14-man Na Piarsaigh hold out to defeat Mallow in P2 U15 Hurling Championship final
Na Piarsaigh players celebrate after defeating Mallow. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A convincing first half showing ensured Na Piarsaigh built a lead they would not cede despite Mallow’s best efforts.
Despite the absence of Cork U15 Callum Coffey, the northsiders played with conviction to ensure a Premier 2 U15 Hurling Championship title win in Bishopstown on Saturday.
Despite the promising start from Mallow, Na Piarsiagh quickly established control with aerial supremacy, as U16 starter Jayden Cregan ran the show from centre back, while corner backs Eoin Hogan and Jack O’Connor were defensively sound throughout.
The northsiders were 1-10 to 0-3 in front at the interval, but with the wind such a prominent factor, it wasn’t over for Mallow by any means.
They had a further two scores to show for their efforts after seven minutes of the second half, and by the 41st minute, scores from Ger Kingston and Ryan Cagney meant Mallow had already exceeded their first half tally.
With the score at 1-13 to 0-7 and Na Piarsaigh against the wind, the northsiders needed to maintain control – but when Sean O’Callaghan was dealt a red card for an off ball incident at the three quarter hour mark, that task became more difficult.
Mallow’s initial response was superb.
First an outstanding effort from captain Harry Punch, before drama at the mouth of the Na Piarsaigh goal saw Mallow raise a green flag. It appeared to be Kingston who knocked it over the line, but it didn’t matter.
Mallow now had seven minutes to overcome a five-point deficit.
One lapse in concentration, and their hard work was undone.
Two minutes after the goal, Daniel Downey played the ball over Mallow’s defence for an unmarked Shay O’Neill to chase. Eoghan Cregg – who had pulled off four outstanding saves for Mallow previously, was hesitant to come off his line.
The split second made the difference, and O’Neill’s pull on the sliotar was just out of his reach, 2-13 to 1-8.
Mallow had chances but not enough time, and Na Piarsaigh held out. The first half was ultimately where the battle was won.
Early exchanges gave Mallow a 0-2 to 0-1 advantage, but it should have been more as Punch had a goal chance – but couldn’t establish his footing and dragged the effort wide.
Na Piarsaigh punished them for it with Josh Constant, O’Callaghan and Aaron Crowley all hitting the target to go 0-4 to 0-2 in front after 15 minutes.
A goal from Padraig Foley – albeit with fortune as his point attempt slipped into the top corner, raised the gap to five.
A further four scores on the bounce including a stunning long distance effort from Cregan put Na Piarsaigh nine points clear with 23 minutes gone.
Cork U15 Nathan Coffey excelled in possession, while O’Neill was everywhere in midfield. Mallow simply couldn’t create enough.
Cagney notched Mallow’s only pointed free in the 24th minute for their first score since the fifth, but even with both Conor Daly and Kenneth Plaku putting in impressive shifts they could not contend with the northsiders’ offensive threat.
They eventually succumbed to the wounds sustained in the first half against the wind, having not done enough with it in the second.
S O’Callaghan 0-6 (0-5 f), S O’Neill 1-1, P Foley 1-0, J Constant, A Crowley 0-2 each, N Coffey, J Cregan 0-1 each.
G Kingston 1-3, H Punch 0-3, R Cagney 0-2 (0-1 f).
C Quinn; E Hogan, R Quinlan, J O’Connor; D Casey (c), J Cregan, J Burke; P Foley, S O’Neill; J Constant, N Coffey, A Crowley; D Downey, S O’Callaghan, C Casey.
J Dalton for C Casey (HT).
E Cregg; B Galvin, C Daly, M Lucey; M Behan, C Jones, C Carroll; K Plaku, C O’Shea; G Kingston, B Sheehan, H Punch (c); S Sheehan, R Cagney, B O’Sullivan.
O Collins for B Sheehan, D Nagle for O’Sullivan (both 25), M Walsh for Collins (54, inj).
Tom Manley (Inniscarra)
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