South Leinster Hurling final
Abbey CC Ferrybank 1-17
Carnew CBS 2-13
Wexford COE
Eoin Horkan
In what was a thrilling final in Wexford midday Tuesday it was the Kilkenny side that came away with a one point victory.
In what was a high scoring game, it was Carnew’s Ryan Doran who had his side two points up early on. The game was level moments later as Harry Flanagan fired over from long range his captain Rian McDonald leveled the scoring with an free from range. It was the Wicklow side who grabbed the early momentum as Doran managed to raise a green flag very early in this tie. The opposition battled back and had the final level inside ten minutes as Aaron Cass, Conor Haley and Mark Flanagan raised white flags.
The first quarter was turning into the Doran show as the Wexford man managed to send his side into the lead again with a double one from a dead ball before adding another from play.The Kilkenny side managed to wrestle back the momentum led by the Flanagan brothers in the middle. A double from Haley along with a fine long range effort from Conor Walsh had his side up by the minimum with ten to go in the half.
In this enthralling final Doran was firing over at ease adding two more to his tally along with a sublime effort from Colin Lawrence. In between this Abbey hit a mini purple patch as Liam Egan, Haley and Jack Hearney had the side ahead just before the break.
Just on the half time whistle Carnew took the lead as captain Jack Sheridan managed to get his hurl to the ball to grab his sides second goal of the game.
In the opening minutes of the second half both full forwards had a shoot out with Doran beating Jack Doyle as his frees were helping his side. The scores were coming from different players for Ferrybank; they took control of the game inside ten minutes. This patch started with Hearne adding two to his tally before Doyle spit the posts from range. The game changed when Liam Egan managed to get his hurl on the ball to fire in and giving his side the lead. The middle part of this final was quiet as both teams found it difficult to trouble the scoreboard . The only scores came from Doran and Haley.
The final eleven minutes belonged to the Wicklow boys as Lawrence and Doran had the gap down to one with four left on the clock.
A final effort from Haley had the Kilkenny crowd roaring as the two points looked like it would be enough. A Doran free had put the minimum between the sides. In the final play of the game,the ball was played out by an Abbey defender resulting in the final whistle. Then the ref realised that the umpire had awarded a sixty-five. Unfortunately for Carnew Doran missed it which would have sent the game to extra time.
Abbey CC Ferrybank:Jake O’Doherty;Craig McGovern,Daniel Connolly,Conor Walsh(0-1);Rory Foot,Rian McDonald(0-1f),Sean McDonald;Harry Flanagan(0-1),Mark Flanagan(0-1);Jack Hearne(0-3 2fs),Conor Haley(0-6 1f),Aaron Cass;(0-1)Tommy O’Connor,Jack Doyle(0-2),Liam Egan(1-1).
Subs Used:Jacob Richards for Craig McGovern,David Phelan for Tommy O’Connor.
Carnew:Ross Weld;Nicky Cosgrove,Eoin Tomkins,Conor Faulkner;Rory Dee,Daniel Duffy,Bobby Cosgrove;Rian Buttle,Rian Rooney;Pearse Byrne,Jim O’Bien,Colin Lawence(0-2);Jack Sheridan(1-0),Ryan Doran(1-10),Tom Brennan.
Subs Used:Marc O’Shea for Pearse Byrne,Nicky Ryan for Jim O’Brien.
Referee: Jimmy Heavey
