Underage Inter-county / Colleges

Banner do it hard way in epic tussle

Monday, 16 August 2010 07:39

Banner do it hard way in epic tussle

Clare 0-20
Dublin 2-13
All-Ireland MHC semi-final

By Cliona Foley

Monday August 16 2010

REVISE those All-Ireland minor hurling title predictions fast!

Clare might have needed late prayers to the Patron Saint of the Woodwork to narrowly escape with this one-point semi-final win, yet they still showed enough yesterday to indicate they could give hot favourites Kilkenny a right rattle.

The Munster champions definitely did it the hard way. After stopping Dublin scoring for the first 15 minutes, they let an early seven-point lead slip by conceding two second-half goals.

And in the frenetic final seconds, while still leading by two points, they let Dublin substitute Robert Hardy get off a thunderbolt of a shot that might just have stolen it.

Hardy's piledriver from distance looked to be heading right to the top left of the net, only to glance off the upright and skid over to narrowly save Clare's heartache.

It was the sort of climax that gives managers palpitations, but the Banner's joint bosses Gerry O'Connor and Donal Moloney looked remarkably calm afterwards, explaining that they're well used to their team's grandstand finishes by now.

"We've made life hard for ourselves by conceding goals all year," said a relieved O'Connor. "But each time it has driven us on.

"That's the strength of this team all year, that, in adversity, we really respond and we got plenty of adversity there today!"

And the delighted Banner managers weren't afraid to throw down the gauntlet immediately afterwards.

"It's a great honour and a privilege to be in the last two in Ireland," Moloney said.

"Kilkenny's scoreline and performance last weekend was exceptional, but they don't hold any fears for us. We've had a few games against them early on in the year and it's a replay of last year's U-21 final, so we'll be coming to do ourselves justice on the day."

Their youngsters will have to learn to keep their pedal to the metal and take all their chances because they should have been out of sight by half-time yesterday, instead of just leading by two (0-9 to 0-7).

Colm Galvin squandered a great goal chance in the opening minute, and Daire Keane forced a great save from excellent Dublin 'keeper Eamonn Dillon after 18 minutes. Clare had also shot nine wides by the break.

But Dublin, led by brilliant 16-year-old corner-forward Cormac Costello, fought back bravely and took over the wind advantage to launch an absorbing second-half challenge.

The Banner restarted impressively, pulling five points clear thanks to two Niall Arthur frees and a great point off the wing by Cathal Malone.

But the Dubs got the lucky break they needed six minutes after the restart when Clare goalkeeper Ronan Taaffe dropped a Costello sideline cut straight into the path of Emmet O'Conghaile, who doubled it to the net quick smart.

In fairness Clare responded swiftly, with three unanswered points, two from full-forward star Arthur (one free).

Two super consecutive points from super-sub Aaron Cunningham also helped keep them four clear after 52 minutes, but then they got caught for the second goal when Hardy dropped a high ball into the square and Costello, son of Dublin county secretary John, swivelled expertly and threaded it through an incredibly narrow gap.

chasing

Again Clare responded, extending the lead to four again with points from Keane, Paudge Collins and Arthur, yet John Murphy's gutsy young Blues still refused to give up and frees from Dean Flood and John Hetherton kept them chasing right up until Hardy's last-gasp effort.

Clare midfielder Tony Kelly had an excellent first half and their half-forwards -- particularly Collins and Jamie Shanahan -- worked their socks off throughout.

But in those dying minutes their half-backs, led brilliantly by Enda Boyce, chased and harried like demons, with Stephen O'Halloran getting in one particularly vital late block.

For Dublin, centre-back Danny Sutcliffe, half-forwards Ciaran Kilkenny and Fergal Heavy and good subs like Hardy and Naoise Maguire kept battling right to the end.

And in Costello, who has two more years left in the minor grade and made one wondrous catch in the first half, they definitely have one to watch for the future.

Scorers -- Clare: N Arthur 0-8 (0-5f), D Keane 0-3, T Kelly, A Cunningham 0-2 each, C Galvin, C Malone, P Collins, J Shanahan, D O'Halloran 0-1 each. Dublin: C Costello, E O'Conghaile 1-1 each, D Flood 0-4 (0-3f), C Kilkenny 0-3, J Hetherton 0-2 (0-2f), G Whelan, R Hardy 0-1 each.

