U13A Academy Plate Final
Sixmilebridge 3-3
Clooney Quin 4-6
Venue - Clooney Quin
Referee - Declan Coyne
Our U13 academy team put in a very good performance last night in the U13 Academy Plate Final. Their opponents were Clooney Quin who also had home advantage for the tie. Played in perfect summer conditions for hurling, the crowd in attendance were served an entertaining match over the course of the hour.
When the first half whistle blew the 'Bridge were leading at 2-2 to 1-3. The first half saw chances for both teams at both ends, the 'Bridge having plenty of goal opportunities mainly through full forward Kevin How, with his no nonsense straightforward style, reminiscent of Kevin Hennessy of Cork from years gone by. Kevin had several goal chances and finished the half with 1-1 scored. Also on the mark was Michael Gilligan who also contributed 1-1 in the half. The Bridge had the aide of the wind in that first half so they knew Clooney Quin would have that advantage in the second.
The second half saw scores harder to come by as Clooney Quin stepped up a gear, led by Gearoid Mac Donnacha a very fast ball carrier playing at midfield, who contributed several of their scores in the second half. Clooney moved into the lead but with a couple of minutes to go, there was only the one score, a goal between the teams, this led to an exciting finish before Clooney Quin finished off the game with a late goal. Rhys Feehan had contributed a goal and point to the Bridge cause in this half, the point coming in the dying moments as excitingly the Bridge were chasing the equaliser, Feehans short range free, hit with plenty of force just crept above the crossbar.
Over the course of the hour, Ryan Griffin played well in goals, pulling off one extraordinary catch over his head from a bullet of a shot showing cat like reactions!, all the backs battled hard and made things difficult for the Clooney Quin forwards, Jack Willis at midfield was arguably the Bridge best player on the night and Kevin Howe up front aided by Michael Gilligan palyed very well also. Importantly though this was a team performance and the boys represented the club well on the night with some fighting spirit and heart.
Interestingly, playing for Clooney Quin was young Daniel Crowe who is a son of Cyril Crowe, former hurler with Sixmilebridge. Also well done to the referee on the day who refereed the game very fairly and who was very good at informing the players around why frees were given and also keeping them up to date with time left, score etc.. Well done to Clooney Quin on a good win in a very sporting game, they were presented with the Plate after the game during an onfield presentation by the County Underage Hurling Board.
Sixmilebridge Team
Ryan Griffin, Sean Ahern, Jack Downes, Will Slattery, Oisin Collins, Rhys Feehan (1-1), Tommy Sullivan, Mike Gleeson, Jack Willis, Senan Chaplin, Finn Twomey Tom Gleeson, Paddy Morey, Kevin Howe (1-1), Matthew Purcell, Michael Gilligan (1-1)
