THRILLING TOWN DERBY
Carlow U-14 Hurling Championship (Division 2)
Carlow Town HC 3-10; Setanta 2-8
As a health-check on the state of underage hurling in the county
capital this thrilling U-14 Championship match in the Presentation Askea
on Tuesday would suggest the game is alive and well, a 'Town' derby
contested with admirable determination yet sporting throughout and laced
with a high level of all the skills of the game.
If only for
three superb saves by Carlow Town goalkeeper Aaron Maher this game will
be long remembered, umpiring at at the school end I had a close up look
at all three, and one in particular where he got his stick to a well
struck rising shot would be a candidate for save of the year had their
been cameras at the venue.
And those saves were central to the
visitors eyeing out a hard earned five point victory, the home side
recovering from a shaky start which saw them fall six points in arrears
to go in trailing at the break trailing by just two - 1-8 to 2-3, Conor
Murphy registering Setanta's two goals, the first a real pile-driver,
the second an opportunist touch-in.
However a terrific individual
goal from the stylish Daniel Culleton midway through the second half, a
mazy solo-run completed by a perfectly placed low shot, gave Jimmy
Barcoe's charges a fillip and despite brave home effort from there to
the finish Carlow Town held on for victory.
Setanta 'keeper
Killian McGrath also made an outstanding second half save while all six
backs did their jobs well, marked tight, hooked, blocked and cleared
their lines well, the yellow helmeted corner-men Laeq and Ronan very
steady while Rian as ever was a no nonsense full-back. Alan, Evidas and
Stephen formed a formidable half-back line who made the visitors path to
goal a difficult one.
Ethan and Kyle dovetailed well at
mid-field, Ethan the all-action warrior, Kyle the stylish stickman, a
stickman who arrowed over 7 high quality points, a half dozen from
frees, one off a 65. Ethan switched in full-forward for the last quarter
and on one occasion made a burst towards goal, was dispossessed, chased
back out, forced a turn-over and made tracks for goal again. If 'Brick'
Walsh does the same on Sunday he'll be lauded.
Conor Murphy, he
of Waterford parents, was thrilled with his two goals, if Austin Gleeson
can do he same on Sunday, the Decies will be flying. Conor Treacy,
still U-12, picked off a beauty of a point, unlucky not to score a goal
with a grounder, while Conal, who was in action with the county at the
weekend, the busy Jack Murphy and David Bolger, another U-12 along with
eager-beaver Aaron also attacked with menace as did lively substitute
Liam Ryan.
Though defeated Setanta mentors Noel Ahearne and
Fergal Murphy were very pleased with their charges, "the boys gave it
their all, the effort was huge, their hurling was good, you couldn't ask
for more" was how the co-managers viewed the performance.
And so say all of us.
Those who would reckon a one-club model is the way forward for hurling
in Carlow town might have cause for second thoughts if they viewed this
match. 30 U-14s, subs on the line, sizeable support for both teams, a
game that in standard belied it's B status. Should there have been just
one club perhaps half these boys wouldn't be hurling at all ...
And local rivalry, healthy local rivalry is good, keeps everyone on their toes!
At the end of the day, hurling was again the winner.
SETANTA: Killian McGrath; Laueq, Rian Payne, Ronan Quinlan; Alan
Geoghegan, Evidas, Stephen Lacey; Ethan Kavanagh, Kyle Nolan (0-7, 6f,
65); Conor Murphy, Aaron Langrell, Jack Murphy (2-0); Conor Treacy
(0-1), Conal Hickson, David Bolger. Sub: Liam Ryan
