This game under 15 hurling final was played in beautiful sunshine in a well-kept Blarney venue. The game started off at a frenetic pace, and right from the off, Alex Flynn showed the handful he was going to pose for the Capwell boys when he plucked a ball from the skies and ran at goal and unleashed a ball that looked destined for the right corner of the net. However we saw what was going to prove another pattern of the game with the Nemo goalie pulling off a fantastic save.
At the other end Nemo popped over a couple of points to go into an early lead. Jack Harte settled into the game very well and hurled an amount of ball from his berth in the full back line. Outside him Evan Quain dominated his patch of ground and more over the entire 60 minutes; particularly when it was needed most.
The Nemo custodian was finally broken after 17 minutes with Flynn raising the first of his two green flags – the first being a timely and well-deserved score. Shay Murphy was now beginning to make his presence felt and it was obvious Colmcilles were up for the challenge.
A couple of halftime substitutions and positional switches seemed to get a better balance Colmcilles with both Cian Dunne and Ciarán Ryan bringing added energy and teamwork to the side. However, Nemo too upped their game and with Colmcille’s finishing letting them down the Turner’s Cross side led by two heading into the final quarter. A further shuffle of the deck saw Dylan McDonnell switch with Flynn on the edge of the small square and this move suited both players, and the team too… When McDonnell caught a great ball from the heavens it was obvious he had only one thing on his mind and struck for a goal that tested every fabric of fibre in the host venue’s nets! Nemo responded with renewed endeavour and laid seige on the Colmcille’s goal.
However with Micheál Leahy and Darragh McGuire playing inspirational stuff, and captain Billy Ryan dropping deep very effectively, they never looked like raising the green flag that they desperately needed. On the rare occasion they breached our defence Charlie O Callaghan was rock solid in goal.
Billy Cambridge was introduced and his darting runs drew frees that Ryan converted, ensuring that the two score buffer was there throughout the last eight minutes. It finished 3-8 to 0-13 much to the delight of the large St. Colmcille’s gathering.
Selectors: Mike Flynn, Mick O’ Donnell, Liam Ryan, Sean Murnane and Glen Arrigan.
St. Colmcille’s: Charlie O Callaghan, Jack Harte, Micheál Leahy, Ciarán Tattan, Lewis Crowley, Jamie Murphy, Evan Quain, Ollie Crowley, Darragh McGuire, Adam O Connor, Dylan McDonell, Darragh Cashman, Shay Murphy, Billy Ryan, Shane Harrington, Alex Flynn, Eoghan Murnane, David O’Donovan, Joe Aiken, Cian Dunne, Ciarán Ryan & Billy Cambridge.