Clare -- R Taaffe; H Vaughan, P Flanagan, S Morey; E Boyce, K Lynch, S O'Halloran; C Galvin, T Kelly; C Malone, P Collins, J Shanahan; D Keane, N Arthur, D O'Halloran. Subs: A Cunningham for Malone (45), A Mulready for D O'Halloran (54).

Dublin -- E Dillon; C Murphy, E McKenna, S McClelland; C Moffat, D Sutcliffe, B Quinn; D Kelly, B McCarthy; F Heavey, C Kilkenny, G Whelan; C Costello, E O'Conghaile, D Flood. Subs: N Maguire for Kelly (27), J Hetherton for Whelan (37), R Hardy for McCarthy (42), N Ryan for Flood (58).

Ref -- E Hassen (Derry).

- Cliona Foley

Irish Independent

Moffat worry for minor hurlers

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 15:20

Moffat worry for minor hurlers

10 Aug 2010 | hill16.ie

Dublin minor hurler Cillian Moffat is an injury concern ahead of this Saturday’s ESB All-Ireland MHC semi-final at Croke Park (1.30).
The half-back picked up an ankle injury last weekend and continues to receive treatment ahead of Sunday’s clash with Clare at GAA headquarters.

'Danny Boy' hails his team

Tuesday, 27 July 2010 21:11

Skipper Sutcliffe is delighted to be leading Dubs back to Croke Park

By Niall Scully

DUBLIN'S minor hurling captain, Danny Sutcliffe, plays with a swagger. He's like a lighthouse in the centre half-back position.

He sees danger before it happens. He's quick to plug the gaps and he's a sweet striker of the sliotar.

Early in the second half of Dublin's ESB All-Ireland MHC quarter-final win against Antrim in Crossmaglen on Saturday, Danny plucked a treat from the selection box.

PERFECT

Antrim's Daniel McCloskey was setting himself up for a point. It looked a certainty. But Danny, with Rolex timing, got in the perfect block.

He plays hurling with a smile. St Jude's is his club. He looks a genuine Dublin diamond.

He had two accomplished hurlers alongside him in the half-back unit, Cillian Moffat, who landed three excellent long-range points from the placed ball, and Ben Quinn, who ticked one over from play.

Danny is well able for the banter. Asked on Saturday had he any role models in hurling, Danny responded.

"That would have to be Cormac Costello, especially after his two goals. He really did the job for us.

"He's still under-16. He's such a super hurler. I'll be watching him closely in training in the next few Danny was chatting outside the Dublin dressing-room. Behind him was a happy place.

"It was good to get back on the road after the Leinster final. It's great to have got that Kilkenny game out of our system.

"It was important to bounce back following that defeat to Kilkenny. After we beat Wexford we were confident enough, but we got blown out of Croke Park after 20 minutes," added the St Jude's lad.

Danny added that the Dubs made the best use of the extra man -- Antrim had full-back Mathew Donnelly red-carded in the opening half.

"We were able to find more space after the sending off. Overall, I felt it was a good display.

"Weather-wise, it wasn't the best. The grass was a bit long and it was a wet ball, so we are just pleased to have come out on the right side of the scoreboard.

"We don't know a lot about Clare. We won't worry about them too much. We'll focus on what we can do," added the St Jude's lad looking ahead to the Dubs' All-Ireland semi-final date in Croke Park on Sunday, August 15

"We put in the work and we got the goals against Antrim. We are delighted that we'll be going back in Croke Park next month."

It's a stage that Danny could be seeing quite a lot of in the years to come.

EMULATE

And in time, many a young hurler will be endeavouring to emulate his distinguished deeds.

"We were not brilliant by any means. Yet I thought we could have won by more. We missed a lot of chances," mused Dublin manager, John Murphy.

"And, as we did against Carlow, we conceded a soft goal, which put pressure on ourselves.

"But it was good to see how the lads reacted to that. The Carlow game taught them that they had the ability to come back after letting in an early goal.

"Hopefully, we'll have learned from that Kilkenny game. We'll give it our best shot," added Crumlin clubman Murphy.

"Any team that comes out of Munster are sure to be a serious challenge," added the Dublin boss.

"The lads coped well. They reacted well to Antrim being reduced to 14 men.

"It allowed us to shore up our defence and keep the threat of a goal away.

LIGHTER

"In fairness, the conditions weren't the best. The grass was very heavy. It was more like a football pitch. We, like Antrim, would have preferred a lighter sod.

