Clare’s Crotty leads UL to emphatic Freshers’ title win

Scariff’s Patrick Crotty captained UL to a 1-20 to 0-11 victory over DCU in the All Ireland fresher Division 1 hurling final, writes Michael O Connor.

AN expected Fresher A hurling title when the way of recently crowned Fitzgibbon champions UL at NUIGalway GAA grounds as DCU who had edged past MTUC were no match for the Joe McGrath managed side.

Rarely at third level GAA did a side commence the season as nigh on impossible to overcome in the eyes of the fans and pundits. The UL fresher team with three members of the Limerick Senior panel and emerging talent such as Clare’s Pat Crotty increased the aura of invincibility.

UL accounted for UCD in the semi final by 37 points with key players being replaced early in the second half.

A dozen points separated the sides at the final whistle, yet it was a contest that was effectively over by the end of the first quarter as the dominance in key areas by a powerfully built UL side ensured DCU who played with a sweeper never got a foothold on proceedings.

After five minutes UL were four clear as Aiden O Connor (3) and Limerick senior Cathal O Neill were on target. The hard-working Joe Flanagan finally got the Dublin college off the mark with a brace of scores by the 7th minute.

There was no let up for DCU who required a salvo of goals in this game to be competitive but with UL scoring points at will and not requiring to hunt for goals it was so difficult for DCU on all fronts.

Aiden O Connor who was selected as man of the match and Colin Coughlan added minors as did impressive DCU freetaker Denis Walsh from Dunnamaggin.

Nonetheless when Adam English goaled in the 14th minute that added to a well taken long range score from Cathal O Neill one sensed that the game was now becoming a formality.

UL were now six points clear, (1-7) to (0-4) at the end of the opening quarter.

The winning of the game if there was any real doubt was franked in the second quarter as UL at their ease outscored DCU (0-5) to (0-1) with Cathal O Neill, Conor Cadell, Aiden O Connor, Adam English and Scariff’s Keelan Hartigan on the scoresheet with a single response from Walsh.

At the break 10 points, (1-12) to (0-5) was the gap as the intensity of exchanges had dipped markedly.

Inagh/Kilnamona’s Conner Hegarty and Clonlara’s Colm O Meara entered the fray early in the second half. For the remainder of the game DCU battled manfully and to their credit denied UL a goal rush even though the champions hit 19 wides opposed to 9 for DCU.

Seven second half scores for UL came courtesy of Adam English, Colin Coughlan, team Captain Pat Crotty, Aiden O Connor (0-2), Colm O Meara and Conner Hegarty as DCU popped over half a dozen in reply; the biting cold was the biggest enemy in the second half.

The champions had a complete team performance with their big-name players delivering well as demanded. A number of these same UL players will be in opposite camps next month as Clare and Limerick face off in the Munster Under 20 hurling championship.

Following the game Mike Hyland, Chairperson of CA third level GAA presented the John Corcoran cup to UL Captain and Clare native Patrick Crotty.

SCORERS: UL: Aidan O’Connor 0-7 (3frees), Adam English 1-2, Cathal O’Neill 0-4, Colin Coughlan 0-2 (1free), Conor Cadall, Keelin Hartigan, Patrick Crotty, Conner Hegarty and Colm O’Meara 0-1 each. DCU: Denis Walsh 0-5 (5frees), Joe Flanagan 0-3, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Ger Ryan (free) and Gordon Rodgers (free) 0-1 each.

UL: Stephen O Halloran (Craughwell), Conor O Dwyer (Cashel King Cormacs), Christy Brennan (Clarinbridge), Michael Corcoran (Silvermines) Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown, Ethan Hurley (Newcastlewest), Sean O Hanlon (Turloughmore), Conor Cadell(JK Brackens), Max Hackett (Moycarkey Borris), Keelan Hartigan (Scariff), Pat Crotty (Scariff), Cathal O Neill (Crecora), Ian Byrne (Glenmore), Aiden O Connor (Ballybrown), Adam English (Doon). Subs: Conner Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona, Clare) for Ian Byrne (h-t), Colm O’Meara (Clonlara, Clare) for Keelin Hartigan (40mins), Barry Duff (Mungret) for Conor O’Dwyer (50mins), Stephen Ferncombe (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary) for Conor Cadall (52mins), Chris Thomas (Doon, Limerick) for Sean O’Hanlon (54mins).
DCU: Cian Byrne (Rosslare), Fionn Rock (O Tooles), Eoin Forbes (Craobh Chiaran), Eddie Kelly (Davidstown), Paul Dolan (Eire-og), Diarmuid Clerkin (Na Fianna), Ciaran Doyle Maher (Rathnure), Fiachta Fitzpatrick (Mount Leinster Rangers), Thomas Hurley (Raheny), Denis Walsh (Dunnamaggin), Joe Flanagan (Naomh Barrog), Neil Clerkin (St Oliver Plunketts), Ger Ryan (St Oliver Plunketts) Eoin O Connor (Fingallians), Diarmuid O Leary (St Martins). Subs: Elly Cullen (Ballygunner, Waterford) for Neil Clerkin (42mins), Evin Dowling (Lucan Sarsfield, Dublin) for Denis Walsh, inj (46mins), Eoin Crowley (Carrickshock, Kilkenny) for Eoin O’Connor (55mins), Joe Curtis (Kilanerin, Wexford) for Ger Ryan (59mins), Gordon Rodgers (Fingallians, Dublin) for Diarmuid O’Leary (59mins).
Referee: Shane Guinan (Offaly)