Corn Uí Aonghusa Co. Post primary Schools Under 15 “B” Hurling Blitz
Scoil Ruáin narrowly miss out on place in final
Winning three of our four games in Group A was, unfortunately, not enough for Scoil Ruain to qualify for the final of the Hennessy Cup. Our opponents in our final game, Thurles C.B.S. “B”, who also won three of four games, advance to the final courtesy to a five point win over us.
It was decided to run this year’s Hennessy Cup on a blitz format to lessen disruption in schools in light of the Classroom Based Assessments which will soon be part of all Junior Cert subjects. There were 5 teams in group A and 4 in group B, the top team in each advancing to the final.
In our first game we scored a hard-earned win over local rivals, Presentation Ballingarry, on the score 3-01 to 1-03. Daire Luttrell and Jason Sinnott had first half goals for Scoil Ruáin and, despite a goal and a point from dangerous corner forward, Daithi Hogan, we held our nerve to win with a second half clinching goal from Luttrell. A number of missed chances in this game could have cost us dearly and wides from scorable chances became a trend that continued to torment us all day.
Our second game against Coláiste Dún Iascaigh was a nail-biting affair with nothing between the sides right through the game. Daire Luttrell contribution of 1-01 made up our first half return to which Colaiste replied with 3 points. Points from Luke Maqguire, Jamie Cashin and Eoin Byrne were all answered by Coláiste in the second half and the sides were deadlocked 1-04 to 0-07 with time almost up. Luttrell pounced for the decisive goal late on to keep us unbeaten.
We expected a tough battle from Borrisokane C.C. in our third game and so it proved. We led by a point at the interval courtesy of a goal for D.C. Hayes sandwiched between points for Eoin Byrne and Jamie Cashin to a goal and a point for Borrisokane. Byrne added a second point for us in the second period, but Borrisokane levelled the scoring with 2 points of their own. It took a late point from a coolly taken ’65 by centre back, Johnny Gleeson, to see us through by the narrowest margin, 1-04 to 1-03.
Our final game against Thurles C.B.S. “B” was a close affair until well into the second half. Thurles full forward scored a goal and a point early on to add to a point from the centre forward to which we replied with points from Daire (2) and Luke Maguire. Missed chances at the start of the second half would cost us dearly at the end. Thurles scored their second goal quickly followed by a point when our corner back, Jack Healy, was down injured. Late scores from Nathan Barrett and Daire Luttrell were not enough to peg back the Thurles advantage.
While we won three games, we never hurled with the fluency with which we think we are capable. All players tried their heart out and can hold their heads high. We will need to improve considerably to make an impact in the Munster championship after Christmas.
Panel: Jack Cashin (Killenaule); Colin Kinane (Mullinahone); Michael Corcoran (Ballingarry); Jack Healy (Killenaule); Gerard McGrath (Moyle Rovers); David Lanigan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); Felix Quinn (Killenaule); Jack Sheehan (Mullinahone); Oisín Shelly (Killenaule); Johnny Gleeson (Killenaule); Luke Doheny (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); Oisín Lyons (Killenaule); Luke Fitzgerald (Killenaule); Luke Maguire (Grangemockler-Ballyneale); Ché Delaney-Scott (Mullinahone); Sean Ivers (Killenaule); Jamie Cashin (Mullinahone); ; Nathan Barrett (Killenaule); Kyle Colville (Naomh Pádraig); Eoin Byrne (Killenaule); Eoin Fitzgerald (Naomh Pádraig); D.C.Hayes (Moyle Rovers) ; Daire Luttrell (Moyle Rovers); Jason Sinnott (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); Luke Vaughan (Mullinahone); Cathal Linane (Ballingarry) ; Conor Quigley (Killenaule); Aaron O’Shea (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); Fionn Fitzgerald (Killenaule); Brandon Ryan-Webster (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); Finn Nolan (Killenaule); Cillian O’Halloran (Moyle Rovers); Darragh Linane (Ballingarry).
