Last weekend Cusack Park, Ennis played host to the U21 A, B and C finals. The weekend's action provided much excitement for the spectators in what were three very closely fought matches. On Saturday, Shannon side Wolfe Tones claimed their first U21 B crown when they defeated Smith O'Briens from Killaloe in a great tussle. Sunday provided the main match of the weekend when Eire Og, Ennis upset the odds to defeat the holders, Sixmilebridge in a tense battle in the U21 A final. Lastly, the U21 C final followed the A final and here Ennistymon defeated the Sixmilebridge second string to bring the first ever U21 crown back to the North Clare club.

U21 A
Eire Og 0-15 v Sixmilebridge 1-11
Ennis hurling is on a high after this victory; their first at this level since 1977, and it was one they deserved after a great second half performance in which they worked well as a unit. This victory did not seem likely after the first quarter when Sixmilebridge raced into a 1-5 to no score lead with Declan Morey getting the Bridge goal and the holders winning their duels. However, with Kevin Moynihan on form at centre back the Townies held the holders to just a single point for the rest of the half. The Kevin Brennan led side clawed their way back into this tie with some fine frees from David O'Halloran and a smart score from the same player to leave them four points adrift at half time. The Townies narrowed this lead in the second half with David O'Halloran using his pace and skill to score a couple of excellent points. However Sixmilebridge just about stayed ahead with substitute Rory Shanahan and Declan Morey increasing their lead again. With ten minutes left Eire Og started to get

on top and took the lead for the first time in this match thanks to an O'Halloran free, this lead was quickly increased to two points when the same player pointed another free. The momentum seemed to be with Eire Og but then with two minutes left Sixmilebridge got a 30 metre free. Caimin Morey went for the goal and was only denied by an excellent save by Kevin Brennan. Morey was denied from the rebound after his powerfully struck shot looking destined for the net was somehow deflected over the bar by Eire Og corner forward Thomas Downes. The Bridge did have one last chance in the dying moments to tie the game but Morey's free from his own half went narrowly wide. One minute later it was all over and Cusack Park was invaded by a sea of red and white. While there is no getting away from Eire Og's brilliant performance it must be said that Sixmilebridge, bar the first fifteen minutes, did not reach the same heights of their previous outings but on this occasion Eire Og fully deserved their victory. Followers of the Ennis side will now hope that these bunch of players can help them get back up to Senior with the clinching of an Intermediate championship later on this year. They were best served by their captain Kevin Brennan, Cormac O'Regan, Cathal Whelan, Ciaran Russell, the excellent Kevin Moynihan, Noel Murphy, Thomas Downes and man of the match David O'Halloran. For a disappointed Sixmilebridge side Paidi Fitzpatrick, Shane Golden, Ger Quilligan, Trevor Purcell and, Declan and Caimin Morey tried hard.

Eire Og: Kevin Brennan, Kevin Hally, Cormac O'Regan, Ciaran Russell, Ciaran Hanna, Kevin Moynihan, Cathal Whelan, Noel Murphy, Dean Ryan (0-1), Graham Glynn, Brian Dolan, Colin Malone, Thomas Downes (0-1), Danny Russell, David O'Halloran (0-13, 8 frees 1 65).
Subs: Fiachra Connellan for Dolan, Aaron Fitzgerald for Malone.

Sixmilebridge: Stephen Fleming, Ger Quilligan, Eoin Quinn, Noel Purcell, Trevor Purcell, Paidi Fitzpatrick, Ray McNamara, Shane Golden (0-1), Christy Griffin (0-1), Caimin Morey (0-3, 1 free), Sam O'Sullivan (0-2, 1 free), Barry O'Connor, Kevin Lynch (0-1), Declan Morey (1-2), Ronan Mullane.
Subs: Rory Shanahan (0-1) for Mullane, Alan Mulready for Lynch, Lynch for Griffin.

