Round Up: U21 Hurling Championship Finals

The Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Championship final took place on Saturday morning with Kilmacud Crokes finally getting the better of Lucan Sarsfields, winning by 3-1 on penalties at O’Toole Park.

The two clubs played out an enthralling Minor ‘A’ decider six days previously and they duly delivered once again, with the contest finishing at 0-27 apiece after extra-time.

The lottery of penalties decided the issue with Crokes confirming their victory following the conversions by Brendan Scanlan, Darren Crowley and Brendan Kenny.

The was rarely much to separate the teams as Lucan led by 0-11 to 0-10 at the break with Sean Harkness popping over a couple of excellent points for Sarsfields.

They pushed four points clear midway through the second-half but Crokes, driven on by the defensive excellence of Cian Ó Cathasaigh and Leo Fearon finished strongly to retore parity at 0-20 apiece at full-time.

Scanlan was hugely influential throughout for Kilmacud, scoring twelve points in total, while Dara Purcell (0-5), Sean Purcell (0-1) and Conor Hughes (0-2) more than playing their part up front.

It proved similarly tight in the ‘B’ decider as St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh finished strongly to edge Faughs by 1-16 to 2-11 at Tymon Park.

Four early points from James O’Brien saw Faughs seize the early initiative and a 14^th minute goal from Conor Kenny pushed the hosts six points clear.

Crucially, the visitors stemmed the flow through the free-taking of Ger Ryan as they reduced their deficit to four points (1-8 to 0-7) by half-time.

Points from O’Brien and Kevin Hogan kept Faughs on the front foot after the break but three successive frees from Ryan ensured that Plunkett’s were slowly playing their way back into contention.

They got their noses in front thanks to a scruffy goal by substitute Eoghan Byrne and while Conor Brennan netted at the opposite end for Faughs, two placed balls from Ryan ensured a deserved two-point win for Plunkett’s.

Ryan’s tally of 0-13 all came from placed balls and his efforts alongside those of Ben McSweeney, Jack O’Shea and Dennis McSweeney proved instrumental by the final whistle.

There was another away win in the ‘C’ final as Clontarf defeated St Jude’s by 1-16 to 0-13 in Tymon Park.

The visitors struck for an early goal through full-forward Charlie Costello and they continued to impress through their midfield pairing of Joe Sheppard and Patrick O’Grady.

Sheppard worked wonders in gaining possession and creating turnovers while O’Grady chipped in with three points from play for Clontarf.

Tommy O’Brien proved a nuisance for the home defence while the scoring contributions of Mikey Devins (0-6) and Sean O’Grady (0-2) handed ‘Tarf sufficient breathing room by the end.

Sheppard’s Dublin minor teammate Callum Graham was sharp throughout for St Jude’s, contributing 0-7 (4f) while Cuan Manning added a trio of scores over the hour.

Cian Langan also impressed for the hosts but his display and further scores by Finbarr Wardick and Mick Foley proved in vain by the final whistle.

In the ‘D’ decider at Blunden Drive, Aaron Cooling scored 2-2 in helping O’Toole’s to defeat Round Towers Clondalkin by 2-15 to 2-8 at Blunden Drive.

The home defence was best served by wing-back Fionn Rock and centre-back Luke Webster while further up the field, Scott Cassidy Walker chipped in with nine points, six from placed balls.

The Larriers scoring was completed by Danny O’Sullivan, Joey Hoey and Ryan Rooney with Towers’ spirited display punctuated by goals in either half from Ben English and Mick Broderick.

U21 ‘A’ HC final: Kilmacud Crokes 0-27 Lucan Sarsfields 0-27. Kilmacud win 3-1 on penalties.

U21 ‘B’ HC final: Faughs 2-11 St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh 1-16.

U21 ‘C’ HC final: St Jude’s 0-13 Clontarf 1-16.

U21 ‘D’ HC final: O’Toole’s 2-15 Round Towers Clondalkin 2-8.

U21 ‘E’ HC final: St Peregrine’s 3-16 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-11.