HURLING: Broadford secure final U-15 silverware

U-15B Hurling Shield Final
Broadford 1-16 Corofin/Ruan 1-11

THE U-15 Hurling competitions finished in style in Glenomra Park on Wednesday evening when hosts Broadford secured a merited B Shield Final victory over Corofin/Ruan.
Having lost this decider last year along with the U-14B Championship Final, it was an encouraging step in the right direction for Broadford who picked off some fine scores over the hour.
Aodhan O’Driscoll, Michael Vaughan, Cormac Gunning and Hughie Vaughan were impressive marksmen while captain John Moran, Fiachra McNamara and goalkeeper Jack Lovett were others to shine for the home side.
Corofin/Ruan who also suffered defeat in the Féile B Final, were without a handful of players but aside from an excellent leadership display from scorer-in-chief James Cullinan who raided for 1-9 along with Daniel Guinnane, Jack Lordan and Daniel McInerney, they found it increasingly difficult to match Broadford’s appetite and intensity.
With whatever conditions there were in balmy Broadford at their backs for the opening half, Corofin/Ruan matched their hosts for the majority. A potentially narrative altering moment arrived in the 24th minute when Daniel McInerney was brought down for a penalty that James Cullinan decisively dispatched to the roof of the net at 1-4 to 0-5. However, that boost would last mere seconds as from the resulting puck-out, the ball was worked to James O’Donnell whose shot was saved, only for Jack Tobin to flick the rebound to the net and restore a minimum home lead.
Late points from Michael Vaughan and Cormac Gunning would catapult Broadford to a 1-7 to 1-5 interval advantage before finishing the game as a contest with a clinical third quarter.
Outscoring a shell-shocked Corofin/Ruan by 0-8 to 0-2, Broadford put eight points between the sides by the turn for home at 1-15 to 1-7. Amidst six different scorers in that rally, a brace of Aodhan O’Driscoll points in particular epitomised Broadford’s collective superiority and added guile.
To their credit, Corofin/Ruan didn’t drop their heads and finished with four of the last five points, three from the tireless Cullinan. However, the goal they craved to really ignite their comeback bid never came, with stinging efforts from Cullinan and Joe Slattery both repelled by Broadford’s miserly defence, headed by goalkeeper Jack Lovett.
Indeed, an upset never appeared on the cards as Broadford eased up to their first silverware of the year.

Broadford: Jack Lovett; Daniel Greene, Adam Flynn, Cathal Moloney; Fiachra McNamara, John Moran, Mark McNamara; Oisin McMahon, Michael Vaughan; Aodhan O’Driscoll, Cormac Gunning, Michael O’Donoghue; James O’Donnell, Jack Tobin, Hughie Vaughan Subs: John Moloney for Tobin (35), Ronan O’Connell for O’Donnell (60)

Scorers: Michael Vaughan (0-4, 3f); Aodhan O’Driscoll, Cormac Gunning (0-3 each); Jack Tobin (1-0); Hughie Vaughan, James O’Donnell (0-2 each); Michael O’Donoghue, John Moran (1’65) (0-1 each)

Corofin/Ruan: Jack Lordan; Harry Fine, Daniel Guinnane, Rory Meaney; Charlie McCarthy, Diarmuid Hastings, Jake White; Sean Healy, Joe Slattery; Seanán Kirby, James Cullinan, Jamie Ryan; Cathal Noonan, Daniel McInerney, Daniel Toone Subs: Joe Meaney for R. Meaney (40), Sam Kelly for Noonan (42), Cillian Carroll for Toone (57)

Scorers: James Cullinan (1-9, 1-0 Pen, 4f, 1’65); Joe Slattery, Daniel McInerney (0-1 each)

Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)