Heartbreak for Saint Declan’s in All-Ireland Final

How many times have you heard someone refer to a game as one ‘of two halves’?

The recent All-Ireland Senior Colleges C Hurling final was certainly one such occasion.

At Netwatch Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow on Saturday evening last a strong breeze blew, with Saint Declan’s Community School from Kilmacthomas having first use of it at their backs. They retired at the break holding a 0-11 to 0-4 advantage, but failing to score in the second half, even if they did create chances was to cost them, as the Tipperary College side who play in Leinster Competitions hit 1-9 with the wind at their backs.  

It was the Kilmacthomas side that made all the early running, racing into an 0-6 to 0-0 lead with just eleven minutes on the clock.

Portlaw’s Jamie Murphy in those opening minutes proved to be ‘on fire’, hitting four of his side first half dozen scores all from placed balls, three from frees and one from a ’65, with Ballyduff Lowers Cormac Dunphy’s and Portlaw’s Craig Fraher also finding the range from open play.

Three minutes in as many minutes helped Cistercian College Roscrea back into contention and in they end they proved to be invaluable.

Alan Tynan opened his sides account on seventeen minutes. Ross Lennon added his sides second score moments later and Tynan made it 0-6 to 0-3 with ten minutes of the first half remaining.

It was the Kilmacthomas based side that finished the half the stronger as Jamie Murphy put over a hat-trick of points to add to what he had already scored earlier while Cormac Dunphy hit his second of the afternoon and John Kennedy also got on the score sheet with the North Tipperary’s side solidary response coming from Jack Canning who converted a ’65 to leave his side trailing by seven at the break.

When a strong breeze blows at a game, the conversation at the break often centres round as to whether the side that had first use of it had done enough.

The Kilmacthomas side came out for the second half looking sharp. Jack Kennedy had a good chance early in the half to rattle the Roscrea net, but his shot into the ground was comfortably dealt with by Michael Milne.

Martin Phelan opened the second half scoring with a point three minutes after the restart and was followed with an effort from Jack Canning, a nephew of Galway star – Joe.

Five minutes after the restart Ciaran Kirwan had another chance for a Kilmacthomas score but his shot was blocked down and quickly worked down field and Alan Tynan gathered a long Ben Hyland pass and he slipped the ball past Ryan Murray in the Kilmacthomas goal to leave just two between the sides.

The Kilmacthomas side continued to press. Craig Fraher saw another goal chance flash past the post. Hindsight is always a great thing, but maybe if the missed goal chances resulted in definite points, the result may be different. Ciaran Kirwan would also see a goal chance go just wide of the target.

Canning pulled the North Tipperary outfit to within one of the Kilmacthomas side and Daniel Treacy pulled the sides level.

Roscrea through a Alan Tynan free eleven minutes from time went in front for the first time and failed to relinquish the lead.

Further points from Jack Canning from a free, Martin Phelan and Finbar Crowley followed to give the Roscrea side a four point lead, one which went to five with the last puck of the game when Alan Tynan found the range.

Kilmacthomas will be disappointed that they did not win the game. They will know that they had chances which did not yield scores. However hindsight as already pointed out is always a great thing.

The Saint Declan’s lads however can take solace in the fact that only two teams can reach an All-Ireland Final at any great. In getting out of Munster which is always a difficult competition to win, and in putting in a great performance in their semi final win and again here, they have done themselves, their school, their club and the county proud. In getting to the final they will have developed as hurlers which is one of the primary purposes of such competitions.

St. Declan’s: R Murray; N O’Brien, C Tyrell, B Power; C Dalton, C Lyons, D Reade; C Dunphy, E Casey;  J Scanlon, C Kirwan, J Murphy; E Bray, J Kennedy, C Fraher. Subs: K Cheasty for J Murphy, R Coffey-O’Shea for C Fraher.

Scorers: J Murphy 0-7 (5f, 1 ’65), C Dunphy 0-2, C Fraher, J Kennedy 0-1 each.

Roscrea: M Milne; J Cummins, A Browne, C Kinsella; R Ryan, B Hyland, S Meagher; M Phelan, L Quigley; R Lennon, J Canning, P Smyth; J Kavanagh, A Tynan, T Devine. Subs: D Treacy for L Quigley, A Hartnett for R Lennon, F Crowley for T Devine.

Scorers: A Tynan 1-4 (0-2f), J Canning 0-4 (2f, 1 ’65), M Phelan 0-2, R Lennon, D Treacy, F Crowley 0-1 each.

Referee: P Murphy (Carlow)