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.
U16 Dublin Panel
Dara Perry
St Vincents
Conor Ryan
Craobh Chiarain
Daire Gray
Whitehall Colmcilles
Jack O’Neill
St Brigids
Eanna MacDomhnaill
St Vincents
Jack McVeigh
Faughs
Cian O’Sullivan
St Brigids
Kevin Callaghan
St Brigids
Ciaran Dowling
Lucan Sarsfields
Donal Burke
Na Fianna
Colin Currie
Na Fianna
Eoin Foley
St Olafs
Seafra Fitzgerald
Na Fianna
Conor Burke
St Vincents
Aidan Mellett
Ballyboden St Endas
Ryan Defelice
Cuala
Lorcan Finnegan
Erins Isle
Jonny McGuirk
St Brigids
Peter Feeney
Na Fianna
Cillian Byrne
Ballyboden St Endas
John Walsh
St Vincents
Mark O’Keeffe
St Vincents
Conor Lennon
St Finnians
Brian Moulds
Kevins
Brian Dennis
Naomh Barrog
Dara McHugh
Na Fianna
Donnacha Ryan
St Brigids
Dylan Considine
Whitehall Colmcilles
Glen Doderill
Naomh Fhionnbarra
Jack McVeigh
Faughs
James Holland
Ballyboden St Endas
Kevin Elliott
Crumlin
Paddy Smyth
Clontarf
Ronan Hayes
Kilmacud Crokes
Sean Dunphy
Wild Geese
Tom O Flaherty
Clontarf
Management Team
Paul O Brien
Crumlin
Eoin Roche
Faughs
Gar O Driscoll
Naomh Mearnog