Whitechurch hurlers retain Seandún Junior A title against Na Piarsaigh in entertaining replay
The Whitechurch team and supporters celebrating their victory over Na Piarsaigh in the City Division Junior A hurling championship final replay at the MTU sports grounds.
Whitechurch have retained the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling title as they defeated Na Piarsaigh at the second time of asking, before a sizeable attendance at MTU.
This game went down to the wire in the last five minutes, with the scoreline reading 0-14 to 1-10 in favour of Na Piarsiagh. Jamie Hegarty slotted over three points for Whitechurch, to give his side a two-point lead, before Michael Sheehan responded for the Fair Hill side, two minutes into stoppage time.
Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for Whitechurch, but their defence held firm and the final whistle was greeted with jubilant scenes by the Whitechurch supporters.
Whitechurch played an open game, while Na Piarsaigh had to wait until the tenth minute for their first score from play. The Fair Hill side were also denied several goal-scoring opportunities, as Whitechurch net-minder Con Mulcahy pulled off some spectacular saves.
Ruairí Dennehy opened the scoring with a point for Whitechurch, within two minutes of the throw-in. Wayward puck-outs were proving to be Na Piarsaigh’s undoing, as Seán Keane added a second point for Whitechurch.
The Fair Hill side began to seize the initiative as persistent fouling was proving to be costly for Whitechurch. Michael Sheehan slotted over two points from frees for Na Piarsaigh. The Fair Hill side took the lead for the first time in the contest as Daniel Scanlon tagged on a point from play, but this was cancelled out by a point for Whitechurch by Darragh O’Connell.
Whitechurch’s Cillian Egan and Ruairí Dennehy traded points with Na Piarsaigh’s Shane Galgey and Peter Lehane, to tie the scores at five points apiece, midway through the opening half.
Sheehan and Whitechurch’s Jamie Hegarty exchanged pointed frees before the Fair Hill side took a grip on proceedings. Shane O’Connell-Aherne and Alan Keating each tagged on unanswered points, to give Na Piarsaigh a lead of 0-8 to 0-6. The Fair Hill side were to be denied the game’s opening goal in the 26th minute, as Mulcahy pulled off a point-blank save from Keating.
This advantage was promptly cancelled out as Egan set up Ruairí Dennehy for the game’s only goal in the 29th minute.
This left the half-time scoreline reading 1-6 to 0-8 in favour of Whitechurch.
Na Piarsaigh had Whitechurch on the back foot from the resumption as Galgey tagged on two unanswered points. Sheehan also chipped in with his fourth pointed free, to give the Fair Hill side a two-point advantage.
Na Piarsaigh continued to threaten the Whitechurch goal, but Mulcahy foiled goal-scoring opportunities from Seán Paul Cooke and Sheehan in the third quarter.
Keane responded to leave the minimum between the sides, but Galgey restored the Fair Hill side’s two-point lead with his third point.
Whitechurch had the Fair Hill side pinned back in the final quarter, as Aidan Kelleher got two unanswered points. Hegarty levelled matters as he converted his second free.
Lehane put Na Piarsiagh back in the driving seat with his second point in the 55th minute, before the scene was set for a dramatic finalé.
R Dennehy 1-2, J Hegarty 0-5 (0-3 f), A Kelleher, S Keane 0-2 each; D O’Connell, C Egan 0-1 each.
M Sheehan 0-5f; S Galgey 0-4; P Lehane, A Keating 0-2 each; S O’Connell-Aherne, D Scanlon 0-1 each.
C Mulcahy; A Murphy, C Hennessy, J Dennehy; K Ryan, M Callanan, R O’Connell; A Kelleher, R Buckley; D O’Sullivan, J Hegarty, S Keane; D O’Connell, C Egan, R Dennehy.
R Murphy for O’Sullivan (40), S O’Reilly for Buckley (45), J McGrath for O’Reilly (50), R Blake for R Dennehy (55), J Kelleher for Ryan (29).
S Fitzgerald; L Murphy, A Higgins, K Galvin; J Scanlon, P Cunningham, J Morrissey; SP Cooke, D Scanlon; S Galgey, D Lee, P Lehane; S O’Connell-Aherne, M Sheehan, A Keating.
C O’Leary for Lee (h/t), I McDonnell for S O’Connell-Aherne (41), S Bowen for Galvin (57, inj).
Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).
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