DUNGARVAN UNDER 15 HURLERS ARE REGIONAL FEILE DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONS
GROUPED with teams from Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly, Carlow, Dublin and Kerry, Dungarvan made the trip to Castlecomer in Kilkenny last Saturday to participate in one of the seven Regional competitions around the Country as Division 2 champions of Waterford.
The town club played three Group games and in finishing second to Oulart the Ballagh from Wexford, qualified for the Cup semi final against Dublin side Ballinteer St. Johns.
GROUP GAMES
Dungarvan2-5 Bennettsbridge 1-4.
The teams were level at half time on a score of 1-2 to 0-5. Eoin Walpole from Bennettbridge opened the scoring but Ryan McGovern put Dungarvan into the lead with two fine scores from play.
Pierce Quann, then had two points either side of a second Bennettsbridge score by Jamie Walsh but the Waterford champions were back on their heels shortly after when the same player found the net. Just before half time Pierce Quann struck his third point to level proceedings.
Bennetts bridge stretched their lead further after the break with a brace of pointed frees by Eoin Walpole, 1-4 to 0-5 but the Blues shot into the lead shortly after when Cormac Silke found the net from close range. Just before the finish, Rian O Sullivan placed Charlie Crotty for a second goal to ensure a winning start to the day.
Dungarvan 1-6 Ballinamere/ Durrow (Offaly) 1-1
Dungarvan made it two wins out of two with a 0-5 victory over the Offaly champions. Pierce Quann opened the scoring with 0-2(1f) but their opponents took the lead with a goal from a long range free by Ciaran Clavin.
Dungarvan had the opportunity to score a goal themselves when Cormac Silke was fouled in front of goal but Ryan McGovern’s penalty shot went agonisingly wide of the posts.
The winners gradually got on top during the second half with Pierce Quann, 0-2(1f) and Ryan McGovern working the scoreboard before Ballinamere/Durrow got their only score of the half per Luke McRedmond, 0-5 to 1-1.
The goal Dungarvan so badly required came from a Daniel Healy batted effort to open some daylight between the teams and Pierce Quann finished off the scoring with his fifth point of the game.
Oulart the Ballagh 2-8 Dungarvan 0-0.
The Wexford champions proved too strong for Dungarvan in their final league game to determine who would top the group. With both teams already qualified for the semis, the Blues rested some players in this energy sapping day of hurling. The winners got a goal at the very outset by Rhys Wickham and Dungarvan trailed at the break by 2-3 to 0-0 after a a second Wexford goal by Martin Dempsey.
The winners added five more points from five different players in the second half to confirm their ranking as the best team in the group.
CUP SEMI FINAL
Dungarvan 3-6 Ballinteer St. Johns 3-2.
Pierce Quann and Charlie Crotty opened the scoring from play for Dungarvan but two goals just before half time by Conor Fitzgerald and Conor Mac Eachain left Ballinteer St. Johns ahead by 2-1 to 0-4 at the break.
Playing with the strong breeze in the second half, Dungarvan placed Pierce Quann at full forward and two goals quickly followed, one by Quann and the other by Oisin Byrne who really impressed in the semi final and final stages.
Byrne added a point before Ballinteer were handed a lifeline late on when David O Meara scored the Dublin side’s third goal to level the game at 3-2 to 2-5. Dungarvan weren’t going to leave a place in the final behind them and a second point by Oisin Byrne was followed in a dramatic finish by a second goal by Pierce Quann and Dungarvan’s third.
CUP FINAL
DUNGARVAN 1-3 OULART THE BALLAGH 0-4.
Having been beaten by 0-14 by the Wexford team in the Group stages, Dungarvan won the sports psychology ahead of the decider with Oulart the Ballagh who were expecting to win while the Dungarvan mentors had their charges biting at the bit to reverse the earlier result.
Oulart the Ballagh started with the same intent as earlier but on this occasion they met a stubborn opposition playing into the wind and scores were hard to come by.
In a tough battle the stronger physically Wexford team scored first from a Josh Sinnott free while Pierce Quann replied similarly three minutes later. In a half of all pointed frees, Sinnott put the favourites in front again and Martin Dempsey made it 0-3 to 0-1 before Pierce Quann reduced the deficit to the minimum at half time.
Dungarvan were improving as the game progressed and their intent on winning this time round was clear in their intensity and not leaving an up to this free scoring combination build up a lead. The Blues proved to be the better hurling side and despite three early second half wides, the key score arrived when Jacob Dalton struck the only goal of the game.
The Wexford side threw everything in to attack including their dominating full back Feidhlim Proctor Laird and Carter Tohill left just 0-1 between the teams with a fine score from play nearing the final whistle.
Dungarvan attacked one again and a pointed free by Pierce Quann gave the Blues that most dangerous of leads, 0-2. In one final throw of the dice, Oulart the Ballagh’s top player Ryhs Wickam tried to work a goal but the Dungarvan defence held firm as the final whistle sounded.
Dungarvan paced themselves well over the five games, playing their best hurling in the semi final and final. Even if they had not come out on top, their attitude workrate and perseverance in these games would have been ample compensation.
There were a number of young players on the Blues side and they all stood up well when introduced during the games. Calum Fitzgerald was a competent goalie and of the players on the age, Daniel Healy was the best full back in the competition, team captain Ryan McGovern was a thorn throughout in opponents’defences with his searching runs and Pierce Quann kept the scoreboard ticking all day. Rian Sullivan, Charlie Crotty, Louis Simms, Corey Lyons, Oisin Byrne and Jacob Dalton got through a huge amount of grafting while Darragh Walsh, Aaron Dillon, Stefan Clifford, Joey Morrissey, Cormac Silke, Jamie Connolly, Michael Perlak, Jake Wall and Jack Prendergast King all performed at a level higher than their young age.
Team mentors on the winning team in Kilkenny were Bobby Lyons, Lee Healy Deglan O Hartaigh and Ivan Fitzgerald who paced the efforts of their charges to perfection. The many supporters also played their part in a very successful day for the local club in the Kilkenny venue.
PRESENTATION
The winning trophy was presented to the Dungarvan captain, Ryan McGovern by the Competition coordinator in Castlecomer, Paddy Murphy.
DUNGARVAN FEILE PANEL 2023 Darragh Walsh, Daniel Healy, Arron Dillon, Rian Sullivan, Stephan Clifford, Corey Lyons, Jacob Dalton, Pierce Quann, Oisin Byrne, Ryan McGovern, Jack Mulcaire, Lewis Simms, Charlie Crotty, Joey Morrissey, Cormac Silke, Jamie Connolly, Calum Fitzgerald, Jake Wall, Michae3l Perlak, Jack Prendergast King, Oisin Hallahan, Ronan Gleeson, Rian Hallahan.
