Clan na Gael edge U17 hurling league after pulsating contest

Westmeath U17 Division 1 hurling league final: Clan na Gael 1-12, Na Piarsaigh 1-11

Castlepollard was the venue, where on Monday evening last, May 30, Clan na Gael (Castlepollard/Brownstown) edged out Na Piarsaigh (Lough Lene Gaels/Turin) in the final of the 2022 U17 Westmeath hurling league, writes David Kelly.

As regards general play, one statistic stands out: namely 17 wides for Clan na Gael, as opposed to just two wides for Na Piarsaigh. At half time, the lead favoured Na Piarsaigh by a margin of two points.

A superb third quarter from Clan na Gael enabled them to hold the match lead by a margin of five points early in the closing quarter of play. Na Piarsaigh, with a goal from a placed ball, came back into contention early in the closing quarter of play.

Clan na Gael though held their collective nerve, winning this final by the minimum margin.

It was Na Piarsaigh who opened match scoring, Alex Little pointing a 70-metre free. Na Piarsaigh doubled their lead when Alex Little slotted over a point from a 60-metre free. Sean Mulvaney then fired wide for Clan na Gael with a well struck point scoring attempt.

Another point came from Na Piarsaigh when Little pointed yet another free, this time from a distance of 50 metres.

Conor Leech of Na Piarsaigh then notched the opening point from open play of this fixture, leaving his team four points clear. Clan na Gael then hit their opening point with Conor Sheridan converting a free.

Alex Little (a free) pointed in response for Na Piarsaigh, with Eoin Kennedy of Clan na Gael in turn pointing for his team. Craig Neville then hit over the sixth Na Piarsaigh point. Clan though closed out first half with a point each from Brian Gilchrist and Shane Henry.

At half time, Na Piarsaigh led 0-6 to 0-4.

A point each from Eoin Kennedy and Sean Mulvaney brought Clan na Gael to level terms in early second half match action. Na Piarsaigh then in turn regained the lead with an Alex Little point from open play, only for Clan na Gael in turn to quickly level up matters with a Conor Sheridan point.

Three wides then followed from Clan na Gael, who then went ahead for the first time with a pointed free from Eoin Kennedy. Clan then scored a goal out of the blue. The ball was played into the Na Piarsaigh goalmouth by Jason Dolan, and then took a deflection before rolling into the net. Three points clear, Clan na Gael then moved four ahead after Conor Sheridan pointed.

Na Piarsaigh replied with an Alex Little point (free), before quickly attacking again, winning a close-range free. Freetaker Little rifled the ball to the roof of the Clan na Gael net, leaving a one-point margin dividing the teams.

Clan na Gael’s Eoin Kennedy was the next scorer when he pointed a free, which had followed on from the teams hitting a wide each. Then back came Na Piarsaigh, Alex Little (a free) striking a point, only for Clan na Gael to then surge three points ahead, with Cody Ward and Eoin Kennedy (a free) scoring a point apiece.

Na Piarsaigh responded with two Alex Little frees, to leave yet again a single point separating the teams. Clan na Gael though ran out match winners, with the time running out all too quickly for Na Piarsaigh.

At full time, John Donoghue, on behalf of Westmeath GAA’s minor board, presented the U17 hurling league shield to Clan na Gael team captain Jessey Ward.

Scorers – Clan na Gael: E Kennedy 0-5 (3f), J Dolan 1-0, C Sheridan 0-3 (2f), S Henry, B Gilchrist, S Mulvaney and C Ward 0-1 each. Na Piarsaigh: A Little 1-9 (1-7f, 0-1 ‘65’), C Leech and C Neville 0-1 each.

Clan na Gael: Sean Óg Murray; Rory Carolan, Ben Murphy, Darragh Reilly; Shane Henry, Brian Gilchrist, Mark Lancaster; Conor Sheridan, Tiernan Purcell; Ciaran English, Jessey Ward, Louie Kiernan; Jason Dolan, Eoin Kennedy, Callum Briody. Subs: Sean Mulvaney for Briody, Cody Ward for J Ward, Setanta Gavigan for Lancaster (inj.).

Na Piarsaigh: Cathal Óg Fagan; Cian O’Neill, Alex Mills, Evan Murray; Jack Dowling, Daniel Hogan, Lee Cribben; Alex Little, Oisín L’Estrange; Ryan Williams, Craig Neville, Conor Leech; Aidan Isdell, Daragh Smith, Keelan Heffernan. Sub: Josh L’Estrange for Isdell.

Ref: Caymon Flynn (St Brigid’s).

Player of the match: Brian Gilchrist (Clan na Gael).