Four Roads and Pearses to meet in U-16 hurling final
The Four Roads U-16 hurling panel that defeated Roscommon Gaels to reach this year's championship final.
Four Roads and Pádraig Pearses will meet in this year’s U-16 hurling final following last weekend’s semi-finals.
Four Roads took on Roscommon Gaels in a high-scoring last four clash, which the Tisrara boys won by 4-19 to 4-7.
Roscommon Gaels' Ciarán Mulry slotted over a point from a free to draw first blood. The Gaels won the ensuing puckout. David King made an impressive run up the field, resulting in another point for his team. Then Conor Mulry scored a fantastic point from play after a perfect pass from Tom Biesty, which was followed by another point from Ciarán Mulry — this time from a free.
Four Roads responded with a point from Evan Allen. In the tenth minute, Ciarán Mulry found the back of the net for Roscommon Gaels.
Four Roads eventually breached the Gaels defence after 17 minutes when David Mannion raised the green flag after an impressive save from Cathal Mulry. Enda Killion, Cathal Kennedy, Oisín Finneran, David Mannion and Adam Kenny contributed points to their side’s tally. Eoghan Morris also added a goal, capitalising on another great save from Cathal Mulry.
Roscommon Gaels managed just one more point from a free by Daniel Nerney before the half-time whistle, leaving the scoreline at 2-9 to 1-5 in favour of Four Roads.
The second half saw Roscommon Gaels putting pressure on the Four Roads defence, but Jack McDonnell was solid in clearing the ball downfield. Daniel Nerney opened the scoring for the Gaels with a well-taken point, but Conor Mulry responded with a lovely point from play. Nerney continued to shine, finding the net for Gaels’ second goal.
Four Roads showcased their point-scoring ability from play and frees, with Kennedy, Morris, Finneran, and Mannion adding to their tally. However, Roscommon Gaels’ feathers weren’t ruffled and they responded with two more goals, including Nerney's hat-trick.
But Four Roads weren’t to be denied their place in the final as Kennedy found his rhythm with two impressive goals in quick succession, while Mannion added another point to seal the deal.
In the other semi-final, Pádraig Pearses prevailed at the expense of Athleague/Tremane on a scoreline of 3-17 to 0-4.
The winners opened the scoring with a blistering goal from Diarmuid Lyons after only three minutes, which was followed by a point from a free by Ross Glynn. Dylan Ryan and Glynn added further points to their side’s tally.
Athleague/Tremane finally got on the board with a point from play by Owen Rogers, but they struggled to find their form.
Emmet Killeen added another point for Pádraig Pearses, and Glynn and Ryan continued to impress with well-taken scores. Athleague/Tremane managed one more point from a free by Adam Beckett in the first half.
At halftime, the score stood at Pádraig Pearses 1-10, Athleague/Tremane 0-2.
The second half started with a bang as Pádraig Pearses scored another goal — this time from Ryan — within the first 30 seconds. Substitute Joe Johnston added a point, which was followed by a goal from Adam Doran.
Frustration mounted for Athleague/Tremane, leading to two players being sent off. Pádraig Pearses continued to score freely, with Ryan adding another point and Glynn impressively pointing five times in the final quarter.
Adam Beckett managed to score another two frees before the final whistle, but it was too little too late for Athleague/Tremane.
The final between Four Roads and Pádraig Pearses will be played as a curtain raiser to the senior hurling championship final between Four Roads and Athleague on Sunday, October 1st.
