PLUNKETT’S B-RILLIANT!
Hayes guides Ruadh to title
DUBLIN MHC ‘B’ FINAL
ST OLIVER PLUNKETT’S/EOGHAN RUADH………………1-10
THOMAS DAVIS………………………………………………….1-8
Daire Walsh
CILLIAN Hayes produced an outstanding individual display at O’Toole Park on Sunday morning, as St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh claimed the Dublin Minor ‘B’ Hurling Championship title after a tightly-contested encounter with Thomas Davis.
Plunkett’s 2-13 to 1-6 semi-final success over Raheny meant that they entered this decider in a confident mood, but it was Davis’ (who secured a 2-9 to 0-9 victory against Ballinteer St John’s in their penultimate round clash) who enjoyed the better start in the Crumlin venue. County star Davy Keogh converted an early free from 60 metres, and after the ball dropped into the square on eight minutes, corner-forward Dylan Caffrey flicked past Ben McSweeney for the opening goal of the game.
This was an early blow for Plunkett’s, but following swapped scores between Hayes and Liam Sinnot, they eventually stormed into the contest. Either side of pointed frees from Costello (in the 14th and 18th minutes respectively), John Hudson flicked a long-delivery from Sean Clerkin beyond the reach of Davis’ netminder Cian Cooke.
This edged Plunkett’s in front for the very first time, but thanks to a 0-2 placed-ball salvo by Keogh, their Tallaght counterparts subsequently regained the initiative. The influential Keogh then split the posts from play on the left-wing, but courtesy of a Hayes score on the run, Plunkett’s cut their deficit to a single point (1-5 to 1-4) at the interval.
The silverware was still very much up for grabs when the action resumed, and a Conor Scully point straight from the restart brought them back on level terms. The two sides were also inseparable when they met in a group stage fixture at Kiltipper Road on October 8, but Davis’ restored their lead in the 34th-minute thanks to a sharp point from inside forward William McDonnell.
Keogh and Sinnot were sharing free-taking duties throughout the contest, and it was the latter who stretched the Davis advantage to two points from a left-hand angle. Yet, Plunkett’s were determined to take the fight to their opponents, and they wiped out the Davis cushion with efforts from Hayes (free) and the increasingly-prominent Scully.
This set-up a tense conclusion, but Hayes enhanced his personal haul with another brace of excellent points. Keogh had been wide of the mark from a couple of long-range strikes, but he ended a 19-minute barren spell in front of the posts for Davis’ with a routine free.
However, Plunkett’s kept their composure, and Hayes’ eighth point from a stoppage-time ’65’ helped them to get over the line in the end.
Scorers – St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh: C Hayes 0-8 (5f, 1 ’65’), J Hudson 1-0, C Scully 0-2. Thomas Davis: D Keogh 0-5 (4f), D Caffrey 1-0, L Sinnot 0-2 (2f), W McDonnell 0-1.
ST OLIVER PLUNKETT’S/EOGHAN RUADH: B McSweeney; I Popa, S Bowe, B Bergin; E Maleady, D Phelan, O Mulligan; C Hayes, T Cullen; S McGreevy, S Clerkin, C Scully; J Hudson, L Stone, I Sherry.
Sub: R Kershaw for Stone (59).
THOMAS DAVIS: C Cooke; S Moore, R Lynch, J Byrne; J Landers, D Keogh, D Gilson; E Lambert, L Sinnot; J McDonnell, S Kennedy, J Lambert; D Caffrey, J Lowth, W McDonnell.
Subs: C O’Toole for Kennedy (51), J McGrath for Caffrey (57).
MENTORS – St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh: F Hayes, A Phelan, D Cassidy. Thomas Davis: C Browne, M Maloney, J Synnot.
Referee: Declan Enright (New Ireland).
WIDES – St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh: 9 (4+5). Thomas Davis: 6 (4+2).
CONDITIONS: Dry and breezy throughout.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Cillian Hayes (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).