All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Hurling C Semi-Final
Ennistymon CBS 3-24
St Malachy’s Belfast 0-7
WHITEHALL Colmcille GAA club played host to this one sided semi-final on Saturday afternoon as Jason Daffy’s charges eased into the All-Ireland C hurling final, reports Michael O’Connor. Their opponents in this final will be Scoil Colm from Kilcormac. The Offaly school accounted for St Killian’s, New Inn to book their place in the decider on Friday.
The loss of Diarmuid Fahy in the football semi-final on Tuesday was an unfortunate loss to Ennistymon and he will now miss the remaining games in the season. However, the return from suspension of Josh Guyler allowed as efficient a scoring unit as exists in schools hurling to take St Malachy’s and stretch them to breaking point. When one sees, Rynne, Guyler, Woods and Mullins dictating matters from midfield upwards it is little wonder that Eugene Cullinan stayed on in the Inagh/Kilnamona hotseat for 2022.
Mullins set the tempo from the throw in with a goal within 30 seconds with Josh Guyler hitting over from play seconds later, The same double act repeated their early moves by the fifth minute as Ennistymon CBS led 2-2 to 0-0. Headlines are often reserved for scorers and central players but please note that wing back James Cullinan was as worthy of praise alongside Keith Barry as the duo controlled and swept up any attack of note from St Malachy’s.
John Rynne, Guyler (2) and Niall Mullins once again left the winners (2-6) to (0-1) clear after 17 minutes playing against a stiff breeze. St Malachy’s did well for the remaining ten minutes of the first half but had only three points to show for their efforts and half a dozen unwanted wides in the Dublin venue. John Rynne and Guyler who were operating a two-man target operation with success shared a hat trick of scores to leave the Munster champions 2-9 to 0-4 clear at the interval.
The Ulster B champions struck early in the second-half with the first score. Once more though the North Clare school rallied with five on the bounce from Guyler (3), Rynne and Josh Vaughan to open up a 15 point lead with 20 minutes action left on the clock.
Ennistymon CBS did see at least four more goal opportunities go abegging in the last quarter but it matter little as success and a place in the final was assured. Guyler saw his initial effort saved but the onrushing MacDara O’Keeffe doubled to the net. Rynne (4), Barry and Guyler (3) continued the relentless rate of successful efforts going over from all angles as both sides emptied their benches especially Ennistymon with thoughts moving quickly to the All Ireland football final on Saturday next. Fittingly hard-working midfielder Shane Woods who had three wides during the hour had the final score of the game as there was no wild celebration amongst this seasoned group as the next game quickly game in focus.
Ennistymon CBS were served well by Marc O’Loughlin Liam Cotter, Ricky Wynne, James Cullinan, Shane Woods, Keith Barry, Niall Mullins as well as the attacking duo of Guyler and Rynne who shared 20 points. Scoil Colm, Kilcormac will offer a huge test but Ennistymon have been passing exams all terms on both fronts.
Ennistymon CBS: Kieran Daniels (Kilmaley), Coleman Kelly (Inagh/Kilnamona), Marc O’Loughlin (Corofin), Mark Callinan (Inagh/Kilnamona), Liam Cotter (Ennistymon), Ricky Wynne (Inagh/Kilnamona), James Cullinan (Inagh/Kilnamona), Shane Woods (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-1), Keith Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-1), Josh Vaughan (Ennistymon) (0-1), Niall Mullins (Inagh/Kilnamona) (2-1), MacDara O’Keeffe (Ennistymon) (1-0), Josh Guyler (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-12), Sean Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-8), Jamie Wynne (Inagh/Kilnamona). Subs: Michael Kelleher (Ennistymon) for Mullins (inj), Paudie Considine (Ennistymon) for Cotter, Conor Morrissey (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Rynne, Adrian O’Leary (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Callinan, Padraic O’Dwyer (Ennistymon) for Vaughan
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.