’Bridge U-16A make it five-in-a-row

Sixmilebridge   5-5

Éire Óg  0-9

Sixmilebrige strolled to their fifth U-16A Hurling Championship in a row last Saturday evening in Cusack Park as they smashed in four goals in the opening half to lay the foundations for a well-deserved victory over Éire Óg.

Heavy downpours throughout the day, allied to the fact that Cratloe and Lissycasey had only hours previously played out a turbulent senior football quarter final, created a slippery and cut-up surface at the county grounds.
The conditions made it difficult and this was illustrated in the stop-start nature that defined the opening half. ’Bridge midfielder Brian Corry, star of their semi-final win over Clarecastle, was the first to trouble the scorekeeper as he shot what was the score of the day inside five minutes. Collecting the ball along the sideline, Corry struck sweetly off his left side, which sailed between the posts to give the winners an advantage that they would never relinquish.
A pointed free from Conor Deasy followed before he executed his first of what would be a hat-trick of goals, on 10 minutes. The skilful full-forward won the ball 30 yards from goal and turned with one thing on his mind. Despite some excellent defending from Éire Óg’s Dylan Casey and Kieran Malone, Deasy was able to formulate a well-taken strike off his left side, which Seán Smyth in the Townie goal was powerless to stop.
A major characteristic of the victorious ’Bridge team throughout this championship has been their ability to land goals at crucial times in games. This trait was once again on show as Eóin Flynn pounced on a Stephen Mulready shot that had hit the post to blast the winners in to an insurmountable lead. Further misery was heaped upon the Townies as Brian Corry struck for another goal while a Conor Deasy free from out the field somehow managed to find its way to the net. Points from Casey (free), Conor O’Halloran and James Wylde didn’t help in bolstering Éire Óg’s chances going in at the break, as they trailed 4-4 to 0-3.
The second period of the match was a dour affair as the Bridge were efficient and compact in defence without ever looking as dangerous in the forward line as they had been during the opening half. Alex Morey proved to be the hero of this period, clearing endless amounts of ball as the winner’s defence stood strong despite an admirable fightback from a depleted Éire Óg forward line in which Paddy O’Malley, captain Nathan Murray and substitute Shane O’Connell worked hard.
However, Sixmilebridge’s half-back line ruled the roost, with Morey dominating the centre, Mulready playing with a commanding flair and Kevin Fennessy dropping back to hurl intelligently throughout. Goalkeeper Jason Loughnane would also provide an inspirational moment as he saved wonderfully from a Dylan Casey effort.  Casey had been employed at full-forward for the majority of the second period in an attempt to gain some parity on the scoreboard.
Deasy provided the only two scores for the champions in the second half, one being a superb point from play while the other a well-drilled penalty after some excellent work from substitute Tony McNamara. This was all irrelevant however, as the ’Bridge had done enough in the first half to claim victory for the fifth year in succession at U-16 level.
After the game, PRO of Bórd na nÓg Iomáint and Sixmilebridge clubman Tom Sheehan presented the Fr McNamara Trophy to joint captains Alex Morey and Conor Deasy.

Sixmilebridge: Jason Loughnane; Mark Quinn, Barry Fitzpatrick, Cathaoir Agnew; Stephen Mulready, Alex Morey, Shane McInerney; Gavin Whyte, Brian Corry (1-2); Éoin Flynn (1-0), Eóin McMahon, Kevin Fennessy; Cathal Lynch, Conor Deasy (3-3, 1-1f, 1 pen), Robbie Corry.
Subs: Tony McNamara, Tomás Sheehan.

Éire Óg: Seán Smyth; Jack Keating, Kieran Malone, Cian Ó Ceallaigh; Dara Walsh (0-1), Dylan Casey (0-1), Conor O’Halloran (0-1); Lee Quirke, Michael Moloney; John Allen, Nicky Twumasi, James Wylde (0-1); Liam Lynch, Nathan Murray (0-4), Paddy O’Malley.
Subs: Shane O’Connell (0-1), Rory Fitzgibbon.
Referee: Ger Lyons, Ruan