Long and Maleady star as Clonkill deny Plunketts

Clonkill 1-18, St Oliver Plunketts 1-14

Clonkill captured the Minor Hurling Division 1 league title with a gritty four-point victory over St Oliver Plunketts, in changeable weather at Clonkill GAA grounds on Saturday evening.

Playing with the useful breeze in the opening half, St Oliver Plunketts established a lead of two points at half-time, 1-8 to 1-6, but Clonkill looked the better team in the second half and scored twice as much as the visitors to take the spoils. The eventual winners notched three unanswered points between the 39th and 41st minutes to take the lead for the first time and they were three clear by the end of the third quarter.

While the Mullingar side applied plenty of late pressure, the second goal they required never arrived and, after an excellent final, Clonkill captains Niall Brady and Billy Dunne accepted the trophy from Coiste na nÓg secretary, Barry Kelly.

St Oliver Plunketts had the benefit of an early goal from Oisin Murray, who tapped in a high delivery by Ted Aherne, and they were leading by 1-4 to 0-2 after 11 minutes. They had started without Will Scahill in attack but brought him on in the second half and perhaps if they had his influence in the opening half, with the elements in their favour, they could have built a bigger lead.

Hugo Corroon (two) and Ted Aherne (a fine long-range free, followed by an easier placed ball), were the point scorers in that opening period, but a well-taken goal by MJ Long brought the home side firmly into contention.

Long finished accurately after Conor Maleady’s pass and he quickly followed up with a point as the Loughegar side got within two (1-4 to 1-6) by the 23rd minute. Plunketts nearly got a second goal from a high ball late on, but this time Oisín Murray’s touch guided the ball over for a point. Such were the fine margins in this match.

Clonkill got level by the 40th minute after two great points from Long — the first from close to the sideline, the second a superb strike from distance. And Conor Maleady’s free put them ahead for the first time. Plunketts equalised through Aherne, who shot a lovely point into the breeze, but it was 1-13 to 1-10 when midfielder Michael O’Brien fired over in the 46th minute.

Clonkill managed to hold that lead under strong pressure and Maleady’s point in the 55th minute made it 1-16 to 1-13. Two late frees from Long wrapped up a deserved win but there’s very little between these two talented sides at this level and the upcoming championship promises to be keenly contested.

The Clonkill defence was resolute when required. Will Scahill almost made a decisive burst in the 50th minute before being dispossessed and only a point resulted, the ball shot over by Hugo Corroon. That was the general trend, the Clonkill side just able to fend off their opponents’ best efforts and get the vital blocks and hooks in when required. Their determination shone.

Scorers - Clonkill: MJ Long 1-6 (0-4f), C Maleady 0-6 (4f; 1 ‘65’), P Monaghan and M Brennan 0-2 each, B Dunne and A Kiernan 0-1 each.

St Oliver Plunketts: T Aherne 0-9 (8f), O Murray 1-1, H Corroon 0-4.

Clonkill: James Nea; Seán Maleady, Niall Brady, Seán Flynn; Adam Kiernan, Conor Cleary, Eoghan Daly; Michael Brennan, Conor Joyce; MJ Long, Padraig Monaghan, Enda Moran; Conor Maleady, Billy Dunne, Ben Loughlin. Subs used: Killian Raleigh, Ciarán McGrath, Josh Murtagh.

St Oliver Plunketts: Shay Leavy; Sean Graham, Conor Walshe, Fionn Kelly; Oisín Gavin, Cillian Walsh, Harry Tilson; Seán Byrne, Ted Aherne; Hugo Corroon, Michael Fry, Oisín Murray; Josh Scahill, Jake Dempsey, Ryan McNamee. Subs used: Tom Weir, Will Scahill, Darragh Daly, Tom O’Brien.

Referee: Ray Aughey (Turin).