YOUNG IRELANDS COME OF AGE IN TITANIC BATTLE TO QUALIFY FOR COUNTY FINAL

Date

Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Young Irelands Gowran 0-20
Danesfort 0-18

It was a day when Young Irelands Gowran came of age against a highly experienced Danesfort in a titanic battle in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.
Key components to Young Irelands victory was the strength of character, guts, heart and determination particularly throughout those final 10 minutes when the game was in the melting pot, along with a strong defensive effort in the second-half where they only conceded 0-4 in total was massive as Danesfort’s dominance in midfield was curtailed.

In a free flowing wide open first-half, Danesfort led 0-14 to 0-11 at half-time and they should have been much further ahead as they shot 12 wides in contrast to just three for Young Irelands.
They were totally dominant in midfield during that opening-half with Anthony Ireland Wall and Cathal Kearney scoring 0-3 from play, while Richie Hogan once again operating as a third midfielder was a much more influentiual figure in general play.

The game was played at a fast and furious pace with almost a score a minute, as the teams were level at 0-6 each after just 13 minutes.

The outstanding Ted Drea was on fire with 0-5 from play, and he had already notched 0-3 from play during that opening quarter as Seamus Farrell, Sean Carey and Killian Carey were also on target.

Danesfort’s tally during that opening spell came from Anthony Ireland Wall (2), Richie and Paddy Hogan(both frees), Paddy Hickey and Cathal Kearney.

Further points from Anthony Ireland Wall and Cathal Kearney put Danesfort two points up (0-8 to 0-6) at the midway point of the first-half, and by the 22nd minute pointed frees from Paddy and Richie Hogan(2) stretched their lead. 0-11 to 0-8.

Danesfort maintained their three point lead at the interval (0-14 to 0-11) as the outstanding Des Dunne landed a magnificent long range point, while further points came from Richie Hogan (free) and Cathal Kearney to complete their opening-half tally.

Sean Carey was on target three times (twice from placed balls) throughout that opening-half, as further points came from Seamus Farrell, Ted Drea and Jake Byrne to trail by three points at the interval.
Young Irelands began to dominate possession after half-time, and another point by Ted Drea just 42 seconds into the restart narrowed the deficit, before a brace of frees in quick succession by Sean Carey in the 35th and 36th minutes brought them level. 0-14 each.

As mentioned, central to Young Irelands second-half performance was their strong defensive effort led by the excellent Michael Carey as they only conceded 0-4 in total.

They shot 11 wides in the second-half which was a clear indication of their dominance and possession after half-time, with 6 of those wides coming in the opening 10 minutes of the second-half.

However, they took the lead in the 41st minute with a point from play by Sean Carey, and that was followed 30 seconds later by Padraig Naddy with a superb effort. 0-16 to 0-14.

Danesfort got off the mark for the second-half with a point from play by Paddy Hickey in the 42nd minute, and a brace of points by Richie Hogan put them back in front entering the final quarter. 0-17 to 0-16.

Jim Conlon replied with a magnificent point from play in the 46th minute to level proceedings (0-17 each), before Danesfort replied with a pointed free from Richie Hogan in the 49th minute to regain their lead (0-18 to 0-17). It was their final score of the game.

The outstanding Sean Carey levelled proceedings once again with a point from play in the 52nd minute, before he put the Gowran men in front with another effort from play a minute later. 0-19 to 0-18.

It was a frantic stuff throughout those closing minutes, and Young Irelands still led by a point entering the final minute of injury-time(0-19 to 0-18).

Paddy Hogan stepped up to a long distance free in an attempt to bring Danesfort level, but his effort just went fractionally wide of goal.

It was nail biting and nerve racking, and Young Irelands were just so determined to hang on.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Young Irelands created one final attack as a long delivery upfield by Michael Carey found his brother Sean who was fouled, and Sean duly obliged as he dispatched the sliothar between the uprights to put the Gowran men two points up.

Moments later, the final whistle sounded much to the delight of the Young Irelands contingent as they had qualified for a County Final following a heroic effort.

They displayed a spirit and determination during the second-half that they weren’t going to be denied, and their workrate in ensuring that Danesfort weren’t going to get the space and freedom afforded to them in the first-half was decisive.

Young Irelands started to gain supremacy around the middle third area with Padraig Naddy hugely influential during that second-half, while the introduction of Diarmuid Langton in the final quarter provided a fresh impetus in helping get them over the finishing line.

Kudos also to the two Minors Jim Conlon and Jake Byrne who played their part in scoring a point each, as both players were starting their first knockout game with the Intermediates and in such a pressurised environment.

Young Irelands will now play Lisdowney in a repeat of the League Final on Sunday 20th October, after Lisdowney held out to win by a solitary point against Mooncoin. 2-16 to 1-18.

Young Irelands sole Intermediate County Final triumph was in 1992 against Conahy Shamrocks, and it’s 20 years since the adult first team qualified for a County Final when the seniors reached the decider against James Stephens.

Congratulations to the Young Irelands players and management on a superb victory, and very best wishes to them in their preparations ahead of the County Final in two weeks time.

SCORERS
Young Irelands: Sean Carey 0-9(0-5 frees), Ted Drea 0-5, Seamus Farrell 0-2, Killian Carey, Jake Byrne, Jim Conlon & Padraig Naddy 0-1 each
Danesfort: Richie Hogan 0-7(0-6 frees), Cathal Kearney & Anthony Ireland Wall 0-3 each, Paddy Hogan (frees) & Paddy Hogan 0-2 each, Des Dunne 0-1

Young Irelands – Jason Brennan, Geoff Brennan, Bobbie Brennan, Sean Farrell, Michael Walsh, Michael Carey (Captain), Paddy Langton, Jim Conlon, Padraig Naddy, Jake Byrne, Seamus Farrell , Padraig O’Neill, Sean Carey, Ted Drea, Killian Carey,
Subs: Jack Brennan, Diarmuid Langton, Pat Farrell, Tommy Phelan

Danesfort: Paddy Hogan, Darren Booth, Diarmuid Phelan (Captain), Daire O’Neill, Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Darragh Coverdale, Cathal Kearney, Anthony Ireland Wall, Brian McDonald, Paddy Hickey, Cathal O’Neill, Richie Hogan, Robbie Walsh, Colm Phelan,
Subs: Eanna Ni Cassaide, Jake Cullen, Padraig Mullan

Referee: Michael O’Sullivan

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