Barryroe GAA

Bishopstown 4G, 17:30PM

Ibane Gaels 2-17 Watergrasshill 0-17

Ibane Gaels U15 hurlers were crowned Division 1 County Champions after a near perfect display of superb hurling in Bishopstown on Sunday evening last against a gallant Watergrasshill side. Ibane kept their best performance of the season for the final scoring 2-15 from play and having only two wides in sixty minutes of top class hurling.
Ibane, playing with the breeze in the first half, set the tone early with points from our two classy midfielders Riley O’Donovan and Conrad Murphy. The hill responded with a point from play before Donagh Flynn scored the first of his two fantastic goals. The outstanding Jamie Collins then got in on the act scoring two of his six points.

Watergrasshill dominated the next period but for only some resolute defending from our full back line of Tadhg Walsh, Jack Deasy and Anthony Hunt limited the opposition to a couple of points from frees. Keeper John Michael Foley was also called into action and made some super saves during this period. Our half backs of Darragh Murphy and Padraig Whelton began to dominate and started to deliver quality ball to our forward line where Donagh was unmarkable at this stage and scored his second goal. He finished the half with 2-02, all from play. Ibane closed the half with some quality points from Jamie and Riley with a wonderful score from out on the side-line from Ian Whelton after some great work from wing forward Cillian Coakley. The score at half time was 2-10 to 0-09 points in favour of Ibane Gaels.

On the resumption Ibane continued where they had left off with a superb individual effort from Jamie Collins. Ibane playing against the breeze in second half meant that Watergrasshill started to come into the game a lot more and dominated possession but with the Hunter brothers Noah and Reuben and Cillian Coakley working their socks off in our forward line they limited the supply of ball to the dangerous opposition attack.
To be successful every team needs a good centre back and this team certainly has one in Michael Collins. He covers the ground like a smooth Rolls Royce with skill and bravery in abundance while never moving out of third gear. He dominated the second half from the pivot keeping the opposition at bay ably assisted by his half backs Darragh and Padraig.

With time moving on into the last quarter Watergrasshill began to put the pressure on and looked to close the seven point gap but with our defence working extremely hard we limited them to a couple of points while at the same time breaking away up field and scoring some great points from Riley, Jamie, Donagh and another great point from a tight angle from Ian Whelton.

The pace of the game was frantic at this stage with every ball keenly contested. Watergrasshill conjured up two great goal chances. The first chance was heading for the top corner only for an unbelievable full length diving save from John Michael. The second chance was from their impressive wing forward that was bearing down on goal only for, our tigerish man marker, Anthony Hunt to pop up with a goal saving hook. These were definitely two matching winning moments.

Substitutions James Henchion, Eoghan Wilcox and Conor Fleming, showing great skill, all made telling contributions in keeping Watergrasshill at bay in the closing stages. Other subs that did not see game time on Sunday but all made massive contributions through the year were Jason Sweetnam, Cathal O Sullivan and Cillian Harte. Thanks also to Callum Collins, Paul Deasy and Michael Joe Foley from our U13 squad who helped us during the year.

Ibane ran out deserving winners on a night where every single player played out of their skins in what really was a superb team performance. The skill level and work rate was immense and a pleasure to watch. This group of players have a bright future ahead of them if they continue to train and practice their skills like they have done the past number of months.

After the cup was presented to captain Jamie Collins the victorious team returned to the Barony of Ibane for the traditional victory lap of Timoleague and Barryroe finishing off the night with some food in Courtmacsherry Community hall kindly supplied by our jersey sponsors the Hatch Takeaway.

Team: John Michael Foley, Padraig Whelton, Jack Deasy, Tadhg Walsh, Anothony Hunt, Michael Collins, Darragh Murphy, Conrad Murphy 0-01, Riley O’Donovan 0-04, Reuben Hunter, Jamie Collins (capt.) 0-06 (2f), Cillian Coakley, Ian Whelton 0-02, Noah Hunter, Donagh Flynn 2-04. Subs: James Henchion for Reuben Hunter (51 mins), Eoin Wilcox for Padraig Whelton (52 mins), Conor Fleming for Ian Whelton (54 mins), Jason Sweetnam, Cillian Harte, Cathal O’Sullivan, Callum Collins, Paul Deasy, Mike Joe Foley.

Backroom team: Brendan Coleman, Mark O'Flynn, Norman Fleming, Dermot Walsh, John Michael Foley, Michael Harte and Paudie Collins.

Well done to all concerned on a superb performance from a well coached team.

Thanks to Brendan Coleman for a superb match report and Danny Murphy for the following impressive stats