Geary impresses as classy Gaels power past Delvin
Southern Gaels 2-12 Delvin 1-7
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Southern Gaels captain Paul Hogan is presented with the trophy by County Board chair Frank Mescall.Image 2 of 6
Delvin's Enda Newman gets a shot away as Southern Gaels' Diarmaid Murtagh attempts a block.Image 3 of 6
Southern Gaels' Johnny Martin with Delvin's Luke Fenlon in pursuit.Image 4 of 6
Delvin's Steven Cassidy and Dean Burns of Southern Gaels battle for the ball.Image 5 of 6
Cillian Geary of Southern Gaels tries to control the ball amid the wet conditions during last Sunday’s U20 hurling final in Delvin. Photos: John McCauley.Image 6 of 6
The Delvin U20 team that contested the Division 2 final.By Connla McCarthy
A dominant second-half display secured the U20 Division 2 hurling title for Southern Gaels in Delvin on Sunday morning.
A one-point interval lead ended up as an eight-point victory for the Athlone men on a watery surface in Delvin as they toppled the hosts after an even first half.
The game turned in the Gaels' favour thanks to a fortuitous goal at the start of the second half, which gave them the momentum needed to push on to win.
The teams produced their opening scores by the sixth minute. Jack Forde scooped up a loose ball to convert for Delvin, while Southern Gaels' Johnny Martin, assisted by Cian Geary, powered past two defenders with the sliotar on his hurl to point.
The hosts then enjoyed their most devastating spell, scoring three points in three minutes; Luke Coll’s 50-metre free, Steven Cassidy’s skilful score and Jack Forde’s monster point ensured a three point lead for Delvin by the 10th minute.
Southern Gaels replied in clinical fashion. After Cillian Geary pointed on 11 minutes, Cian Geary sent the ball into his full-forward line. Ruairí Ó Duibhir came out of the ruck with the ball and fired in the opening goal of the game on 14 minutes.
Points from Johnny Martin from play and Cian Geary from a ’65 put the Gaels in a commanding position after 20 minutes.
Another 50-metre free from Luke Coll and Steven Cassidy’s gift from an opposition puck-out left the Athlone men with a narrow 1-4 to 0-6 half-time advantage.
The second-half scoring resumed in unexpected fashion two minutes in, as Cillian Geary’s free for Southern Gaels from around 30 metres out ended up in the back of the Delvin net via the crossbar despite the best efforts of Keelin McKeogh. All who saw it were perplexed, but for the Athlone men it was the momentum they craved.
From there the visitors were in command of the contest. Cillian Geary sent over points from a free and from play, while Cian Geary planted not one but two monster scores before Oisin Kelly’s free was the lone response in the 16th minute.
Ciaran Morgan got on the scoresheet for the Gaels before the match ended, while Cian Geary would finish on a sideline cut and a third fantastic score from distance.
Ciaran Morgan bundled in Delvin’s goal six minutes from full-time to deny the visitors a clean sheet, but by that point the victory was held firmly by Southern Gaels who saw out the match.
Man of the match: Cian Geary (Southern Gaels). The dominant centre-back gave some delightful passes into the full-forward line. He worked hard off the ball too, but his performance will be best remembered for his incredible points from distance, along with a Joe Canning-esque sideline cut.
Scorers - Southern Gaels: Cillian Geary 1-3 (1-1 frees), Cian Geary 0-5 (1 sideline, 1 ’65), R Ó Duibhir 1-0, J Martin 0-2, E Hardiman and C Morgan 0-1 each. Delvin: L Delaney 1-0, J Forde, S Cassidy and L Coll (2f) 0-2 each, O Kelly 0-1 (1f).
Southern Gaels: Conn O’Hara; Dara Shortall, Paul Hogan, Anthony Mannion; Luke O’Connell, Cian Geary, Diarmaid Murtagh; Seán O’Donoghue, Dean Burns; Ruairí Ó Duibhir, Eoin Hardiman, Paidí Ó Leocháin; Cillian Geary, Johnny Martin, Seán O’Neill. Subs: Ciaran Morgan for L O’Connell (37), Brian Gill for S O’Neill (45).
Delvin: Aaron Sheeran Murtagh; Kyle Flynn, Oisin Kelly, Keelin McKeogh; Luke Fenlon, Sean Hoctor, Karl McCormack; Jack Forde, Sebastian McPherson; Simon Greville, Steven Cassidy, Luke Coll; Enda Newman, Jack Smith, Darragh Mangan. Subs: Marcus Delaney for D Mangan (39), Luke Delaney for J Smith (54), Ciaran Coyne for K Flynn (60).
Referee: Rob Cornally.
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