Youghal 2-14 Charleville 0-17 A collective sense of Déjà vu hit all those who made their way out the Tallow Road on Saturday, 22nd of October last. No need for the aid of Google Maps this time; the journey memorised from the week previous. The winner of the Rebel Óg Division 1 Minor County Hurling Championship had to be decided this time round, with extra-time and maybe even penalties on the cards if the teams ended in deadlock. Youghal, who made the hopeful trip to north Cork once more; had the belief that they could finish the job they set out on the previous Saturday. The venue (Kildorrery) was the same. The opponents (Charleville) were the same. The weather (changeable) was the same-ish. The objective (to come back down the road as county champions) was the same. Charleville though, were not sent the Youghal memo and they had other plans. The young men from the Limerick border started much brighter and the sharp-shooting of the DJ Collins & Gareth Gleeson in the inside forward line had them 8 points to 2 ahead after 20 minutes. It could have been even more, were it not for the heroics of Bobby Nicholson & Oisin Walsh in the Youghal rear-guard. The Youghal nerves eventually settled through a James Murray pointed free on the 20th minute and then they got the wind into their sails when Dylan Lyons pulled first time and found the net, after an Oisin Walsh long range free that dropped into the danger zone. Another free from Murray and a Jayden Casey point pulled the Youghal boys level at the short whistle, 1-5 to 0-8. At the turn for the second half; it was Youghal who came out of the blocks faster; they had a goal and three points to Charleville’s one point in the first 10 minutes, Jayden Casey finishing superbly to the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 20 yards out seemed to put them in the ascendancy. Charelville, to their credit, dug in and another 4 unanswered points brought them back into the contest. A Dylan Lyons point with five minutes remaining put Youghal 2 points up and with the likes of Liam Durkin & Fionn Hill getting on top in defence; it seemed as though the seasiders had the finishline in their sights. An exchange of points by Casey for Youghal and Kristian O’Gorman for Charleville kept 2 between the sides but similar to the previous week, late drama ensued and 2 points for Charleville in the 4th minute of injury time sent the game into extra time. The first 10 minutes of extra time proved to be a cagey affair and it passed by without a single score being registered; the Youghal half backline of Fionn Hill, Ronan O’Brien and Marty Desmond, along with midfielder Brian Lynch nullified the Charleville attack at the point of origin and with 10 minutes remaining; we headed for a grand-stand finish. Tired legs and heavy ground made things difficult for both sides with 70 minutes of hurling played; so the game became as much a mental battle as it was a physical one. It was the Youghal boys though, who kept their heads down the home straight as they outscored their opponents by 4 points to 1; scores from Murray, Casey, a monster free from long range by goalkeeper Walsh was rounded off in the 81st minute of play by Jamie Lenane who split the posts from the right wing. Charleville had their chances too but that mean Youghal defence kept them out and as Jayden Casey put the ball on his hurley to go on a solo-run in the right-wing back position, the referee called time and Youghal were crowned County Champions, after 140 minutes of hurling. Youghal panel: Oisin Walsh (0-1f), Noah Hegarty, Bobby Nicholson, Liam Durkin, Fionn Hill, Ronan O’Brien, Marty Desmond, Jayden Casey (1-3), Brian Lynch, Conor Galvin, James Murray (0-6, 0-5f, 0-1 65), Jamie Lenane (0-1), Luke Lenane, Chris Buckley, Dylan Lyons (1-2). Subs, James Coyne for L. Lenane (53), Cian Galvin for N. Hegarty (65), Jason Innes (82). Ewie McCarthy, Ralph Cashman, Padraig Kennedy, Diego Tresero, Gearoid Geary, Finn Coleman, Conor O’Brien.
