Éire Óg U14 hurlers lift Premier 2 trophy after epic 12-goal final with Carrigtwohill

Éire Óg 7-11 Carrigtwohill 5-10

ÉIRE Óg were crowned Rebel Óg Coiste Premier 2 U14 Hurling champions as they came from behind to defeat Carrigtwohill in a nail-biting decider, which produced 12 goals, at Ballinlough.

Carrigtwohill started the brighter as they had three unanswered goals in a five-minute spell in the opening quarter, but the tide turned in the Muskerry side’s favour in the second half. Sean Hogan got four of the Muskerry side’s five goals in this period, while Carrigtwohill’s only goal of the second half came in the closing stages.

The Imokilly side had Éire Óg pinned back from the start as they raced into a lead of 3-2, with their goals coming from Cian Aherne, Adam Brown and Sam Dolan. Brown and Dolan also chipped in with a point each.

Éire Óg opened their account with a point from play by Conor Murphy and Patrick Aherne responded with a point for the East Cork side.

The Muskerry side were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute, from which Hogan drilled home Éire Óg’s first goal. Hogan then slotted over two points from play for the Muskerry side, before Dolan replied with a point from play for Carrigtwohill.

Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for the Imokilly side as Hogan converted three unanswered frees for Éire Óg. Brown scored 1-1 for the Imokilly side and Hogan also tagged on 1-1 for Éire Óg as the half-time scoreline read 4-5 to 2-7 in Carrigtwohill’s favour.

Dolan converted a free for the Imokilly side, two minutes after the resumption, before Hogan got Éire Óg’s third goal.

Dolan slotted over a point from play for Carrigtwohill before the Mid Cork side took a grip on proceedings. Ryan Searles added a point from play for Éire Óg. Hogan then put the Muskerry side in the driving seat for the first time in the contest as he scored 1-2 without reply, with both points coming from frees.

Kyle Carroll converted a free for the Imokilly side, but this was followed by Hogan’s fifth goal for Éire Óg.

Dolan and Brown each tagged on points from play for Carrigtwohill, but this was followed by Hogan’s sixth goal for the Muskerry side.

The closing stages of the game saw both sides each scoring goals, with Dolan getting his second goal for the Imokilly side and Conor Murphy scoring Éire Óg’s seventh goal with the game’s final action.

Scorers for Éire Óg: S Hogan 6-9 (1-0 pen, 0-6 f); C Murphy 1-1; R Searles 0-1.

Carrigtwohill: S Dolan 2-5 (0-1 f); A Brown 2-3; C Aherne 1-0; R Moore, K Carroll 0-1 each.

ÉIRE ÓG: T O’Brien; C McCarthy, J Clifford, C O’Brien; R McCarthy, O O’Mahony, J Casey; C Murphy, D Crean; C Brennan, R Searles, P Maloney; D Roche, S Hogan, C Sheehan.

Subs: T Mullins for Brennan (h-t), C Dineen for McCarthy (36), P Moran for Maloney (60).

CARRIGTWOHILL: L Murphy; O Collins, J O’Riordan, A Kedula; F Barry, F Morrissey, F Barrett; P Aherne, R Moore; R Barry, C Aherne, A Brown, M Cashel, C O’Connor, S Dolan.

Subs: M O’Sullivan for Kedula (17, inj), L Brennan for Collins (49), B O’Brien for Barry (51).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Kilbrittain).