U21 B Final
Wolfe Tones 2-11 v Smith O'Brien's 2-8
Hurling is on the up in Shannon after the Hanley brothers managed side won their first U21 B title on Saturday evening in Cusack Park. On their way to the final Wolfe Tones played four tough games on consecutive weekends where they showed great determination and a will to succeed. This determination was on display here again on Saturday where they brushed aside the challenge of Smith O'Briens by three points. Many people labelled Smith O'Brien's as the favourites but this was slightly hampered by an injury to their free taker and top scorer Liam "Goose" Walsh who had to have a cast taken off his arm to play in this one. This proved to be a bit of a hindrance for the Killaloe men as Walsh was unable to take frees and over the hour they tried three different free takers with mixed results. Smith O'Brien's will rue their missed chances particularly from frees. They got off to a dream start when full forward Eoin Ryan got the first score of the game when he goaled. It was during this period that the Killaoe side missed a few frees and Wolfe Tones seemed to find their range soon after with Daniel Gallery pointing two frees and corner forward Kevin McCafferty getting his sides first score from play. The Killaloe men responded with a point each from the Walsh brothers. The Tones grew in stature from here until the break scoring 1-4 without reply with the goal coming from the impressive Aaron Cunningham. The second half started with the Shannon men almost immediately winning a penalty after Cunningham was brought down. Up stepped Gary Leahy but he saw his effort stopped on the line. A minute later the ball was in the Killaloe sides after Cunningham hit a powerful effort into the far corner to give Mark Stritch no chance. Smith O'Brien's responded immediately after Liam Walsh's free dropped in around the Wolfe Tones square for his brother Kevin to flick it to the net. Daniel Gallery hit the score of the game soon after before Smith O'Brien's after missing a few frees found a new free taker in Michael Ryan who converted two placed balls. A point from Liam Walsh and two frees from Michael Ryan reduced the margin to a point and it seemed the momentum was with the East Clare men. However there was no denying Wolfe Tones and they increased their lead to two points again through a Gallery free before he added another point with the last attack of the game. Best for the champions were Stephen McInerney, Daniel Gallery, Darren Ryan, Russell Lagan, captain Sean Condron and Aaron Cunningham. Smith O'Brien's were best served by Pat Vaughan, Eoin Ryan, Aiden McKeogh, Liam Walsh and Michael Ryan.

Wolfe Tones: Paul Hogan, John Madigan, Joe McGauley, Gary Whelan, David Ryan, Stephen McInerney, Steven Simmonds, Sean Condron, Russell Lagan (0-1), John Guilfoyle, Daniel Gallery (0-7, 5 frees), Gary Leahy, Kevin McCafferty (0-1), Aidan McMahon, Aaron Cunningham (2-2).
Subs: Brian Williams for McMahon.

Smith O'Brien's: Mark Stritch, Kevin McEvoy, Mark McInerney, Noel Howard, Luke Hession, Brian McInerney, Aiden McKeogh, Pat Vaughan, Kevin Walsh (1-1, 1 free), Liam Walsh (0-2), Dean Sinnott (0-1), Keith Stritch, Mark O'Halloran, Eoin Ryan (1-0), Michael Ryan (0-4, 3 frees 1 65).

Subs: Cian Moloney for Sinnott.


U21 C Final
Ennistymon 1-9 v Sixmilebridge 0-10
Ennistymon created history on Sunday evening last with their first ever title at U21 grade. This victory is a testament to the great work being done back in Ennistymon over the last number of years. While hurling in other non-traditional hurling areas has died out, the flame was kept alight in the North Clare club and this is further proof that hurling is on the up back there. This match came just after Sixmilebridge relinquished their U21 A crown and although they were unlucky in both finals it was a great achievement all the same by them to be able contest two finals on the same day. Ennistymon made two changes before the throw in because of the unavailability of Enda Slattery and Joey Rouine, who were both away on school trips in Europe. The first half was evenly matched with neither team giving away too much. The North Claremen led at the break 0-6 to 0-4 with Cathal Malone in accurate form from frees. Sixmilebridge started the second half better with Seadhna Morey and Pa Sheehan scoring the points to reduce the Ennistymon lead but with Malone continuing to punish the Bridge from frees every time they committed a foul they held the upper hand. With Ennistymon leading by a point, and the Bridge starting to get on top, the North Clare club got exactly what they needed when substitute Michael Houlihan scrambled the ball to the net to put his team four points up. Credit to the Bridge who never gave in and when substitute Sean Lynch and Morey added points the margin was down to two to set up an exciting finish. However they could not get the goal they badly needed and while both sides had further chances in the last few minutes there was no denying Ennistymon. Overall this tie could have gone either way and in the end it was the goal that was the most important factor in deciding this game. Best for the new champions were Sean Driscoll, Aiden Slattery, Cathal and Tadgh Malone, and Michael McDonagh. For Sixmilebridge, John Fennessy, Barry Donnellan, Pa Sheehan, and Seadhna Morey did well.

Ennistymon: Cathal McDonagh, David Davenport, Enda Ralph, Daire Ralph, Aiden Slattery, Brian Houlihan, Sean Driscoll, Michael McDonagh, Darren Mullins (0-1), Cathal Malone (0-8, 8 frees), Dara Conneely, Tadgh Malone, Declan Sexton.
Subs: Liam Ganley for Sexton, Michael Houlihan (1-0) for Conneely.

Sixmilebridge: Pa Freeman, Jason Murphy, Seadhna Morey (0-4, 4 free's), Michael Reddan, John Fennessy, Barry Donnellan, Pa Sheehan (0-2), Eanna Burns, Darragh O'Connor (0-1), Barry Deasy (0-1, free), Robert McNamara, Ronan O'Shea (0-1), Paul Corbett.
Subs: Sean Lynch (0-1) for Deasy. Tweet

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