Kiernan and James McHugh left a mountain higher than Everest to climb for Na Piarsaigh, with the half-time scoreline reading Clonkill 4-15 Na Piarsaigh 0-5.

Na Piarsaigh made an impressive start to the second half which must be commended. Obviously, the words from the management team of John Heffernan, Dan Carty and Paddy Dempsey were ringing in their ears. Luke Dowling, through a free and 65 metre award, scored the opening two scores of the half to move Na Piarsaigh to 0-7 for the evening. Ben Loughlin and the lively Jamie Leech then exchanged points from play for Clonkill and Na Piarsaigh respectively in quick succession in the 35th minute. Luke Dowling kept the scoreboard ticking for Na Piarsaigh with another pointed free in the 37th minute.

Three successive Clonkill points through Ben Loughlin (2 frees) and James McHugh (play) brought their score up to a mightily impressive 4-20. Ben Loughlin again added to this with a superb point from play in the 47th minute. Na Piarsaigh registered their first major of the evening on 50 minutes. Tomas Williams did well to win possession of the sliotar and popped an intelligent handpass to the on-running Luke Dowling who finished emphatically to the back of the net. Clonkill responded with two points from play scored by Ben Loughlin and Diarmuid Graham. Before Loughlin scored Clonkill’s final score with a point from a free in injury time, Luke Dowling scored his second goal to deservedly put a respectable look on the scoreboard from a Na Piarsaigh perspective.

Clonkill head into the summer as raging hot favourites for the Under 16 championship. Reigning champions, Na Piarsaigh, will learn a significant amount from this defeat and will come back a much stronger proposition, no doubt, when the championship begins.

Scorers - Clonkill: Ben Loughlin 0-14 (0-9 frees); James McHugh 2-1; Oisin Keena 1-3; Adam Kiernan 0-4; Colm Clinton 1-0; Killian Raleigh, Michael Brennan and Diarmuid Graham 0-1 each.

Na Piarsaigh: Luke Dowling 2-6 (0-5 frees; 0-1 ’65 metre award); Lorcan Masterson 0-2; James Leech 0-1.

Clonkill: TJ Loughlin; Alexander Graham, James Nea, Peadar Baird; Callum Cleary, Adam Kiernan, Harry Brennan; Ciaran McGrath, Killian Raleigh; Oisin Keena, Colm Clinton, Ben Loughlin; Conor Raleigh, Michael Brennan, James McHugh.

Subs: Paidi Slevin for Michael Brennan (HT); Diarmuid Graham for Conor Raleigh (46 min); Eoghan Craig for James McHugh (58 min).

Na Piarsaigh: Alfie O’Farrell; Sean Nea, Lorcan Masterson, Michael McArdle; Liam Costello, Ruairi Heffernan, Adam Carey O’Callaghan; Kyle Carty, Sam Clerkin; Luke Dowling, Tomas Williams, Oisin O’Farrell; Colm O’Rourke, Jamie Leech, Cian Heffernan.

Subs: Pauric Casserly for Oisin O’Farrell (45 min); Ryan Dempsey for Cian Heffernan (57 min); Cian Lawlor for Liam Costello (57 min).