News

DUNAMAGGAN WIN U 21 TITLE: The Dunamaggan U 21 Hurling team emerged victorious over
Graignamanagh in the Southern Final in Thomastown on Sunday.  While Dunamaggan were on top in the opening
quarter they failed to register a single score while the opposition scored 3
good points in the opening seven minutes. Having hit eight wides Dunamaggan
finally got on the score sheet in the 18^th minute through a John
Fitzpatrick point. Anthony Kearney followed this up with a point two minutes
later to reduce the defecate to two points as Lee Kinsella pointed just before
his score for Graigue. Lee Kinsella in the 22^nd minute scored a very
well worked goal for Graigue which was followed immediately by a Michael Bolger
point which stretched the Graigue lead to six points. Michael Cody reduced the
deficit to 1 – 5 to 0 – 3 at the interval.

The introduction of Peter Kenneally for Jason Doherty added
significant strength to the Dunamaggan forward division in the second half. Yet
with 15 minutes remaining the score stood at 1 – 7 to 0 – 7 in favour of
Graigue. The more determined Dunamaggan team had not yet reaped the rewards of
their dominance in the mid-field area which resulted from the switch of Victor
Costello to mid field and Michael Cody to the half forwards. Also Eoghan Kearney
was dominant at centre back ably assisted by Paul Kirwan and Andrew
Fitzpatrick. Then the breakthrough came when in the 50^th minute
Ronan Coffey scored a great goal for Dunamaggan to give them a one point lead
for the first time in the game. It was a lead that galvanized the Dunamaggan
team into heroic and never say die hurling for the final 10 minutes. Even
though Lee Kinsella levelled the game in the 53^rd minute points from
Anthony Kearney and a free from John Fitzpatrick saw Dunamaggan home on a score
of 1 – 10 to 1 – 08. It was a game in which the wides tally for Dunamaggan
almost reached the 20 mark. Both sides had missed chances from placed balls
with Graigue willing this contest by 4 to 3. Next Sunday the Co. Final rivals
will be Emeralds. Dunamaggan will need to improve immensely on their showing of
Sunday, especially in their shooting if they are to achieve a victory. While
the team has the ability to win only total commitment from the start will give
them the victory they desire.

Team: Andrew O’Dwyer, Conor Long, William Moylan, Aaron Doherty,
Paul Kirwan, Eoghan Kearney, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Patrick Delaney, Michael Cody,
John Fitzpatrick, Ronan Coffey, Adam Kenneally, Jason Doherty, Anthony Kearney,
Victor Costello. Subs; Peter Kenneally for J. Doherty at half time, Jack Brett,
William Bergin, Greg O’Donnell and Brian Farrell.