Cloyne hold nerve to deny Dungourney in lively league final

Cloyne: 2-17 

Dungourney: 0-22 

Driven on by James O’Brien, Cloyne edged out Dungourney in the RedFM Division 5 Hurling League final at Castlemartyr on Sunday afternoon.

The all-Imokilly affair drew a large attendance, and they were treated to a fine game of hurling with the outcome not known until the very end.

Extra-time looked a real possibility heading down the home stretch in what was a ding-dong battle, but a strong finish from Cloyne saw them over the line by the bare minimum.

O’Brien was key in securing the title with 0-8, while the likes of Conor Cahill and Brian Walsh were also crucial figures.

Dungourney lined out without their talisman Jack Leahy, but they looked to have overturned a three-point deficit at the break to win. They led by a point going into added time, but Cloyne hit three of the last four points.

There was an element of shadow boxing too, given both will meet again in three weeks’ time in their opening group game in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC.

In baking-hot conditions, it was a lively start with the sides level at 0-3 each after seven minutes.

Cloyne then struck the first of a couple of vital green flags a minute later when Brian Walsh billowed the net after Paudie O’Sullivan used all his experience to play him in.

Keith Dennehy and an O’Brien free pushed Cloyne five points clear before the sides traded efforts, 1-6 to 0-4 after 13 minutes.

Dungourney were reliant on James Ahern for scores, and a pair of frees kept his side in touch.

The game ticked on with Cloyne leading 1-8 to 0-9, with Ian Cahill dominant at centre-back.

Cloyne got their second goal three minutes before the interval when Conor Cahill used his pace to glide away from the Dungourney defence and finish to the net.

Another pair of James Ahern placed balls left Dungourney a goal adrift at half-time, 2-8 to 0-11.

Dungourney came out for the new half with renewed belief, helped by a slight breeze. They hit five of the first seven points to draw level, 0-16 to 2-10, with James Ahern to the fore and a Bryan Forbes effort included.

The sides exchanged white flags before Walsh and an O’Brien free gave Cloyne a 2-13 to 0-17 buffer with 15 minutes to go.

Dungourney then had their purple patch, which looked timed to perfection. They landed four of the next five white flags as they went ahead by a point heading into seven minutes of added time.

But an O’Brien 65, a free, and a point from play gave his team a two-point advantage.

Sub Shane Hegarty did point in the dying embers for Dungourney, but they couldn’t find the leveller to bring the game to extra-time.

Both will meet again in three weeks — first spoils to Cloyne.

Scorers for Cloyne: J O’Brien 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), B Walsh, C Cahill 1-2 each, P O’Sullivan 0-2, S Beausang, C Smith, K Dennehy 0-1 each.

Dungourney: John Ahern 0-12 (0-10 f), K Coady-Byrne 0-3, S Hegarty 0-2, N Motherway, Cathal Murphy, B Forbes, N McGrath, John Ahern 0-1 each.

CLOYNE: A Walsh; J Sherlock, E Motherway, A Sherlock; C Smith, I Cahill, D Byrne; S Beausang, J O’Brien; C Cahill, B O’Shea (c), N Cahill; B Walsh, P O’Sullivan, K Dennehy.

Subs: M Cahill for K Dennehy (43), I Farmer for C Smith (54).

DUNGOURNEY: P Flynn; M McGrath (c), R Harney, C Ryan; M Leahy, J Griffin, S Geaney; N Motherway, Cathal Murphy; B Forbes, K Coady-Byrne, N McGrath; John Ahern, James Ahern, C Griffin.

Subs: S Hegarty for S Geaney (41), C Sweeney for John Ahern (59), Colin Murphy for B Forbes (65).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Youghal).