JJ Kavanagh & Sons U-21D Hurling Championship Final
Clara 1-9; St Lachtain’s 1-7
Clara clinched the JJ Kavanagh & Sons U-21D hurling championship with a two-point victory over St Lachtain’s, before a decent sized crowd, in Sunday’s final at the Kells Road.
On a bitterly cold but sunny winter afternoon, with a chilling cross field breeze a feature throughout, the Clara men dug out this narrow victory, on a day of low scoring but high intensity from both sides.
This was Clara’s seventh victory in the under 21 grade, albeit the first in the lower D grade, earlier wins being A titles in 1968, 1979 and 1984, along with B victories in 1983, 2003 and 2017.
Clara made a lightning start to this game with a goal after just fifteen seconds from corner forward Rory Glynn. Mark Donnelly opened the St Lachtain’s scoring with a fifth minute point.
A duo of Conor Hoyne points from play and a free had Clara 1-2 to 0-1 clear by the eight minutes.
The losers had the best of the next ten minutes with three pointed frees from Cian Donnelly.
A 25th minute free by Conor Hoyne left Clara 1-3 to 0-4 clear but shortly afterwards a fine Freshford passing movement resulted in a goal thanks to a close in finish from Cian Donnelly.
Clara’s Conor Hoyne from play exchanged scores with Cian Donnelly (free) to leave St Lachtain’s a point ahead at the interval.
Half time: St. Lachtain’s 1-5; Clara 1-4.
Clara were again first off the blocks in the new half, and by the 40th minute had three unanswered points with a pointed free by Conor Hoyne, followed by fine distance scores from play by Rory Glynn and David Barcoe. Clara were now 1-7 to 1-5 and from here to the finish both sides struggled to judge the harsh cross field wind.
No quarter was asked or given in the sticky conditions, but Clara were coming out the better in most of the rucks that ensued.
Cian Donnelly had two pointed frees, sandwiched by a similar placed ball score by Conor Hoyne (1-7 to 1-5).
When Clara’s Conor Hoyne pointed from play three minutes into added time, they now had a small bit of breathing room, and referee Conor Everard blew the long whistle just a minute later.
In a solid team performance Clara had fine displays from Ben Murphy, Ned Langton, David Barcoe, Rory Glynn and Conor Hoyne. This was a young Clara team with most of the squad again eligible for this grade in 2025.
For St Lachtain’s, the better performances came from their defensive unit, with Cian Donnelly, although missing some difficult frees, still the standout forward.
Referee Conor Everard, along with linesmen Gay Rafter and Willie Kearney allowed the game to flow as much as possible.
Clara: –
Cian Kelly, Ben Crow, Zach Lawlor, Hugh Kelly, Ben Murphy, Harry Boyle, Luke Lawlor, Philip Carrigan, Ned Langton, Joe Power, David Barcoe (0-1), Sean Cardigan, Rory Glynn (1-1), Conor Cody. (Captain), Conor Hoyne (0-7, 4 frees).
Subs Used: Jake Maher.
Rest of Panel: Daniel Ryan, Dillon Cummins, John Bergin, Eoin Corr, Noel O Brien, Alex McDonald
Management: Martin O Connell, Shane Staunton, Dara Glynn
St Lachtain’s: –
Michael Murphy, Cathal Bowden, Conor Donnelly Jimmy Cantwell, Jerry Bergin, Cathal Hickey, Luke Phelan, Mark Donnelly (Captain, 0-1), Caillin McCabe, Matthew Durnan Conor Dalton, James O’Connor, Cian Donnelly (1-6, 6 frees), Jack Whitty, Marty Campion.
Subs Used: Ben Dermody, Jamie Denieffe.
Rest of Panel: Bobby Darcy, Evan Kenny Landers, Sean Kennedy, Sean Counihan, Colin McGree, Jack Dalton, Leo White, Conor dowling, Cian O’Connor, Liam Kenny Landers
Management: Jim Costelloe, Noel McGree, Mark Kavanagh, Mark Nolan, David Brennan
Referee: Conor Everard
