Feakle/Killanena win U21 championship for second time

*Adam Hogan excelled in defence for the

FEAKLE/KILLANENA were crowned U21A hurling champions with a two point victory over Inagh/Kilnamona.

Feakle/Killanena 1-13
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-14
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

The curtain came down on the domestic hurling season at Dr. Daly Park in Tulla this Sunday when a big attendance was treated to a cracking under 21 A hurling championship final.

At the end of a pulsating tie, Feakle/Killanena were crowned champions as they recorded a two point win over Inagh/Kilnamona who put in a storming last quarter. It is the second time they have won the U21A championship.

There were great scenes of celebration as John Callinan from the competition sponsors, Berwick Law Practice, presented the trophy to the victorious captain Liam O’Connor, one of three brothers in the winners line up.

Points were exchanged three times in the opening ten minutes before a brace of Keith Smyth frees gave the East Clare side a lead they would hold to the finish. Points from Gearoid and Ronan Keane and another Smyth free saw the winners double their lead (0-8 to 0-4) by the twentieth minute.

Five minutes later midfielder Ian Macnamara struck for a superb goal and this helped his side to a five point (1-9 to 0-7) half time advantage.

Inagh/Kilnamona returned with Ricky Wynne in their defence in place of Colm Kearney while positional switches saw Cathal Ryan return to full forward where he had been named to start but in a late pre match change he was switched to defence to replace the injured James Cullinan.

The mid Clare outfit was dealt a big blow seven minutes into this half when they lost Sean Rynne to injury. Feakle/Killanena pounced for points from Ian Macnamara and Keith Smyth and with ten minutes of the new half played the East Clare side had stretched their lead to seven points and they looked to be heading for a comfortable win.

Inagh/Kilnamona had other ideas and they hit three points in the next five minutes through the Hegarty trio, Fred, James and Conner.

They were clearly growing in confidence and further points from Cathal Ryan and James Hegarty left two between the sides with five minutes to play.

Feakle/Killanena were clearly under pressure but their defence was superb with Adam Hogan in magnificent form at centre back while Oisin Clune and Enda Madden were also prominent.

As the game drifted into ‘added time’, Conner Hegarty cut the margin to the minimum when he converted a 30m free and extra time looked to be on the way.

After twenty minutes without a score Feakle/Killanena hit the target when Keith Smyth landed his eighth of the day and this proved to be the final score.

Captain Liam O’Connor was rock solid between the posts for the winners while Adam Hogan, Oisin Clune, Enda Madden, Ian McNamara, and Keith Smyth were others to make valuable contributions. They become the first team to win the championship having lost a game, they were defeated by Clarecastle in the group stages while the victory ensures an East Clare prevails in the competition for the second year in succession.

James Hegarty, Shane Woods, Fred Hegarty, Ronan Mescall and Eoghan Foudy were prominent for Inagh/Kilnamona.

Scorers Feakle/Killanena; Keith Smyth (0-8, 5 frees, 1 ‘65), Ian McNamara (1-1), Eonan O’Connor, Ronan Keane, Oisin O’Connor, Gearoid Keane (0-1) each

Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona; Conner Hegarty (0-4, 3 frees); James Hegarty (0-3, 2 frees); Ronan Mescall, Fred Hegarty (0-2) each; Colm Kearney, Cathal Ryan, Jamie Wynne (0-1) each.

Feakle/Killanena;
1: Liam O’Connor (Captain);

2: Conor McGann,
3: Eoghan Daly,
4: Enda Madden;

5: Oisin Clune,
6: Adam Hogan,
7: Padraig O’Callaghan;

8: Ronan O’Connor,
9: Ian Macnamara;

10: Ronan Keane,
11: Owen McGann,
12: Patrick Daly;

13: Oisin O’Connor,
14: Keith Smyth,
15: Gearoid Keane

Subs:
17: Seamie O’Donnell for O. McGann (45)
19: Darren McMahon for G. Keane (56)

Inagh/Kilnamona;
1: Jack O’Connor;

2: Colm Kearney,
3: Shane Woods,
14: Cathal Ryan;

5: Conor Rynne
6: James Hegarty,
7: Eoghan Foudy;

8: Sean Rynne,
9: Jamie Wynne;

18: Fred Hegarty
11: Conner Hegarty
12: Keith Barry