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U16 title is scooped by classy Fr O’Neill’s

Fr O’Neill’s 2-15 Cobh 1-13. Well done to the team and management of the U16s who came so close to winning the county hurling title at Pairc Uí Rinn last Wednesday evening 12th Oct. On the night our lads just came up a bit short but they have given all the supporters great service during the year and a championship run which saw them beat Kiltha Óg, Cloyne, Erin’s Own, Kilworth and Kanturk, while also beating Carrignavar in the league final, augurs well for the future. A big thank you also to all who came to support the boys in their final, the flags, banners and huge numbers really added to the occasion for the players.

Fr O’Neill’s won their first county U16B HC title at Pairc Ui Rinn last evening when they had a close win over Cobh in an all-East Cork final. The opening sequences saw Fr O’Neill’s move into a 0-2 to no score lead with Cobh battling back with two points from their best player Cian Spriggs. However, it was the Ballyma­coda-Ladysbridge outfit that were to do quite well during the early exchanges with Liam O'Driscoll, Donough O'Flynn, William Lane, Tony Motherway and Robert Cullinane very commanding. In the 17th minute they struck for the games first goal when a good delivery by Darragh Sexton deceived the Cobh defence with Shane Lee on hand to fin­ish to the net from close range to move them into a 1-4 to 0-3 advantage.

Gradually, Cobh began to get a foothold on proceedings with Shane Hallahan very impressive at wing-back, while Aidan O'Rourke and Cian Spriggs were impressive up front. Spriggs pointed a free before Kevin McSweeney with a goal leveled matters at 1- 4 each after 21 minutes play. Cobh were now in the ascendancy and helped by points from Paul Buckley, Aidan O'Rourke and Cian Spriggs, they moved ahead 1-7 to 1-5 after 28 minutes.

O'Neill's staged a great late rally and by the end of the half a long delivery by the impressive Liam O'Driscoll found its way to the net with the same player adding a point in injury time to have Fr O'Neill's ahead at the break 2-6 to 1-7.

Cobh made an encouraging start to the second half that resulted in two early points from near the sideline by Cian Spriggs and Aidan O'Rourke. However, it was the better-balanced O'Neill's side that gained the initiative with Mark O'Keeffe, Darragh Sexton and Joe Mellerick very commanding in the half-forward line. Between them they accounted for six points during the second half. Wing back Kenneth Hegarty gave the winners a lead they would not relinquish when he pointed from long range in the 35th minute. By the three quarter stage they moved into a five point lead 2- 13 to 1- 11. Cobh relied mainly on Cian Spriggs up front for scores and he tagged on two more points before the final whistle. There was no denying Fr O'Neill's their victory with Pádraig McMahon and Mark O’Keeffe keeping them ahead with late points.

Scorers for Fr O'Neill's: L O'Driscoll 1-5 (0-3 frees), M O'Keeffe 0-3, D Sexton 0-3, S Lee 1-0, P McMahon 0-2, J Mellerick, K Hegarty 0-1 each.

Cobh: C Spriggs 0-9 (0-5 frees, 0-2 '65'), A O'Rourke 11-3, K McSweeney 1-0, P Buckley 0-1.

Fr O'Neill's: E O'Neill; D Harrington, W Lane, A Kenneally; D McCarthy, T Motherway, K Hegarty; L O'Driscoll, D O'Flynn; M O'Keeffe, D Sexton, J Mellerick; P McMahon, R Cullin­ane, S Lee.

Cobh: E Walsh; M Ronan, T O'Donovan, C McLoughlin; J Keating, D O'Keeffe, S Hallahan, C Spriggs, J Moynihan, J Ronan, A O'Rourke, J Flanagan, I Aherne, P Buckley, K Mc­Sweeney. Subs: D Keaney for J Ronan, A O'Flynn for I Aherne, Kieran Histon for J Keating, E Hastings for P Buckley.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Eire Óg)