The long awaited U-21Hurling Roinn A county final between Erin’s Own and Mooncoin, survived the fog and ice to go ahead in Nowlan Park on Sunday. Both teams have had to contend with the atrotious weather conditions over the Christmas period, as they tried to finalise their preperations.
Erin’s Own opened the scoring after 3mins with a Michael Murphy free. Martin Hawley followed up with a well taken goal after 10mins, having collected a long clearance from Padraig Keating. The Mooncoin men replied with two points from midfielder P.J. Rowe divided by two pointed 65s by the same player.
This spurred the southern side on and they added another 1-3 without reply to leave the half time score 1-7 to 1-1 in their favour.
The Comer management made a number of changes during the break, moving Aidan Moran to midfield, Padraig Keating to full back and Ciaran McDermott to wing back. These changes almost bore instant results, with a shot on goal and point flashing narrowly wide. Mooncoin corner forward Stephen Crowley added a point, Michael Murphy replied for Erin’s Own. At this stage Andrew Carron replaced Anthony Kavanagh in the Comer forward line. Brian Dillon further reduced the arrears pointing following good work from Gerry Callinan. Mooncoin re-estaiblished their lead with a Thomas Healy point and a Thomas Kearns free.
As the game entered the final quarter, Erin’s Own mounted a major rally scoring an unanswered 1-3 to leave the minimum between the sides, Michael Murphy started the sequence with two pointed frees, the first a fine long range effort. Stephen Daly collected a ball from Brian Dillon and goaled, Aidan Moran got a point after a strong run forward. Mooncoin fought back with Thomas Kearns scoring on the double, from play and a free. Nicky Heneberry replaced J.P. Purcell for Mooncoin and Larry Carroll replaced Mickey Dwyer for Erin’s Own as both sides went for the win. Michael Murphy and Stephen Crowley traded points with the game entering the final minute. P.J. Rowe and Crowley opened up a 5 point lead, which the Comer men try as they might couldn’t overome. Andrew Carron finished the scoring, to leave the final score 1-15 to 2-08.
The locals have given their many followers great entertainment over recent months, particularlly during what was a highly competitive Northern championship campaign.
Panel: Eoghan Meally, Padraig Keating, Aidan Moran, Declan Dunne, Gerry Callinan, Conor Fogarty, Pierce Dargan, Brian Dillon, Ciaran McDermott, Mickey Dwyer, Michael Murphy, Peader Boran, Stephen Daly, Martin Hawley, Anthony Kavanagh, Cathal Murphy, Larry Carroll, Caoimhin Dunne, Noel Callinan, Ciaran Brennan, Mark O’Neill, Michael Carroll, David Moran, Eric Kavanagh, Sean McDermott, Robert Moran, Andrew Carron.
Subs Used: Andrew Carron, Larry Carroll.
Scorers: Michael Murphy 0-5(3f), Martin Hawley 1-0, Stephen Daly 1-0, Brian Dillon 0-1, Aidan Moran 0-1, Andrew Carron 0-1.