Victory for U16 hurlers in Tipp

Dublin's U16 Hurlers epitomised development of hurling in the county as they captured their first ever All-Ireland U16 John Doyle Perpetual trophy on Saturday in Dundrum, Co Tipperary. 

In their first group game against Clare, 2-2 from Na Fianna’s Donal Burke and two points from the influential Kevin Callaghan (St Brigid’s) helped Dublin to a 2-7 to 1-6 victory. 

Their second game was a tight, tense affair against Wexford, and stellar displays from Eoin Foley (Naomh Olaf) and Cian O'Sullivan (St Brigids), and three points from Lucan Sarsfields' Ciarán Dowling ensured a 1-7 to 1-4 Dublin win. The final group game against Offaly was more one sided and Dublin won-out well with a score of 7-10 to 0-5. Na Fianna’s Colin Currie was top scorer with 2-5 while Lorcan Finnegan from Erins Isle and Johnny McGuirk from St Brigid's gave strong performances.

Having topped their group Dublin went on to meet Waterford in the Semi-Final. The sides were level coming up to half time, but a real purple patch from the Boys in Blue, hitting 2-2 without reply, ensured they were never in any trouble and ran out 3-9 to 1-3 winners with a Final against Kilkenny to look forward to. Colin Currie was top scorer again with 2-1 while Conor Burke from St Vincent’s hit 1-2.

In the final Dublin went 0-4 to 0-0 down in the first half and at half time were still trailing Kilkenny by three points. Superb second half points by Craobh Chiarain’s Conor Ryan and Eoin Foley of Naomh Olaf kept the Dubs in touch, but with 60 seconds left on the clock they were still trailing 0-9 to 0-6. However this is when the resilience and determination of this talented young side really came to the fore, and after a scramble in the Kilkenny goalmouth Johnny McGurk finished the ball to the net forcing the game into ten minutes of extra time. A point each from Eoin Foley, Colin Currie and Seafra Fitzgerald in extra time was enough to give Dublin a 1-9 to 0-9 victory and their first ever title in this competition. Best for Dublin in the final were captain, Seafra Fitzgerald (Na Fianna), along with Cian O'Sullivan and Mark O'Keeffe from St Vincent’s.