Glory for Boherbue as long wait ends

Boherbue 1-11 Robert Emmets 1-5: Boherbue ended a 29-year gap to capture the Duhallow U21AFC title from holders Robert Emmets in an exciting decider at Ballydemond last night.

At the end of the hour, the hungrier challengers possessed enough defensive clout, sharpness and an ability to carve out scoring opportunities to halt the march of the Newmarket and Lismire combination.

Emmets had put down a marker from the outset before Boherbue bossed proceedings that saw David O’Connor blast a penalty over the crossbar.

Emmets rallied, Daniel Culloty’s cross placed Ryan O’Keeffe to net.

Again Boherbue grafted surperbly, Bryan Herlihy, Richard Moynihan and O’Connor split the uprights for a 0-7 to 1-2 advantage at the break.

On the restart, Boherbue attacked but a series of wides undid excellent approach work.

A steady Emmets made inroads on points to Conor O’Keeffe and Barry O’Connor for a brief lead.

Credit a ravenous Boherbue on wrestling back the initiative with rapid fire points to Kevin Cremin, Ross O’Connor, Herlihy and Richard Moynihan.

On the run to the finishing line, Boherbue held their focus and applied the icing on the cake with a late Moynihan goal.

Scorers for Boherbue:

R Moynihan (1-2), B Herlihy 0-5(0-3f), D O’Connor 0-2(0-1p), K Cremin, R O’Connor 0-1 each.

Robert Emmets:

R O’Keeffe (1-0), D Culloty 0-2f, B O’Connor (0-2), C O’Keeffe 0-1f.

BOHERBUE:

D Murphy; C J O’Sullivan, D Moynihan, D Buckley; R O’Connor, J Herlihy, J Daly; K Cremin, B O’Gorman; B Herlihy, A O’Connor, R Moynihan, A Murphy; D O’Connor, S Ahern. Sub. D O’Sullivan for R O’Connor(59).

ROBERT EMMETS:

E O’Connell; J Sheehan, J Guiney, D Norton; J Murphy, D Hannon, M McSweeney; A Ryan, M Cottrell; R O’Keeffe, C Browne, C O’Keeffe; B O’Connor, D Culloty P Buckley. Subs. J Murphy for Buckley(55), C Field for O’Connor(bc 58).

Referee:

E Walsh(Freemount).