Kiltale scoop hurling title

Superior scoring ability and a solid rearguard provided the platform to ensure Kiltale secured their first u-21 HC title following their impressive victory over Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. The two leading clubs at under-age level served up a thrilling contest that made little of the time of year and biting cold, but ultimately it was Kiltale's sharper stickwork and outstanding accuracy of the brilliant Mark O'Sullivan that proved decisive. For all the excellence of O'Sullivan, the brilliance of Philip Garvey when deployed in a defensive role in the latter stages also contributed to Kiltale's victory. Dunboyne were always a constant threat, but with Garvey helping out the excellent William Mahady, Kiltale held on comfortably. Such an easy margin of victory couldn't have been envisaged with less than a quarter of the game to go. When the ever-threatening Michael Dunne reduced the deficit to a point, 2-7 to 2-8, Dunboyne looked as if they would launch a late bid for the title, but their scores dried up as Kiltale finished with a flourish. That Dunne point was Dunboyne's only score of the second-half as Kiltale used the wind to their advantage to open up a lead and then sit back and defend it. The relative scarcity of scores in the second-half was a disappointment considering the flurry of excitement that dominated the opening period, during which Dunboyne were the marginally better side and should have been further ahead than the 2-6 to 2-5 interval lead they held. Up to that halfway point Dunboyne were the better side with Ger Murphy shading midfield and Dunne causing plenty of problems in attack, but Kiltale had their own threats with O'Sullivan and Garvey causing problems throughout. However, after the break it was all Kiltale and they fully deserved their victory as Dunboyne lost their way and failed to make any serious impact on the scoreboard for the remainder. The opening five minutes demonstrated how close the contest would be with Padraig Kelly (free) and O'Sullivan trading points with Kevin Carey and Dunne (free). A magnificent score from Murphy pushed Paul Gannon's side ahead for the first time and when Dunne perfectly executed a free from his own 65-metre line Dunboyne looked comfortable. O'Sullivan settled Kiltale again and on 11 minutes looked to have netted as his shot trickled towards the line before Shane Moran averted the danger. That let-off for Dunboyne didn't last long as seconds later another mazy, probing run by O'Sullivan resulted in the talented attacker ghosting past Moran before rifling to the net for a 1-3 to 0-4 lead. Dunboyne were handed a lifeline a minute later when Niall Smyth's long punt forward was dropped by Shane McGann and Brian O'Hara got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble to put Dunboyne ahead again, 1-4 to 1-3. The flurry of scores kept coming as O'Sullivan restored parity, but in a blistering five-minute spell early in the second-quarter Dunboyne took a firm grip of proceedings. Michael O'Grady edged Dunboyne clear again before a Dunne free, from his own 65-metre line, was doubled on by Carey and the sliotar ended up in the net. Dunne added a point from a '65' as Dunboyne moved 2-6 to 1-4 clear nine minutes before half-time. However, they managed just one further point for the remainder of the game as Kiltale out-scored them by 1-9 to 0-1. TJ Lynch settled Kiltale with a brilliant score and then the goal that really gave Kiltale belief came on the stroke of half-time as James Weldon's weak shot was parried by Kane and Ian Douglas was on hand to tap in to leave Kiltale just 2-5 to 2-6 behind at the break. That lead was wiped out within 24 seconds of the restart when Brian Reilly pointed superbly. Two minutes later Dunboyne failed to clear Kelly's '65', awarded after Chris Kane had brilliantly stopped a goalbound O'Sullivan effort, and Daniel Treacy pointed to push Kiltale into the lead for the first time since the 11th minute. A great point from Kelly from his own 65-metre line put a bit of daylight between the sides and as the evening sun started to set behind the hospital end so did Dunboyne's possibilities of glory. Dunne narrowed the deficit to the minimum in the fourth-quarter, but the closing minutes belonged to Kiltale. O'Sullivan pointed after robbing Andy McWeeney before closing points from Kelly (two '65's), O'Sullivan and Garvey ensured it was Kiltale's day and Paddy Kelly concluded his time as Kiltale manager on a winning note before going to take over as Louth senior hurling boss. Before presenting the cup to captain Anthony Donnelly Hurling Committee chairman Francis Lynch reminded the small crowd that at his club's annual meeting last year Kiltale had promised him they would give him the chance to present a cup to the team. "I thought I wouldn't get a chance to present a cup to my own club this year despite the fact that they promised me I would. However, they came good today and I'm delighted to be able to give them this cup," said the chairman Lynch. "Both these clubs deserve to be here today because they have laid the foundations for the future with strong under-age structures. "Both Dunboyne and Kiltale have been contesting under-age finals for years and they meet again in a minor shield final next week, they must be sick of looking at each other. "However, they proved that if you start at the bottom and do things properly success will be achieved so fair play to both Kiltale and Dunboyne," concluded Lynch. After accepting the cup Kiltale captain Donnelly promised to keep his speech a lot shorter than the chairman's and kept his word as he dutifully thanked the selectors and opposition before leading a chorus of hip-hip hoorays and running off to lead a lap of honour. SCORERS Kiltale - M O'Sullivan 1-5; P Kelly 0-4, one free, two '65's; I Douglas 1-0; T J Lynch 0-1; B Reilly 0-1; D Treacy 0-1; P Garvey 0-1. Dunboyne - K Carey 1-1; M Dunne 0-4, two frees, one '65'; B O'Hara 1-0; M O'Grady 0-1; G Murphy 0-1. THE TEAMS Kiltale - S McGann; A Donnelly, S Carroll, T Mahady; TJ Lynch, W Mahady, M McCormack; P Kelly, I Douglas; M O'Sullivan, P Garvey, M Hennessy; J Weldon, B Reilly, D Treacy. Sub - D Smith for Hennessy 60 mins. Dunboyne - C Kane; A McWeeney, S Moran, D Dunne; F O'Neill, A Watters, M O'Connor; C O'Shea, G Murphy; N Smyth, M Dunne, M O'Grady; K Carey, C McKay, B O'Hara. Subs - K Moran for O'Hara 43 mins, M Finlay for O'Connor 48m. REFEREE Arthur Reilly (Boardsmill).