Dublin Clarke looking to finish Celtic Challenge with victory

Dublin Clarke hurlers face Kerry in the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge John Scott (U17) final this Saturday in O'Connor Park, Tullamore (1.10).

It promises to be a festival of hurling in Tullamore with six finals down for decision. (Games screened live on GAANow and Pundit Arena)

While the Kingdom defeated Cork City in their semi-final (2-13 to 2-11) the other last-four encounter was a Dublin derby!

After a well-contested, physical battle Dublin Clarke overcame their fellow county lads Dublin Plunkett 0-20 to 2-10 in last Saturday's Corn John Scott semi-final at Ashbourne.

SO WHAT IS THE CELTIC CHALLENGE?

› The Celtic Challenge is the only competition in hurling that has teams from 32 counties (some counties fielding more than one team) participating and, in total, when Saturday's finals are concluded 135 games will have taken place with over 1,250 players on 41 teams.

› It is a competition for players, aged 16 and 17 years old, who are not participating in Leaving Cert Examinations.

› The ethos of the competition is a developmental one, where an eight-week programme of games is supplemented by a one-to-one ratio of games to training.

› Each team played a minimum of five games through a programme that is structured on the basis of Group Stages, Preliminaries and Play-offs.

› The group stages consisted of eight groups of teams selected on a geographical and developmental basis.

› After the group stages, teams were graded on foot of their performance and were assigned to 1 of 5 Divisions prior to participating in the Preliminaries and Play-Offs where they will play against opposition of a comparative developmental level.

VIEW FROM THE CLARKE CAMP AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S GAME:  "I have been involved with a large number of this group since under-13 level and it's great that they have a final to look forward to," said Dublin Clarke manager, Martin Tuite.

"However, the significant thing from our perspective is that we have lads who have come to this panel late and it's very important that the door is left open for lads who are developing later than other lads.

"Ideally, the ambition would be to see a large bunch of these players pushing for a spot on the county's under-20 panel in the years to come," added Martin,

The two Dublin sides had also met during the round-robin phase when Dublin Clarke defeated Dublin Plunkett 6-18 to 1-16 in Group C on Wednesday, May 22 in O'Toole Park.

A strong opening quarter laid the platform for Dublin Clarke's victory with goals from Matthew Lynam and Adam Drewett giving Clarke a 2-7 to 0-2 lead by the 12th minute and it was a lead they never looked like surrendering.

Last Saturday's semi-final clash was a far more evenly balanced duel with Dublin Clarke running out 0-20 to 2-10 victors in Ashbourne.

Thanks for the deadball accuracy of Ger Ryan Dublin Clarke looked comfortable enough when leading 0-7 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.

However, two goals in quick succession, both from Sean Gallagher, in the 24th and 25th minute saw Dublin Plunkett edge in front.

The first of the goals came direct from an 80-metre Seán Gallagher free that made its way all the way to the Clarke net.

Within a minute Gallagher repeated the trick when another long range free found the net to see Plunkett into a 2-3 to 0-8 lead.

Points from Jack Murray and a Ger Ryan free saw Clarke regain the lead, 0-10 to 2-3, before Plunkett's Jack O'Shea, who enjoyed an impressive game, showed good footwork before slotting over to bring the sides level.

Just before the interval Jack Kielthy scored a stylish point to see Clarke carry a 0-11 to 2-4 lead into the half-time interval.

Three minutes after the break Daniel Peel converted a massive free for Plunkett but disaster struck for Plunkett's in the 34th minute when Ben Stears, one of the best performers in the tournament to date, was dismissed.

Clarke took advantage with points from Ryan (free), Jack Murray and Matthew Lynam and by the three-quarter mark were 0-16 to 2-5 clear.

Plunkett's battled bravely to the finish with the freetaking of Daniel Peel keeping in touch.

However, Clarke had their own expert deadball proponent in Ger Ryan who saw his side to victory.

DUBLIN CLARKE (Celtic Challenge Corn John Scott final v Kerry)

Management

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BANK OF IRELAND CELTIC CHALLENGE FINALS (Games screened live on GAANow and Pundit Arena)

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 (All games in O'Connor Park, Tullamore)

CORN TOM HOGAN: Leitrim v Longford, 11.30

CORN JOHN SCOTT: DUBLIN CLARKE v Kerry, 1.10

CORN WILLIAM ROBINSON: Derry v Galway Tribesmen, 2.40

CORN MICHAEL HOGAN: Galway Maroon v North Cork, 4.20

CORN MICHAEL FEERY: Antrim v Kildare Cadets, 6.0

CORN JEROME O'LEARY: Roscommon v Limerick Sarsfields, 7.30

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CELTIC CHALLENGE GROUP C: Results

Round 1: Wexford 0-20 Dublin Plunkett 2-12; Laois 3-18 Offaly 2-15

Round 2: Offaly 2-11 Dublin Plunkett 2-10; Wexford 2-15 Dublin Clarke 1-12

Round 3: Dublin Clarke 1-20 Laois 1-11; Wexford 4-20 Offaly 2-6

Round 4: Dublin Clarke 6-18 Dublin Plunkett 1-16; Wexford 5-21 Laois 2-15

Round 5: Dublin Plunkett 0-23 Laois 3-12; Dublin Clarke 1-19 Offaly 1-15

QUARTER-FINALS (Corn John Scott)

Dublin Clarke 4-11 Tipperary Blue 2-14

Dublin Plunkett 2-13 Kilkenny Black 1-10

Kerry 2-19 Waterford 3-12

Cork City 1-16 Limerick Treaty 2-11

SEMI-FINALS (Corn John Scott)

Dublin Clarke 0-20 Dublin Plunkett 2-10

Kerry 2-13 Cork City 2-11