*Ricky Wynne and Shane Woods keep the sliotar from Marc O’Brien. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
FAVOURITES Inagh/Kilnamona qualified for the Berwick Callinan Murphy Solicitors U21A hurling final with a powerful finish to the first half seeing them on their way to overcome Cratloe.
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-24
Cratloe 0-10
Venue: Clarecastle
Six unanswered points at the end of the opening half helped Inagh/Kilnamona put daylight between them and Cratloe in Sunday’s semi-final and there was no stopping them from here on, dominating the entire second half when they kept their opponents to two points.
Cratloe were dealt a huge blow in the lead up to the game when their star performer Jamie Moylan was ruled out due to a leg injury. The team’s centre back was outstanding in their group games and his absence was sorely felt on the day.
There was nothing to suggest that there would be such a big margin between the sides as the opening twenty five minutes played out
Points were exchanged four times in the opening thirteen minutes with the winners responding each time to a Cratloe score before they opened a two point lead as the game moved into the second quarter.
Two frees from Fred Hegarty, the team’s top scorer on the day with 0-10 to his name, saw Inagh/Kilnamona move three clear only for Cratloe to respond with three converted frees from their chief marksman, Daire Neville.
These scores tied up the contest for the fifth and final time but from here on the winners dictated matters. Points from Jack Cullinan, Jamie Wynne and Fred Hegarty within a minute were followed by further scores from Hegarty, Wynne and Neil Hegarty which left the winners 0-14 to 0-8 in front at the half time whistle.
Weather conditions deteriorated considerably and the players had to contend with heavy rain throughout the second half.
Inagh/Kilnamona took up where they had left off when play resumed and they had points from Fred Hegarty (3) and Mark Callinan inside ten minutes of the resumption.
Good play from Cathal Ryan and Mark Callinan created the opening for Sean Rynne to fire home the game’s only goal eleven minutes into this half and a further six minutes had elapsed before Cratloe had their first score of the half, Daire Neville converting a ‘65.
The winners continued to hold the upperhand and ran out comprehensive winners on a day when Shane Woods, James, Neil and Fred Hegarty were to the fore.
Cathal Lohan, Rian McNamara and Daire Neville did best for Cratloe.
Inagh-Kilnamona who last won this title in 2018 await the winners of the Éire Óg v Sixmilebridge semi-final in the decider.
(All photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: Fred Hegarty (0-12, 8f); Sean Rynne (1-2), Neil Hegarty, Jamie Wynne, Jack Mescall (0-2) each; James Hegarty, Gearoid Barry, Jack Cullinan, Mark Callinan (0-1) each
Scorers Cratloe: Daire Neville (0-8, 4 frees, 1’65); Sam Sheehy, Mark O’Brien (0-1) each
Inagh/Kilnamona: Frank Roughan; Conor Rynne, Shane Woods, James Cullinan; Neil Hegarty, James Hegarty, Ricky Wynne; Jamie Wynne, Jack Mescall; Cathal Ryan, Mark Callinan, Gearoid Barry; Jack Cullinan, Sean Rynne, Fred Hegarty;
Subs; John Barry for G Barry (48); Alex Leyden for James Cullinan (50); Darragh Murrihy for N. Hegarty (52); Michael Cotter for C. Ryan (52); Eoin Hegarty for S. Rynne (55);
Cratloe: Eoin Deegan; Riain McNamara, Jake Higgins, Denis Mundy; Cathal Lohan, Eoin Carey, Cian O’Gorman; Sam Sheehy, Evan Crowe; Keelan O’Donoghue, Daire Neville, Cathal O’Doherty; Marc O’Brien, Tadhg Lohan, Eanna Collins.
Subs; Sam Mulholland for K. O’Donoghue (half time); Matthew Danagher for D. Mundy (35); Jack McMahon for E. Carey (54);
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
Meanwhile St.Josephs, Doora-Barefield captured the under 21 D title with a 1-15 to 0-10 win over Scariff/Ogonnelloe at Clonlara on Saturday.
Parteen/Meelick were crowned under 21 C football champions with a 2-11 to 0-10 win over Coolmeen-Kidysart at Shannon on Sunday.
