04 March 2013
UUC/M fall to heartbreaking defeat
By Kevin Herron
Blanchardstown IT 1-12 1-13 University of Ulster Coleraine/ Magee
University of Ulster Coleraine/ Magee fell to a heartbreaking defeat to Blanchardstown IT in the Corn Padraig Mac Diarmada final at Galway on Friday afternoon.
UUC/ M made the brighter start in the encounter and took the lead though a well taken point from Ciaran Gaile, despite shooting from a narrow angle. Though the Dublin side were soon infront through two well taken frees; the first converted by Conor McGil, before David Slattery made it two from two with a close range free. UUC/M were soon back on terms though; when scorer of the first point Ciaran Gaile turned provider for Conor Burke who cut in and excellently popped the ball over the bar. Blanchardstown took firm control of the game for a brief period; a free from Conor McGil restored their one point lead, before points from David Slattery and Ciaran Gilheaney stretched the Dublin sides lead to three points 0-05-0-02.
Although UUC/ M responded well from the setback; Cormac Jennings converted a free to reduce the gap to two points. On 15 minutes Jason Pattron lofted a long ball into the danger area, and after a scramble in the goal mouth Conor Burke turned the ball home to put UUC/M 1-03-0-05 to the good. The lead only last for 3 minutes though; Conor McGil sent a free into the danger area, and as it looked as though the ball would drop wide Ferghal Smyth blasted the ball to the net and Blanchardstown had restored their two point advantage. As the half time break approached the pendulum swung for both sides; a free from Gearoid O'Neill and a Ciaran Gaile point levelled the game, although Blanchardstown responded with two points of their own through Sean McGee and David Flattery. It looked as though UUC/ M would trail at the break though two further points from Cormac Jennings ensured that the sides would have nothing between them at half time at 1-07-1-07
UUC/ M started the second half well and soon established a two point advantage; substitute Gerard Carbery sent the ball over the bar to give the Ulster side the lead, before Ciaran Gaile added his third point of the afternoon to give UUC/M a two point lead. Conor McGil reduced the deficit with a fine score, and UUC/M almost pulled away when Blanchardstown keeper Darragh Carolan parried the ball as far as Danny Magee, though Magee's effort went agonisingly wide of the post. The missed chance was to be rued minutes later when Stephen Meagher levelled for the Dublin side with an excellent score.
UUC/M soon regained their lead when Cormac Jennings fired over the bar from a free, though Stephen Meagher was again accurate as he pulled Blanchardstown level with the score 1-10-1-10. It was nip and tuck for the final 15 minutes of the game as both sides went all out for the vital scores; Cormac Jennings was on hand to convert his fifth of the day, though Stephen Meagher soon pulled the Dublin side level and in the process got his third score of the second half. With less than ten minutes to play Blanchardstown upped the ante with some resolute defending from the UUC/M defence keeping the scores equal. Though when the referee spotted a throw ball Blanchardstown had the chance to take the lead for the first time in the half, Stephen Meagher duly converted to give the Dublin side a crucial lead with five minutes to play.
Try as they did UUC/M couldn't grab the vital score that would have taken the game into added time. And after two minutes of additional time the referee blew the final whistle as Blanchardstown were confirmed as 2013 Corn Padraig Mac Diarmada champions. Both sides deserved massive credit for the 60 minutes of hurling they served up.
James O’Mullan (St Mary’s Rasharkin), Micky Quigg (Michael Davitts, Swatragh), Sean Devine (St Theresa’s), Pearse Dallas (Eoghan Rua), Oisin MacBhiocare (O’Donovan Rossa), Ciaran Orchin (O’Donovan Rossa), Domhnall O’Neill (O’Donovan Rossa), Peter Carleton (Davitts), Jason Patton (Shamrocks Strabane) captain, Ciaran Gaile (Eoghan Rua), Gearoid O’Neill (St Mary’s Banagher), Ryan Mulgrew (St Colum’s Ballinascreen), Danny Magee (Sean Tracey’s), Conor Burke (St Galls), Cormac Jennings (St Enda’s).
Substitution: Gerard Carbery (St John’s) for Ryan Mulgrew.
Subs not used: Declan Shiels, Chrissy Henry, Kevin Herron, Paddy Tierney, Johnny Hanna, Chris Kinnear, Ciaran Doherty, Eamon McLaughlin, Colm MacGiolla Eoin, Andy Doherty, Brian Mac An Tsionnaigh, Stephen McRory
Manager Joe Passmore (Eoghan Rua)
Assistant Manager: Niall Robb Tir na nOg
http://www.joe.ie/gaa/gaa-news/video-one-of-the-finest-hurling-blocks-youll-see-this-year-0034951-1
