Cork 1-19
Dublin 1-17
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
CORK HELD OFF Dublin’s late challenge to clinch victory in the inaugural All-Ireland U17 hurling final today and provide a boost ahead of the county’s double All-Ireland semi-final billing next Sunday.
Cork will face Dublin in the minor semi-final in next weekend’s curtain-raiser and today’s victory provided a fillip for the Rebels with Daire Connery, Colin O’Brien and Declan Hanlon – all part of the minor squad – leading the scoring charge for Cork.
Connery and O’Brien shared free-taking duties as they struck 0-11 between them while Hanlon chipped in with 0-3 from play.
Cork held a narrow advantage at the break by 1-9 to 1-8 and pushed on in the third quarter to go 1-14 to 1-11 clear. Dublin were reduced to 14 men in the 41st minute when midfielder Tom Aherne was shown a second yellow card. Connery played the role of spare man in defence and mopped up plenty clearances to assist the Cork rearguard.
But Dublin kept challenging despite operating with 14 men. They cut the gap on a few occasions with corner-forward Liam Murphy’s free-taking razor sharp while defenders Enda O’Donnell and Lee Gannon also got forward for key scores.
Yet they could not draw level and Cork benefited from the contribution of substitute Owen McCarthy as he picked off two important points from play.
The first half hdd produced a pair of goals, one for either side. Dublin were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute after Kevin Kirwan was fouled and goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons travelled upfield to slam a low short to the net past Eoin Davis.
Six minutes later Cork cancelled that strike out when they raised a green flag of their own. Joe Stack finished decisively from close range after he outmuscled Dublin defender Kevin Burke following a long delivery from wing-back Aaron Walsh-Barry.
Dublin were awarded a second penalty after half-time when Murphy was fouled but on this occasion Gibbons drive whistled over the bar.
Cork pushed on after that with four unanswered points and despite Dublin’s late advances, John Considine’s side held firm to clinch the victory.
Scorers for Cork: Daire Connery 0-6 (0-5f), Colin O’Brien 0-5 (0-3f), Declan Hanlon 0-3, Joe Stack 1-0, Blake Murphy, Owen McCarthy 0-2 each, Cormac O’Brien 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: Liam Murphy 0-7 (0-7f), Eddie Gibbons 1-1 (1-1 pen), Lee Gannon, Billy Ryan 0-2 each, Enda O’Donnell, Tom Aherne, Mícheál Murphy (0-1f), Mark Grogan, Kevin Kirwan 0-1 each.
Cork
1. Eoin Davis (St Catherine’s)
2. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)
3. Ciarán Nyhan (Ballinascarthy)
4. Ronan Sheehan (Mallow)
5. Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum)
6. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtariffe)
7. Aaron Walsh Barry (Carrigtwohill)
8. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh)
9. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers)
10. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)
11. Declan Hanlon (Blarney)
12. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
13. Blake Murphy (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Joe Stack (Castlemartyr)
15. Colin O’Brien (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels)
Subs
23. Owen McCarthy (Inniscarra) for O’Connell (35)
24. Shane Barrett (Blarney) for Murphy (52)
Dublin
1. Eddie Gibbons (Kilmacud Crokes)
2. Andrew Dunphy (St Brigid’s)
3. Kevin Burke (Na Fianna)
4. Tommy Kinnane (Naomh Mearnóg)
5. Seán Kinsella (Kilmacud Crokes)
6. Enda O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
7. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille)
8. Tom Aherne (Ballinteer St John’s)
9. Mícheál Murphy (Na Fianna)
10. Mark Grogan (Kilmacud Crokes – captain)
11. Billy Ryan (Craobh Chiaráin)
12. Kevin Kirwan (Cuala)
13. Liam Murphy (Cuala)
14. Kevin Desmond (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
15. Luke McDwyer (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
Subs
19. Seán Clerkin (St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh) for Desmond (44)
20. Liam Dunne (Raheny) for Murphy (51)
24. Mark Sweeney (St Vincent’s) for Kirwan (53)
Referee: John Keane (Galway)
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Hope he gets a run in the 1st team soon enough. Koop obviously rates him very highly.
@Daniel Donovan: Klopp*
To be honest even though what the young lad has achieved is a credit to himself and his family ,I’d be holding back on these articles to give the lad a chance.theres no doubt he’s living the dream but he’s not there yet.
@james lee: exactly… get back to us when he gets 20 league appearances under his belt… fair play to him all the same I hope he makes it
Classif jounral to make any sort of an Irish sportsperson talents back to the GAA when it has no relevance #somereporting
@Gavin O’Donovan: It’s a human interest story. This is common with celebrities. Plenty of coverage of Harrison Ford’s piloting. Nothing to do with his acting… Masterson is a nuanced human being beyond his football. The fact he’s good at gaelic is part of that. Get over it.
@Alan J. McKenna: well said Alan
He can make the bench for Liverpool but not the Irish u21 team. Something wrong someplace
Time will tell. If he handles the ball, shoots over the bar, injects veterinary hormones and gets involved in handbags on the pitch every 10 minutes for LFC then he’s probably a GAA player.
Good man Gerry Kearns. fair play to the young lad hope makes it .
You would wonder what professional sporting careers some of the top GAA players in the country would have if they played a different sport. Some might say it’s a wasted talent
@Alana: may not make it in other sports
@bmul: did you read the article ? Niall Quinn, Kevin Moran, Zebo, Tomás O Leary the list is endless of players who played GAA and made it as pro athletes in other sports.
“If he was playing chess”