Raharney just hold on in thrilling final

GAA - Under 21 Hurling Final 2009The relatively small attendance in Lakepoint Park, St. Loman's on Sunday morning last were treated to a heartwarming game of hurling that lit up what was an absolutely miserable day. Played in almost darkness at one stage and through several torrential downpours, great credit is due to both teams for providing any sort of entertainment and indeed it was testament too to the St. Lomans sod that it weathered such a battering.From minute one to sixty this was a full blooded contest with no quarter asked or given but yet there was hardly a foul stroke pulled at all in the game and despite the horrendous conditions both teams tried to play hurling.In the end Raharney's greater team ethic and dynamic were just superior to a Clonkill side who were playing their second game in 48 hours and there is no doubt that it took its toll. Far too many missed frees, especially in the second half, were Clonkill's ultimate downfall and they will rue the myriad of chances they had but Raharney just dogged it out and when they did eventually lift the siege they made the most of their limited opportunities and held firm when threatened late on.Standing tallest in that rearguard action was full back Mark Conroy who was simply immense and he thwarted the Clonkill advance at every turn and led his defence superbly throughout. On the other side Eoin Price was outstanding for Clonkill and possibly did not deserve to be on the losing side but despite some brief cameos from some of his team mates it became a one man show and unfortunately the burden was far too much even for the broad and capable shoulders of county star, Price. Raharney showed all the qualities that make them such a good club and their sheer will to win carried them over the winning line for a memorable victory.The game was slow to start and indeed one must take in the elements that prevailed in that period. Driving rain and biting cold could not have helped the players yet they battled on manfully. Chris Flanagan got the first score of the game after 4 minutes with a fine long range effort but the wind was playing havoc and both teams struggled to cope with it.Several poor wides followed before Conrad Reilly levelled matters after great work by Price along the wing and Price should have put his side ahead shortly afterward but his effort drifted wide of the posts.From the puck out Raharney went on the attack and after a Chris Flanagan free dropped into the danger area Jimmy Greville was on hand. He aimed his shot goalward. Whether it was a goal effort only Jimmy will know but his shot dipped right under the cross bar and Raharney had a green flag raised.Mark Keegan missed a good chance for Clonkill afterward from a 21 yard free and Adam Sheils punished Clonkill for their paucity when he latched on to a great pass by Eoin O'Sullivan to add another point for Raharney. Conrad Reilly should have had a goal for Clonkill moments later but his shot was pulled right across the goal and just wide and the final act of the half came from Chris Flanagan who pointed a '65 to leave the half time score 1-3 to 0-1 in Raharney's favour at the break.ThreatenClonkill needed something early in the second half if they were to threaten and aided by the wind they went on the attack from the throw in but two Price efforts sailed well wide of the posts and one wondered would if it would be their day at all.However the game was turned on it's head on 35 minutes when Alan McGrath burst forward and found Price whose quick hand pass found Phillip Dowdall and the corner forward made no mistake despatching the ball to the net for a superbly crafted goal. Clonkill were completely on top now and looked as if they would power on but poor efforts from Price, McGrath, Keegan, when in on goal, and Mickey Heffernan let Raharney off the hook.It was Conrad Reilly who calmed the nerves when he struck a lovely point after a poor Raharney clearance and with just a point between the sides, and Clonkill in total control; it looked as if there could be only one winner. Dowdall had a glorious chance for a goal but he was denied by a last gasp clearance by Robert McKeogh and on the break Alan Giles was fouled and Flanagan pointed from at least 60 yards into the breeze to restore Raharneys two point advantage.That became three when Greville pointed from a 21 yard free after he had been fouled himself but Clonkill were not dead yet and Shane Power pointed after a long range effort from Price.McGrath almost narrowed matters but his huge effort went just wide but Price made up for his earlier aberrations when he scored a wonderful point on the run that left just the minimum between the sides. It looked all over a draw at this stage but another immense clearance from Conroy found its way to Greville and somehow the wily full forward managed to get a free out of nothing and when he struck the resultant placed ball over the bar it sealed Clonkills fate. The green and gold's battled manfully right to the death with at least two good chances but they found a brick wall in Conroy, Cormac Boyle and Robert McKeogh and the Deelsiders held on for a famous win that they just about deserved.Conroy was certainly Raharneys best player and just edges Price for Man of the Match while others to impress were McKeogh, Cormac Boyle, Alan Giles and Greville but it was the Raharney team ethic that won the day. Price was superb for Clonkill and one can even dismiss his placed ball misses in the conditions but apart from cameos by Conrad Reilly, McGrath and Niall Folan, Clonkill struggled as a unit and paid the ultimate penalty.After the game Willie McGrath presented the cup to Jimmy Greville, Raharney captain and the title was heading back to Deelside after a memorable game played in atrocious conditions.Special mention too to referee Declan Hogan who took the conditions into consideration and let the game flow as much as possible.Scorers: Raharney: Jimmy Greville 1-2, 2 frees, Chris Flanagan 0-3, 1 '65, 1 free, Adam Shiels 0-1. Clonkill: Phillip Dowdall 1-0, Conrad Reilly 0-2, Shane Power and Eoin Price 0-1 each.Raharney: Andrew Doyle, Mark Conroy, Robert McKeogh, Jack Kennedy, Alan Giles, Michael Boyle, Cormac Boyle, Chris Flanagan, Brian Duignan, Adam Shiels, Dan Riggs, Eoin O'Sullivan, Jimmy Greville. Subs: Wayne Fox for Duignan 27 mins.Clonkill: Lorcan Caffrey, Jimmy Fitzsimons, James McCormack, John Egan, Alan McGrath, Kelvin Reilly, Eoin Price, Niall Folan, Shane Power, Conrad Reilly, Micky Heffernan, Phillip Dowdall, Mark Keegan.Referee: Declan Hogan, St. Brigids.