Dashing Duhallow battle back

IT MIGHT have been bitingly cold, damp and miserable at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night, yet hardly anyone noticed. With the action tough and uncompromising and a plethora of great scores, this Evening Echo Cork Co U-21 HC final was spellbinding and had late drama to cap a compelling night.

Bravo Duhallow. Down seven points with as many minutes remaining, most sides would have wilted. But not this bunch of hurling tigers as late goals from Shane Hehir and Denis Roche, whose shot was deflected by a defender past Glen keeper Cathal Hickey, saved what looked like another final defeat following their recent minor loss to Sarsfields.

And the superb Lorcan McLoughlin even came within a whisker of actually winning it for the battling divisional side.

But it would have been rough justice on the Glen if they had lost this riveting contest. A splendid hurling side, they have been terrific throughout this championship and they again hurled brilliantly on Saturday night. Quite simply, a draw was the right result for two reasons — the Glen’s clever and clued-in hurling for nearly 50 minutes and Duhallow’s memorable fight back which is sure to bring a bumper crowd to the venue for next Sunday’s replay.

The post match comments from both managers were apt and sincere. Duhallow boss Jimmy Murphy was almost in tears in awe of his side’s gallant fight back. “I’m so proud of them. I did think the game was gone from us when we were seven points down. But, look, in hurling you always have a chance, and especially with a bunch of players like these. What a finish they gave us and with Shane O’Riordan back next week I think our side will be stronger. And, remember, 13 of these lads are underage again next year so tonight’s experience is sure to bring them on.”

Glen’s Ian Lynam also praised his players. “We hurled magnificently for long periods, but we really should have put them away when we went seven points up. We should have pushed on then, but when they got their first goal it gave them the impetus to come back at us and we struggled. But that’s hurling and we’re still there.”

No question in these conditions it was quite superb hurling from both sides, magnificent scoring too with Aidan Walsh making a quick impression for Duhallow with two of their opening three points. But Patrick Horgan’s accuracy from frees and some fine striking from Kevin Barry had the Glen 0-5 to 0-4 in front after the opening quarter. There was a terrific battle around midfield between Glen’s Derek O’Toole and Dean Brosnan and Duhallow pair Lorcan McLoughlin and Benjy Sheehy. But it was the switch of Stephen McDonnell over to curb the threat of Duhallow danger man Walsh that enabled the Glen to grow in ascendancy. Horgan then got his lone point from play and Eoin Cronin followed with two more as the Glen began to take control. But Duhallow were always in the picture and points from Liam Collins and Kevin Mannix kept them alive at the break when trailing 0-12 to 0-9.

Huffing and puffing aplenty in the third quarter and with John McLoughlin sticking like glue to Horgan, the Cork attacker was well subdued. Not much scoring either, Conor Dorris and Horgan with a free on target for the Glen and Lorcan McLoughlin with two frees replying for Duhallow.

But then a final 15 minutes to savour. First a 46th minute Glen goal from the ever dangerous Dorris, after the Duhallow defence failed to deal with Richard Whitty’s delivery. Glen turned on the power now and a combination of no-nonsense defending and better use of possession enabled them race into a 1-18 to 0-14 lead with seven minutes remaining. Game over surely.

But Duhallow were far from finished and rocked the Glen in the 57th minute when Walsh’s superb run set up Shane Hehir for a lifeline goal and a grand finale. And when captain Denis Roche got a second, with the help of a deflection, on 60 minutes just a point separated the sides.

Then a peach of an equalising point from Walsh. And, with the Duhallow crowd going wild, deep into four minutes of injury time they might have won it only for Lorcan McLoughlin’s shot to sail agonisingly wide of the posts.

But no-one cribbing really – after a cracker like this in such conditions a replay was fair. Hurling was the big winner.

Scorers for Duhallow: L. McLoughlin 0-6 (0-5 frees), A. Walsh 0-4, S. Hehir and D. Roche 1-0 each, K. Mannix 0-2 (0-1 free), S. O’Sullivan, L. Collins K. Sullivan 0-1 each.

Glen Rovers: C. Dorris 1-4, P. Horgan 0-6 (0-5 frees), K. Barry 0-5, E. Cronin 0-2, B. Moylan 0-1 (free).

DUHALLOW: K. Roche (Banteer); M. Forrest (Meelin), A. O’Connor (Kanturk), K. Smith (do); W. Egan (Kilbrin), M. Ellis (Millstreet), J. McLoughlin (Kanturk); L. McLoughlin (do), B. Sheehy (Tullylease); D. O’Sullivan (Kilbrin), K. Mannix (Banteer), A. Walsh (Kanturk); S. Hehir (Tullylease), L. Collins (Meelin), D. Roche (Banteer).

Sub: K, Sullivan (Newmarket) for O’Sullivan (35).

GLEN ROVERS: C. Hickey; K. O’Sullivan, D. Mulcahy, C. Spain; S. Hegarty, B. Moylan, S. McDonnell; D. O’Toole, D. Brosnan; P. Horgan, R. Whitty, E. Cronin; C. Dorris, B. O’Donovan, K. Barry.

Subs: D. O’Callaghan for Whitty (46); A. Evans for O’Sullivan (60).

Referee: K. Healy (Ballymartle).