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Junior Camogie Championship Semi-Final Youghal 3-6 v Bishopstown 0-14 Report by Mike O'Brien
Final v Aghada Mon 31st Oct at 1pm in Castle Road Our Junior Camogie team travelled to Ballinacurra last Saturday morning to play a highly fancied Bishopstown team at the penultimate stage of the Junior-B Championship. This game had been originally pencilled in for the previous Sunday but was called off 15 minutes before the scheduled start time due to dangerous weather conditions. When these two teams played the league final earlier in the summer, Bishopstown were the comfortable victors. However, Youghal were determined to reverse this result and did so in dramatic fashion. Youghal played into a strong breeze in the first half and had to work hard for any rewards. Bishopstown raced into a 3-point lead. However, Amy O'Connell settled the nerves with a well taken free. Bishopstown appeared to have physically stronger players but when they tried to exert that physicality, Youghal weren't in the mood to be bullied. The entire first half was played with ferocious pace and intensity, but by half time, Bishopstown had notched up 0-8, many of which came from what appeared to be soft frees. In contrast, Youghal had 0-3 on the board with well-earned points from Leak Broderick and Chloe O'Connell adding to the earlier tally. Indeed, this 5-point deficit could have been much bigger if it weren't for the heroics of Youghal's custodian, Kate McCarthy. On the resumption, Youghal introduced Hannah O'Keeffe who made an immediate impact with a well taken point. However, Bishopstown hit a 10-minute purple patch where they hit 4 points, with Youghal's solitary score being another pointed free from Amy O'Connell. At that point, Bishopstown had an 8-point advantage and a neutral might have expected them to finish out the game comfortably, but Youghal's defence, who had been playing well up to that point, found another level and restricted Bishopstown to only 2 more points for the remainder of the game. The strength of Youghal's squad became a huge factor which was highlighted by the contribution made by Eabha Walsh and Raina Landers when they were introduced early in the second half. Youghal showed great resilience and bravery by pushing players forward to salvage the game. This bravery was rewarded when Youghal's hard-working forwards earned a free 40 yards out. Up stepped Amy O'Connell with a sweet strike that found its way to the net. Youghal continued to exercise the strong bench and introduced Aoibhe Daly and Edel O'Connell and the feeling was that the game was beginning to turn in Youghal's favour. Youghal's forwards continued to press the Bishopstown defenders back and won another free. Another delivery from Amy O'Connell yielded another goal and Youghal's momentum was starting to further build. However, there was still a 2-point deficit and it was Bishopstown's turn to be stubborn in defence. Yet another free was earned from the hard work of the forwards and Amy O'Connell gave yet another clinical delivery. However, Bishopstown managed to scoop it away but it only offered a temporary reprieve: good timing, positioning and a well-executed ground strike from Aoibhe Daly rattled the net. This gave the lead to Youghal for the first time in the game. Hannah O'Keeffe worked hard from the Bishopstown puckout and followed up with her second point of the game to give Youghal a cushion of 2 points. At this point Bishopstown threw caution to the wind and tried to salvage something from the game. But the Youghal defence remained in miserly form and limited Bishopstown to only one more point from a free. There was elation from the Youghal camp as the final whistle blew and preparations have already started for the final in Castle Road on Bank Holiday Monday where Aghada will present as formidable opponents. Credit to Bishopstown on their performance in the game and the progress they made in 2022, but it was Youghal's day. Team: Kate McCarthy, Chloe Landers, Louise Dempsey, Shauna O'Connell, Ruby Kennedy, Jenny Doyle(C), Lesley Cashman, Alex Cashman, Avril Cashman, Chloe O'Connell, Amy O'Connell, Leah Broderick, Ciara Crowley, Rion Walsh, Jess Swayne. Subs: Hannah O'Keeffe for Louise Dempsey, Eabha Walsh for Chloe O'Connell, Raina Landers for Jess Swayne, Aoibhe Daly for Leah Broderick, Edel O'Connell for Lesley Cashman Scorers for Youghal: Amy O'Connell 2-03, Aoibhe Daly 1-0, Hannah O'Keeffe 0-2, Leah Broderick 0-1, Chloe O'Connell 0-1 |
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November 2022
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