Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille 0-13 Clann na nGael 1-8

Considering the storms across the country over the weekend, it was a relatively calm Sunday morning in Kildalkey, playing on the back pitch which held up very well with the rain that had fallen over the previous 48 hours. PHOTOS

This was set to be an intriguing tie between two teams who hadn’t met recently and were both progressing well following wins in their previous respective fixtures between Ratoath and Kildalkey respectively. With pace and fire power up front both teams must have fancied their chances going into this final.

Once the game got going you knew there wouldn’t be much between the two sides both worked hard to win ball on the ground with rucks playing a big part and whoever came out on top of that part was likely to come out as eventual winners.

Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille were first onto the score sheet through one of the players of the match Fergal Flynn with a well taken point from play. Clann na nGeal replied with two frees from Joe Ennis. Andrew Gormely levelled with a free before Clann na nGael were in for an opportunist goal as the combination side failed to clear the ball. The Athboy/Rathcairn side followed up with a point from play at the end of the first quarter giving them a decent four-point cushion on a day when scores were hard to come by. 

The second quarter was all about Seanie Geraghty's charges they sensed nothing was going to come easy, so they got to work, spear-headed by the majestic Daire Shine who really showed why he’s young hurler of the year for Meath in 2024. He dominated the half back line making the ugly stuff look pretty, this frustrated the opposition to the point where fouling was the only option. Three consecutive frees from distance and a classy point from Flynn reclaimed the four-point deficit leaving the sides level at the interval 0-6 to 1-3.

Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille started the second half as they left off, taking the lead to three points following two frees from Gormley and then Darren O’Higgins who was always a goal threat deciding wisely to take his points and take control of this encounter. Clann na nGael never went away and could have snatched victory in the dying moments after a goalmouth scramble but Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille managed to clear their lines just before referee Peter O'Halloran blew the full time whistle. 

After the game County Board Chairperson presented the Under 21 Division 1 B Hurling Championship Cup to Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille captain Eoin Briody.

Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille: Conal McGovern, Conor Rennicks, Rian Early, Tadhg Dardis, Eoin Flynn, Daire Shine (0-3 (3f)), Hughie Corcoran, Eoin Briody, John Gormley, Oisin O’Reilly, Fergal Flynn (0-2), Cormac O’Reilly, Andrew Gormley (0-6 (4f)), James McDonnell, Darren O’Higgins (0-2) 

Subs: Louis Finnegan for Cormac O’Reilly (52 mins), Matthew Farrelly, Cormac Guirke, Liam Devine 

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