Match Reports

Minor B Champions 2017

21/10/2017
Minor Hurling Champions 2017
Dunnamaggin were crowned Roinn B Minor Hurling Champions in Nowlan Park on Sunday last after a thrilling game against Mullinavat. Mullinavat got an absolute dream start and scored a goal in the opening minute. They followed this up with two points from play in the first four minutes before Robbie McCauley landed his first of what was to be many frees to pull one back. Mullinavat then got another point from play before the ever present Darragh O'Keeffe won the ball, burst up the field and split the posts. Mullinavat were dropping a player back and it was playing dividends. Harry added a super free to bring it back to Mullinavat 1:03 Dunnamaggin 0:03. Then on the stroke of 10 mins Mullinavat hit the net again. A sucker punch for the Dunnamaggin lads who were battling back to get into the game. To their credit Dunnamaggin settled and started to clear up some loose ball in the backs and give our forwards good supply which they duly converted through points from Robbie (1p,2f) and Rory (1p).Harry Walsh had to be alert as a free in dropped short and he had to pluck it out of the sky to avert danger. Mullinavat did respond with a point but it was Dunnamaggin's turn to shine as we headed for half time.Robbie added a free before a great break saw Rory Lodge turn his man and head forward we were all expecting the shot at the posts but Andy Hickey was running parallel to him and he passed it to him who as he was in a better position. We all expected the resultant point but Andy had other Ideas when he spotted Eddie Dunne had slipped his marker,quick shot over to him and bang the back of the net! Robbie then added another free before Mullinavat pulled one back to send the sides in at half time Dunnamaggin 1:09 Mullinavat 2:05
The opening 10 mins of the second half were a fierce tense affair and it was a time for cool heads and we had them in abundance the settled half back line led by Ian Walsh at centre back and Jamie McLoughlin and Alex Walsh were cutting off supply to the inside forward line and thus removing any goal threat.Both sides were in a tit for tat shoot out with Robbie (3F) and Rory adding the scores as we hit the half way point.it was Dunnamaggin 1:13 Mullinavat 2:08. A three point lead, the worst lead you could have.As Mullinvat pummelled ball after ball in, Ian was dropping back deep to help out, and it helped Harry, Adam and Kieran who were launching ball out of the defence as it came in. The tactic of landing the puckouts on Dylan Crehan & Eddies wing was working a treat and although Dylan was considerably smaller than his marker he was winning ball, turning his man and launching it to Eddie or Conor Hoban inside.Eddie duly slotted a lovely point from play, but yet again Mullinavat came back and score two points. This was turning out to be an intriguing and nervous final.But cometh the hour cometh the man and as Luke Fitz had turned his man, yet again he was taken out of it .Robbie duly stepped up to take the free but it dropped short and Eddie was on hand in the fury to scoop the ball into the net for his second goal. Finally some daylight. Dunnamaggin 2:14 Mullinvat 2:10 with 5 mins to go. Mullinavat heaped intense pressure on our backs but they were outstanding and won a few key frees from the pressure they were applying.Dylan Crehan scored a lovely point from play no more than he deserved after the afternoons shift he put in.Then came the icing on the cake when Luke yet again surged forward and as his shot was hooked it landed to the speedster Rory Lodge who straight away caught it and let fly, boom back of the net. Robbie had the last say of the day when he split the posts again and the ref duly blew the final whistle to crown us champions to much delight. Jamie McLoughlin had the privelage of walking up the steps of the old stand in Nowlan Park to lift the Ted Carroll Trophy and make the acceptance speech on behalf of his team.Huge credit to mentors Niall McCormack,Pat Hoban,Owen Dunne & John Fitzpatrick on completing the League and Championship double and their super panel of Conor Brett, Kieran Buckley, Harry Walsh, Adam Fitzpatrick, Jamie McLoughlin, Ian Walsh, Alex Moore, Darragh O'Keeffe, Andy Hickey, Dylan Crehan, Conor Hoban, Rory Lodge, Eddie Dunne, Luke Fitzpatrick, Robbie McCauley, Dylan Wall, Nick O'Shea, Sean Carroll, Jack O'Connell, Eoin O'Driscoll, Jamie O'Keeffe, Ger Coffey, Darragh Walsh,Denis Walsh.