"It was also wet and damp. The weather has been so good that we haven't been playing in those conditions an awful lot.

"I think looking back that after the first 15 minutes we were fairly dominant.

"We were happy with a fair bit of our forward play.

"You are talking about minors. They go out and they do what they can.

"A lot of senior games wouldn't be brilliant in those conditions either," concluded Murphy.

- Niall Scully

Costello punishes Antrim indiscipline

Monday, 26 July 2010 09:11

Costello punishes Antrim indiscipline

Dublin 3-13
Antrim 1-11

Dublin recovered from a poor start to progress to the last four with eight points to spare over a gallant Antrim side at Oliver Plunkett Park in Crossmaglen on Saturday.

The Ulster champions raced into a five-point lead early on, but they were then dealt a blow in the second quarter when they had full-back Matthew Donnelly sent off and Dublin took full advantage.

After leading by three at the interval, the Metropolitans wasted no time in building up a match-winning cushion on the restart and their victory would have been more emphatic, but for the fact that they hit a dozen wides over the course of the 60-odd minutes.

To have any chance of creating an upset, Antrim required a good start and they certainly got it as a second-minute goal from Daniel McCloskey was followed by three points and they led 1-3 to 0-1 after 11 minutes. Cillian Moffat was on target for Dublin from a long-range free.

A long clearance from full-back Emmett McKenna saw Cormac Costello get in behind the Antrim defence and he made no mistake with his finish to the net to bring Dublin into the game.

McCloskey and Dean Flood exchanged points, before Donnelly received a straight red card for a foul on Flood, a decision that looked harsh and one that had a major bearing on the game. Dublin wasted no time in taking advantage with another Costello goal giving them the lead at half-time.

In the first attack of the second half, Fergal Heavey scored Dublin's third goal to give them a 3-6 to 1-6 lead and Antrim then had it all to do. Ciaran Kilkenny had a penalty saved by Antrim 'keeper James O'Mullan, but it was only academic.

Moffat, Ben Quinn, Niall Ryan and John Hetherton all tagged on points for the winners and, despite efforts from Conor McCann and Clarke in response, it was Dublin's day.

Scorers -- Dublin: C Costello 2-1, F Heavey 1-1, D Flood 0-3f, C Moffat 0-3f, B Quinn, E O Conghaile, J Hetherton, N Maguire, N Ryan 0-1 each. Antrim: C Clarke 0-6 (0-6f), D McCloskey 1-1, C McCann 0-2, J Black, C McGuinness 0-1 each.

Dublin -- E Dillon; C Murphy, E McKenna, S McClelland; C Moffat, D Sutcliffe, B Quinn; B McCarthy, D Kelly; E O Conghaile, G Whelan, F Heavey; C Costello, C Kilkenny, D Flood. Subs: M McCaffrey for Moffat, J Hetherton for Kelly, N Maguire for Heavey, N Ryan for Costello.

Antrim -- J O'Mullan; C Orchin, M Donnelly, O Quinn; C Morgan, D McPeake, A McGowan; J Black, P McNaughton; C McCann, C McGuinness, R O'Neill; D McCloskey, S Jennings, C Clarke. Subs: F Donnelly for O'Neill, J McLister for McCloskey, E McAlonan for Jennings.

Ref -- A Kelly (Galway).

Irish Independent

Minor hurlers reach semi-final

Saturday, 24 July 2010 14:32

Minor hurlers reach semi-final

24 Jul 2010 | hill16.ie

DUBLIN 3-13 ANTRIM 1-11

Dublin’s minor hurlers recovered from a poor start to fend off Antrim in this All-Ireland MHC quarter-final at Crossmaglen on Saturday afternoon.

The Glensmen, who finished with 14 men, got off to a great start and led 1-3 to 0-1 in the early stages before the young Dubs launched their recovery.

In the second minute Daniel McCloskey goaled for Antrim and by the 13th minute they had opened up a five-point advantage.

Three minutes later Cormac Costello struck for their first of his two goals in the opening half, his second coming in the 28th minute.

Between both the goals from the Whitehall Colmcille’s lad Antrim had full-back Mathew Donnelly sent off.

After leading 2-6 to 1-6 at the break a Fergal Heavey goal in the opening minute of the second half pushed Dublin further ahead, 3-6 to 1-6, and with the likes of Danny Sutcliffe and Seán McClelland very vigalant in defence the Dubs never looked back as they progress to the last four.

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