*Inagh/Kilnamona joint captains Shane Woods and Seán Rynne. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
INAGH/KILNAMONA went ahead for the first time on fifty seven minutes to go on to become U21A hurling champions for the fourth time beating Éire Óg.
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-17
Éire Óg 0-16
Venue: Clarecastle
Joint captains Seán Rynne and Shane Woods led by example with superb performances at either end of the field inspiring Inagh/Kilnamona to win the Berwick Callinan Murphy U21A championship and lift the silverware they last held in 2018.
Five of the final six scores of the game were hit by the winners over the final ten minutes of the tie, this included an unanswered 0-5 which put them in front for the first time.
For five of the starting team, it completes a rare U21A double. Seán Rynne, Conor Rynne, Fred Hegarty, James Cullinan and Gearoid Barry also started for the Ennistymon side who won the U21A football title a fortnight ago. John Barry, Alex Leydon and Conor Morrissey were others to achieve the double.
So far as fairytale seasons go, 2025 has been the pinnacle for Éire Óg, For large spells of this game they looked like their unforgettable year would see more silverware head to Clonroadmore but the determination of Inagh/Kilnamona put paid to that.
Rynne’s ability to win possession in crowded areas and point when given the opportunity, Woods’ two goal-saving hooks with the solid Conor Rynne alongside him snuffing out any threats of a major keeping their opposing line to 0-1 from play, Cathal Ryan’s runs through the middle, Fred Hegarty’s shot creation and the growing presence of Jack Mescall were all factors in Kevin Hehir’s Inagh/Kilnamona reigning supreme.
Originally fixed for Gurteen, a change of venue was announced an hour before throw-in as the decider moved to Clarecastle’s astro turf at the later start of 14:00.
Hitting fire from the off were Éire Óg who raced five points clear with seven minutes on the clock. Darren Moroney from the throw-in and Tom Kavanagh after winning the resulting puckout both converted points when the final was a mere forty one seconds old. They followed with a brace of Conor Perrill frees and a long range effort from Michael Heneghan.
Needing a score, it was Seán Rynne that stepped up for Inamona on eight minutes, James Cullinan in defence made the turnover and played a smart pass to Rynne who was operating at centre forward and given space to have a far bigger impact compared with when he was positioned at the edge of the square in their semi-final on Sunday last.
Rynne had his second two minutes later, Darragh Murrihy with a run and offload set him up but he calmly split the posts. He almost added a goal to his tally but Cian Howard somehow got his hurley to the sliotar.
Cathal Ryan opened his account on fifteen minutes, Frank Roughan supplying him with the sliotar to bring Inamona to within two points.
Darren Moroney and Jack Mescall then traded scores. Moroney was electric over the hour while Mescall had been starved of ball when inside at full forward and saw his influence grew as he drifted out the field.
Rynne turned provider after winning a turnover to tee up Ryan for his second white flag, Perrill with two frees on the bounce was responded to by a Fred Hegarty free to leave Éire Óg deservedly 0-9 0-6 in front at the break.
By the thirty seventh minute, Inagh/Kilnamona had equalised, Conor Perrill opened the scoring with a free forty seconds from the restart but the Combo replied with a Fred Hegarty brace and another Seán Rynne score. To indicate how their grip on the game was tightening, the points were among the seven scoring chances created within the space of five minutes.
Moroney showed why he is a successful dual player when losing his hurley but still drilling the sliotar over the crossbar when kicking off his left boot. The Ennis side then managed to turn over an Inagh/Kilnamona sideline cut and fed the ball to Eoin O’Regan who was on hand to make it 0-11 0-9.
Jack Callinan who was the most effective of Inamona’s inside line then hit two scores without reply within the space of six minutes. Also in this period, Shane Woods made two tremendous tackles, the first a block on O’Regan and the second a hook on Marco Cleary, both real goal chances.
With nine minutes to play, Éire Óg had regained a three point advantage. Perrill and Rynne traded scores before Tom Kavanagh and Rian Mulcahy were on target. Kavanagh’s score arising after David Loftus expertly blocked a puckout down from the sky with Darren Moroney razor sharp on the break before popping to the wing forward.
Loftus won the free which Mulcahy converted from distance to leave the Townies in a strong position.
However it was Inamona that upped the ante at the most important stage of the game. Substitute John Barry pointed with his first touch, Hegarty slotted over a free, Jamie Wynne picked up a breaking ball before splitting the posts, Jack Mescall added to his tally with a superb score aided by a Ricky Wynne turnover and suddenly they led with fifty seven minutes played.
Luke Pyne made a great block on Jack Callinan to stop the concession of a goal but Hegarty nailed the subsequent 65 making it a two point game. This became one when Perrill pointed a free at the other end but this was the last chance for Éire Óg with Inagh/Kilnamona prevailing.
Niall O’Connor’s Éire Óg were a well drilled outfit who played the ball through the lines and did very little wrong over the course of an hour. Maybe it was the effect of a seven day spell which included losing to Ballygunner in the Munster senior club and overcoming Sixmilebridge in tough conditions in the U21A semi-final that contributed to them fading out of the game but this also occurred in the first half when their five point margin was reduced to two.
At midfield, Darren Moroney was outstanding for the Townies, hoovering up breaks and being a ball of energy over the hour. He was their most consistent while too many others came in and out of the game at different stages.
Joint captains Shane Woods and Seán Rynne were to the fore for winners and it was fitting that they received the trophy from Clare GAA Vice Chairman, Michael O’Connor.
Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: S Rynne (0-5), F Hegarty (0-5 2f 1’65), C Ryan (0-2), J Mescall (0-2), J Callinan (0-2), J Wynne (0-1).
Scorers Éire Óg: C Perrill (0-7 7f), D Moroney (0-3), T Kavanagh (0-2), M Heneghan (0-1), E O’Regan (0-1), R Mulcahy (0-1).
Inagh/Kilnamona:
1: Frank Roughan
2: Conor Rynne
3: Shane Woods
4: James Cullinan
6: James Hegarty
7: Ricky Wynne
5: Neil Hegarty
8: Jamie Wynne
19: Darragh Murrihy
15: Fred Hegarty
14: Seán Rynne
10: Cathal Ryan
13: Jack Cullinan
9: Jack Mescall
12: Gearoid Barry
Subs:
18: Alex Leyden for Cullinan (35) (inj)
17: John Barry for G Barry (50)
Éire Óg:
1: Cian Howard
5: Jack Lynch
3: Fionan Treacy
4: Cillian Moroney
7: Rian Mulcahy
6: Robert Loftus
9: Niall Doyle
8: Darren Moroney
25: Michael Heneghan
10: David Loftus
11: Conor Perrill
12: Tom Kavanagh
15: Eoin O’Regan
13: Marco Cleary
14: James O’Dwyer
Subs:
26: Luke Vaughan for O’Dwyer (49)
2: Luke Pyne for Lynch (57)
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
