Round Up: Under 21 Hurling Finals

Naomh Barróg did just enough to claim the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Championship title when edging Commercials by 1-21 to 1-19 at Páirc Barróg on Saturday afternoon.

In a contest that went right down to the wire, the well-matched teams were level on no less that twelve occasions,but the hosts did just enough to prevail with Daniel Keegan firing over a crucial point in the closing stages.

Both Evan O’Brien of Barróg and Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing from Commercials excelled in their free-taking duties with Ó Dúlaing finishing the contest with fourteen points to his name.

Daniel Moore chipped in with a vital 1-2 for the Kilbarrack outfit while Seán Gallagher also caught the eye with four points from play.

At the opposite end of the field, the likes of David Dungan, Dean Simpson and Conor O’Leary chipped in with scores for the visitors, who were inspired by strong individual performances from goalkeeper Shane Clohessy and captain Cathal Ó Luasa.

However, the hosts dug deep with both Robbie Reidy and Finn McDonald excelling in their defensive duties as Barróg held on with two points to spare.

It proved even tighter at Páirc Mearnóg as hosts Naomh Mearnóg pipped a battling Castleknock by 1-17 to 0-19 in the Under 21 ‘C’ Hurling Championship decider.

The visitors played with the benefit of a slight breeze in the opening-half and were full value for their 0-11 to 0-7 interval lead with Matthew Coughlan, Neil Hogan and Cillian Beere all impressing.

The free-taking of Cillian Downey kept their scoreboard ticking over as he popped over ten placed balls while Hogan and Coughlan added two points apiece to the Castleknock tally.

However, the hosts gradually played their way back into contention, buoyed by the likes of goalkeeper Sean Gorey, James McNamee, Rian Kennedy, Eoin Kelly, Tymon Neville, Aaron Gahan and Joey Kinnane.

The pivotal moment of the contest arrived at the start of the final quarter as Shane Archer gathered possession twenty-five metres goal before firing an unstoppable shot into the top left corner, handing his side a two-point advantage in the process.

Gahan’s prowess in attack yielded nine scores from placed balls and a further two from playwhile Charle McCarthy (0-3) and Cian Madden (0-2) also made significant contributions as Mearnóg prevailed by a whisker.

U21’B’ HC Final: Naomh Barróg 1-21 Commercials1-19.

U21’C’ HC Final: Naomh Mearnóg 1-17 Castleknock 0-19.