Back to back titles for Dungarvan Colleges.

Dungarvan Colleges (formally Colaiste na nDéise) have joined Saint Colman’s from Fermoy, Saint Flannan’s from Ennis. De La Salle from Waterford City and Ard Scoil Ris from Limerick City in putting back to back Dr Harty Cup titles together since the turn of the Millennium after they overcame the challenge of Our Lady’s from Templemore at Tipperary Town yesterday.

Underage hurling in Waterford is on a bit of an up in Waterford in recent years. In 2007 and 2008 De La Salle won both the Dr Harty Cup, between 2009 and 2011 Waterford appeared in successive Munster Minor Hurling Finals and during this time Blackwater Community School in Lismore, a relatively new school have only been opened in the last decade reached the semi finals of the Dr Harty Cup and now Dungarvan Colleges have won back to back Dr Harty Cup titles and Dungarvan C.B.S. one of two sides that make up Dungarvan Colleges have appeared in the last four Munster Senior ‘B’ Colleges hurling finals, winning the finals in 2010 and 2013.

People have different theories as to what has caused the steady growth in underage hurling in Waterford. Its possibly fair to say that there will not be an agreed viewpoint as to what the reason is, but for what its worth, my view is that’s its down to the standard of underage competitions within the county.

Over the past two years we have seen two of the best Minor ‘A’ County Finals played out with finals fitting conclusions to them. Saint Carthage’s (Lismore and Ballysaggart) beat De La Salle in the final at Walsh Park and twelve months later at Fraher Field, Dungarvan beat Saint Carthage’s in two absorbing finals.

To get the competitions that they are currently at has not happened over night. The all county competitions at minor level have played a massive part in the rise of hurling at this level in Waterford.

All County underage competitions in Waterford began in 1996 at under 14 level when Féile na Gael was staged in Waterford and the under 16 championship soon followed on as an all county competition after all could see the success of the under 14 championship going all county.

It was always on the cards that the minor championship would follow suit, the only surprising thing was for the length of time it took to happen, but since it has, it’s fair to say that few could argue with the move.

In recent years, there has been suggestions made that all competitions in the Déise County should be run on an all county basis, but there is a body of support there trying to ensure that this does not happen.

This latest success should show the benefits of playing all county competitions. In the past we had players playing three or four games before they got to play a county final if they were lucky enough to reach such a stage of a competition. Nowadays clubs are playing six or seven games before any knockout game in played. In the past if a club were to come up against a club perceived to be somewhat stronger than they were a walk over was given but nowadays because clubs are playing on a level playing field, Walkovers are a rare event.

This years Dungarvan Colleges side was seen by many as a stronger side that the one which won the competition twelve months ago. They were able to call upon 10 of the Dungarvan CBS team that won the Munster ‘B’ Colleges final a week previously, and seven of the side that won last years final.

The Templemore outfit were expected to provide stiffer opposition in this game than what Nenagh CBS served up at Cashel twelve months ago, but the Dungarvan mentors will be somewhat surprised at how easy their victory was achieved.

Played before an attendance in the region of 3,000 people, it was the eventual winners that got off the best star in this game as points from Darragh Lyons, Patrick Curran and Michael Harney with a single response coming from Tommy Nolan gave the West Waterford side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after just six minutes.

Tadhg Bourke put over a long range free on nine minutes to give his side a three point lead, but points from James Bergin, John McGrath and Dean McEnroe had the sides all square by the mid way point in the first half.

Dungarvan Colleges however were not long behind as points from Colin Dunford, Patrick Curran and Dunford again had them three points up once more.

Points from Colin O’Riordan and Christy Breathnach were exchanged to keep three between the sides with two minutes of the half remaining, but the Tipperary side put in a storming finish to the opening half hitting points from John McGrath (2) and Dylan Carey had the sides locked at eight points each at the end of the first half.

In the second thirty minutes, Dungarvan Colleges proved too strong for the Templemore outfit. Points from Christy Breathnach and Patrick Curran were registered before Colin Dunford set up Ryan Donnelly for the games first goal.

Points from John McGrath, Patrick Curran, Dylan Carey, Tadhg Bourke, Colin Dunford and Patrick Curran again were traded over the following minutes to give Dungarvan Colleges a 1-14 to 0-10 lead half way through the second half.

Dungarvan Colleges continued to dominate in the final quarter of the game. John McGrath and Patrick Curran swapped frees, before Ryan Donnelly and Patrick Curran hit points for Dungarvan Colleges to give them a nine point lead with as many minutes to play.

David Gartland who came in for Colin Dunford who retired on forty eight minutes with a shoulder injury found Ryan Donnelly with a good pass but the Dungarvan man was hooked while striking but at the second attempt he was able to put the ball past Guerins in the Templemore goals to extend the Dungarvan sides lead.

Patrick Curran hit his eight of the game before Laurence Power made a good save from McGrath but he was powerless to keep JJ Ryan’s effort out on the rebound, but the score was to put a mere shine on the score board as far as the Templemore outfit was concerned as Christy Breathnach, Tadhg Bourke and Cormac Curran hit late scores for the winners to help them to a 2-21 to 1-11 victory.

DUNGARVAN COLLEGES: Laurence Power (Abbeyside); Kealan Looby (Ballinameela), Brian Looby (Abbeyside), Michael Cronin (Ardmore); Tadhg Bourke (Clashmore), Kevin Daly (Dungarvan), Tom Devine (Modeligo); Cormac Curran (Brickeys), Michael Harney (Ballydurn); Christy Breathnach (An Rinn), Patrick Curran (Dungarvan), Seamus Keating (Ardmore); Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan), Colin Dunford (Colligan Emmets), Ryan Donnelly (Dungarvan). Subs: David Gartland (Ardmore) for Dunford (48), Jack Mullanney (Stradbally) for K Looby (59), Sean Daly (Abbeyside) for Donnelly (59).
Scorers: Patrick Curran 0-8 (5f), Ryan Donnelly 2-1, Colin Dunford, Christy Breathnach, Tom Bourke (3f) 0-3 each, Cormac Curran, Michael Harney & Darragh Lyons 0-1 each.

OUR LADY’S TEMPLEMORE: Sean Patrick Guerins (JK Brackens); Denis Brereton (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jason Ryan (Toomevara), James Bergin (JK Brackens); Padraig Hogan (Templederry), Brian Kennedy (JK Brackens), Michael Campion (Drom & Inch); John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens); Dean McEnroe (JK Brackens), Dylan Carey (Templederry), Tommy Maher (Loughmore-Castleiney); Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch), John Joe Ryan (Clonakenny), Jamie Bergin (Drom & Inch). Subs: Bill O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Jamie Bergin (51), Jack Fogarty (JK Brackens) for Brereton (55), Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch) for Maher (55), Tommy Brett (JK Brackens) for Carey (55).
Scorers: John McGrath 0-5 (4f), John Joe Ryan 1-0, Dylan Carey 0-2, Dean McEnroe, Tommy Nolan, Jamie Bergin & Colin O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Referee: Ger Hoey (Clare).