Naomh Barróg triumph over Oliver Plunkett ER to claim the SHC 2 Title

Picture Courtesy Paul Barrett

NAOMH BARRÓG 0-20 

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT/ER 0-12

Naomh Barróg claimed the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship title when accounting for St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh by eight points in their decider at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams had achieved their primary objective prior to the decider, namely securing their SHC1 status for next year, but Barróg showed a greater application and intensity on the night that proved too much for their opponents.

It was Barróg that entered the break with a deserved 0-11 to 0-7 advantage, thanks largely to seven frees from Nathan Kidd, but they faced an uphill task following the dismissal of Robbie Reidy five minutes before half-time.

That numerical disadvantage hardly registered in the second-half as Barróg more than held their own with Kidd taking his personal tally to 0-11 by the final whistle.

After a nervy start to proceedings, it was Plunkett’s that eventually opened the scoring in the 4^th minute as Neil Clerkin picked up the pieces before pointing from thirty metres.

Seán Gallagher levelled matters a minute later and the evenness continued as Clerkin and Nathan Kidd traded frees to leave the sides deadlocked by the 8^th minute.

Barróg were forced to start without their scoring talisman Joe Flanagan and were guilty of some over-elaboration in defence but they remained in contention by the end of the first quarter with Clerkin and Kidd exchanging frees once again.

Plunkett’s put a small degree of daylight between the teams early in the second quarter thanks to points by Clerkin (free) and Cillian Hayes but Barróg suddenly hit a rich vein of form as they replied with three points in quick succession.

Kidd’s third free of the half was followed by excellent scores from Paddy Doyle and Eoin Harte and a brace of Kidd frees soon after saw the Kilbarrack side click into a three-point lead.

The contest seemed to be ebbing away from Plunkett’s as they conceded the next two points to Séadhna Ryan and Kidd but their fortunes improved significantly in the 26^th minute as Barróg corner-back Reidy was dismissed following a late hit on Conor Tyrrell.

Clerkin nailed the resultant free with the half finishing with frees on either side by Kidd and Clerkin, leaving Barróg enjoying a four-point lead by the turnaround.

Tom Cullen was introduced for Plunkett’s at the interval and he made an immediate impact when pointing from distance within thirty seconds of the restart.

Barróg replied with excellent scores by Ruairí McDonald and Ryan and they maintained their buffer when goalkeeper Josh Rooney raced bravely from his line to block Clerkin’s goal-bound effort.

Buoyed by the save, Naomh Barróg moved five points clear entering the final quarter with Kidd and Gallagher on the mark and an inspirational score from Adam Rooney added further momentum to their cause.

Plunkett’s battled in vain as the half evolved but they had to concede second best as Barróg eased home in the closing stages thanks to further points by Rooney and Kidd.

Scorers – Naomh Barróg: N Kidd 0-11 (10f); S Gallagher, S Ryan, A Rooney 0-2 each; R McDonald, P Doyle, E Harte 0-1 apiece. St Oliver Plunkett/ER:N Clerkin 0-7 (6f); B McDonnell, C Scully, C Hayes, R Ó Broin, T Cullen 0-1 apiece.

Naomh Barróg: J Rooney; R Reidy, C Gibson, F McDonald; A Rooney, P Doyle, R McDonald; N Ring, S Gallagher; N Kidd, C Gallagher, H Nolan; E Harte, S Doyle, S Ryan. Subs: A O’Donoghue for Nolan (half-time), J Flanagan for C Gallagher (56).

St Oliver Plunkett/ER: B McCormack; D Phelan, C Foley, É Boland; C Tyrrell, J O’Shea, C McDonnell; B McDonnell, C Scully; R Ó Broin, C Hayes, D McSweeney; N Clerkin, B McSweeney, S Clerkin. Subs: T Cullen for C McDonnell (half-time), B Moore for S Clerkin (37), I Popa for Tyrrell (37), F Brennan for Ó Broin (45), B Bergin for Boland (60).

Referee: Dean Alford (Round Towers Clondalkin).