Dublin Plunkett and Clarke progress to Celtic Challenge semi-finals

Dublin will have two representatives in the Corn John Scott semi-finals following the weekend's Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge (U17 hurling) quarter-finals in the National Sports Campus, Abbotstown.

Dublin Plunkett defeated Kilkenny Black 2-13 to 1-10 (Pitch 1) while Dublin Clarke overcame Tipperary Blue 4-11 to 2-14 (Pitch 4).

They will be joined in the Corn John Scott semi-finals, which are scheduled for this Saturday (times/venues tbc) by Kerry and Cork City who recorded respective victories over Waterford and Limerick Treaty. 

Earlier in the competition Dublin Clarke and Plunkett both participated in Group C of the Celtic Challenge during the round-robin phase with Dublin Clarke finishing as runners-up behind the unbeaten Wexford.

Clarke enjoyed wins over Laois, Plunkett and Offaly after losing their opening game to Wexford.

Plunkett lost their opening three games to Wexford, Offaly and Dublin Clarke before defeating Laois in their concluding game.

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CELTIC CHALLENGE (Corn John Scott) QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN CLARKE 4-11 TIPPERARY BLUE 2-14

Dublin Clarke defeated Tipperary Blue in a pulsating Corn John Scott (Celtic Challenge) (U17) hurling quarter-final played in humid conditions at Abbottstown on Saturday afternoon.

In a game that had absolutely everything it was the Dublin team who had led comfortably at half-time but who just about pipped it with a goal from captain Rory O’Neill as the game headed into injury-time.

Dublin Clarke began the scoring in the first minute with a point from Rory O’Neill but three pointed frees from Tipperary Blue put them into an early lead.

Two points from play followed for Dublin Clarke with Jack Murray and Sam Stewart on target to level it and then Murray in the 11th minute scored one of the finest goals to be seen in any championship this season – latching onto a ball played in from the right wing he hit and unstoppable volley from 15 metres out to put Dublin Clarke 1-3 to 0-3 ahead.

Dublin Clarke and Tipperary Blue traded points until the 23rd minute when a high ball played into the Tipperary square wasn’t cleared, it broke loose and the hard working Ger Ryan threw himself at the sliothar and somehow flicked it into the Tipperary goal.

At half-time Dublin Clarke held a 2-8 to 0-7 advantage and looked good value for their endeavours with the full-back line of Luke Mulligan-Lynch, Evan McSherry and Jamie Herbert dominating.

Diarmuid Clerkin at centre-back was fully in control and the hard working pair of Liam Kiernan and Sam Stewart doing well at midfield.

Jack Kielthy at right-half-forward with 0-3 from play was on fire and keeper Ben Rodgers was also having a fine game with his puckouts finding his half-forward line consistently.

The loss of Cormac Cullinane, who was having a superb game, through injury at half time seemed to upset the Dublin momentum and Tipperary began the second half the stronger.

A couple of early points was followed by a well taken goal from Tipperary in the eighth minute.

Dublin Clarke hit back with a goal of their own from Jack Murray in the 41st minute. Murray, who won the Best and Fairest for the Dublin Clarke side, finished with a tally of 2-3 from play was a thorn in the Tipperary side showing and competing for every ball.

Over the next 15 minutes Tipperary hit their golden patch. They scored 1-5 to Dublin’s 0-2 over the remaining 15 mins with the goal coming in the 50th minute.

A couple of vital saves from Clarke keeper Ben Rodgers kept Dublin in the game when it seemed to be drifting.

On the 57th minute a point from Tipperary levelled the score and it looked like the momentum might be enough to carry Tipperary through.

It was then that Dublin Clarke captain Rory O’Neill stepped up. Gathering a ball 25 metres out he took on the Tipperary defence, forced his way through and managed to get off a shot that ended up in the back of the Tipperary net. O’Neill who finished with 1-2 from play worked tirelessly throughout the game.

That goal was enough to restore the advantage for Dublin Clarke and as injury-time played out Tipperary were unable to recover needing a goal of their own to stay in the competition.

Thus ended what was a pulsating and exciting game – two sides giving their all with Dublin Clarke edging out Tipperary Blue in the end by that last minute goal.

