Ogra Naomh Lachtain (Freshford) 1-16
Mooncoin 2-7

Santa Clause came early to the players of Ogra Naomh Lachtain as they recorded a comprehensive victory over Mooncoin in U21 B hurling decider at Nowlan Park on Saturday. In truth the youths from Freshford were dominant throughout and hard as Mooncoin tried they didn’t have the hurlers in their ranks to compete equally with the opposition.

The Suirsiders were quickest into their stride thanks to a scrappy goal scored by young Thomas Healy however the response was immediate, with points from Cian Waldron and the Guinan brothers Paul and Eoin, levelling the scores. The Freshford men maintained this momentum and had a penalty claim turned down when Naoise Waldron felt he was fouled in the large square, before the aforementioned Waldron had an instinctive effort saved at his feet by goalkeeper Niall O’Hanlon. The Guinan’s continued to trouble the scoreboard, Paul with two and Eoin with one, while David Brennan also got in on the act. Mooncoin kept in touch through points from Ray Wall, Michael Grace and a 65 from Thomas O’Hanlon left the half time score Freshford 0-7 to Mooncoin 1-3.

The victors began the second half as they ended the first; in total control. They extended the lead through the Guinan’s once more before a shot from Michael Farrell ricocheted through a forest of defenders and into the Mooncoin net. It looked all up for the Southerners at this stage but they dug deep and were rewarded for their determination. Tom Hennebry began to halt the progress of Bill Beckett and helped himself to a couple of points in the process. Ray Wall added a free to intensify proceedings before the aforementioned Hennebry set up Keith Kirwin to rattle the net (F1-10 to M2-5). Wall converted another free to reduce the deficit however this was as close as they would get to the winners. Eoin Guinan added a couple of points in the space of a minute to kill off the Suirsiders gallant comeback. They eased themselves clear in the closing stages and the Guinan’s helped themselves to three more points before the end to add the final nails to the coffin.
In truth the winners performed best on the day and even though Mooncoin nearly brought the trophy home it would have been a travesty if they were victorious. The winners had sparkling performances from Michael Nolan, Bill Beckett and John Fitzpatrick in defence while Noel McGree and Vincent O’Donnell were prominent at midfield. The attack had a cutting edge thanks to the exploits of the Guinan’s (Paul and Eoin) and the Waldron’s (Cian and Naoise) who were prominent throughout.

The Mooncoin men will be disappointed to have performed so poorly on the big day having excelled throughout the championship. The defensive play of Cormac Daly, Derek Phelan and Paddy Kinsella was committed and intense. The midfield paring of Alan Walsh and Thomas O’Hanlon never got going while the attack lacked a cutting edge but not for the want of trying on the part of Michael Grace, Ray Wall and Thomas Hennebry when introduced.

Scorers
O.N.L.: E. Guinan (0-8 4f); P. Guinan (0-6); M. Farrell (1-0); D. Brennan & C. Waldron (0-1 each)
Mooncoin: R. Wall (0-3 2f); K. Kirwin & T. Healy (1-0); T. Hennebry (0-2);
M. Grace (0-1); T. O’Hanlon (0-1 65)

Teams
O.N.L.: T. Delaney; L. Darcy; M. Nolan; B. Hughes; M. Cormack; B. Beckett;
J. Fitzpatrick; N. McGree; V. O’Donnell; D. Brennan; C. Waldron; M. Brennan;
N. Waldron; E. Guinan; P. Guinan.

Mooncoin: N. O’Hanlon; P. Doody; N. Delahunty; C. Daly; P. Kinsella; D. Phelan;
P.J. Rowe; T. O’Hanlon; A. Walsh; K. Kirwin; C. Hearne; M. Grace; K. Law; R. Wall;
T. Healy
Subs: T. Hennebry; S. Walsh; M. O’Hanlon; T. Kearns.

Ref; Pl Connolly (Ballyhale)