Dublin Clarke are through to the semi-final stages now and will have learned a lot from their quarter-final game. This team has character in abundance and will relish whatever challenge the semi-final draw can throw up for them.

SCORERS - Dublin Clarke: Jack Murray 2-3, Rory O’Neill 1-2, Ger Ryan 1-1 (0-1f), Jack Kielthy 0-3, Sam Stewart 0-2.

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CELTIC CHALLENGE (Corn John Scott) QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN PLUNKETT 2-13 KILKENNY BLACK 1-10

In an absorbing game Dublin Plunkett defeated Kilkenny Black by six points to gain a place in the Corn John Scott semi-final following last Saturday's Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge (U17 hurling) quarter-final in the National Sports Campus, Abbotstown.

Dublin Plunkett got off to a bright start with Daniel Peel and Eoin Wilde opening the scoring with points on the board within the first five minutes. However, they were quickly brought back level by Kilkenny Black.

The sides traded points with points scored by Dublin Plunkett’s Gordon Rogers and Sean Cooney cancelled out by well taken points from Kilkenny scores.

Kilkenny then scored a well-taken goal midway through the first half giving Adam O’Connor in the Dublin Plunkett net no chance.

Dublin Plunkett did not panic and driven on by the midfield pairing of Alex Gavin and Rhys McDonnell Dublin Plunkett were getting the ball into their forward line.

Dublin Plunkett had a great chance of a goal after the 20-minute mark when a great run by David Keogh set up a chance for Daniel Peel who was expertly denied by a Kilkenny block.

Dublin Plunkett did get their first goal minutes later when after some great interplay David Keogh found the net.

Dublin Plunkett kept the pressure on and in what was a key score just before half-time Eoin Wilde, who won the best and fairest player for Dublin Plunkett, got a ball on the wing, rounded his marker and from an acute angle made no mistake with a fantastic score for Dublin Plunkett to lead 2-7 to 1-5 at the interval.

Dublin Plunkett opened the scoring in the second half with two points from Gordon Rogers.

There was no let-up in intensity with both sides giving everything but Dublin Plunkett were managing to keep Kilkenny at arm's length with any score from Kilkenny cancelled out.

In particular there was some great scores from Dublin Plunkett’s Rhys McDonnell, Daniel Peel and Sean Cooney.

As with all Kilkenny teams they never give up and only for a tremendous stop by Adam O’Connor the finish may have been closer than Dublin Plunkett would have liked.

SCORERS - Dublin Plunkett: Eoin Wilde 1-1, Daniel Peel 0-4 (0-2f), Gordon Rogers, Sean Cooney 0-3 each, David Keogh 1-0, Rhys McDonnell 0-2,

DUBLIN PLUNKETT (Celtic Challenge v Kilkenny Black)

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CELTIC CHALLENGE GROUP C: Results

Round 1: Wexford 0-20 Dublin Plunkett 2-12; Laois 3-18 Offaly 2-15

Round 2: Offaly 2-11 Dublin Plunkett 2-10; Wexford 2-15 Dublin Clarke 1-12

Round 3: Dublin Clarke 1-20 Laois 1-11; Wexford 4-20 Offaly 2-6

Round 4: Dublin Clarke 6-18 Dublin Plunkett 1-16; Wexford 5-21 Laois 2-15

Round 5: Dublin Plunkett 0-23 Laois 3-12; Dublin Clarke 1-19 Offaly 1-15

CELTIC CHALLENGE GROUP C: Table

                            P W D L PTS

Wexford              4  4  0  0  8

Dublin Clarke    4  3  0  1  6

Dublin Plunkett 4  1  0  3  2

Laois                   4  1  0  3  2

Offaly                  4  1  0  2  2

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BANK OF IRELAND CELTIC CHALLENGE

QUARTER-FINALS (Saturday, June 15)

Corn John Scott

Dublin Clarke 4-11 Tipperary Blue 2-14

Dublin Plunkett 2-13 Kilkenny Black 1-10

Kerry 2-19 Waterford 3-12

Cork City 1-16 Limerick Treaty 2-11