Delaney’s standout display propels Cahir to South Junior ‘B’ hurling crown
South Tipperary Junior B Hurling Final
CAHIR 4-11 ST PATRICK’S 1-16
A member of the Tipperary minor team that won the All-Ireland hurling title in 2022, Tom Delaney showed his undoubted star quality with a standout display in propelling Cahir to the South Tipperary Junior B hurling crown on Saturday with victory over St Patrick’s. Way too good for this grade of competition, Delaney hit 3-9 of his side’s 4-11 total as Cahir overcame a gallant St Patrick’s by four points in the end of an entertaining decider at Ned Hall Park in Clonmel.
Three consecutive scores without reply – all goals – between the 11th and 20th minutes of the first half, two from Tom Delaney frees – put Cahir ten points clear at that early stage of the game. At the interval they had a match-winning dozen points in hand but full credit to St Patrick’s who hauled themselves back into the game in the second period to get within three points, but ultimately Cahir were not to be denied.
Delaney’s score-taking ability was the difference with the young Cahir player also adding a second half penalty, six frees and three superb points from play. He was the only Cahir player to score in the second half, with Evin O’Regan (1-1) and Mark Casey (0-1) the others contributing to the side’s tally. There’s never such a thing as a one-man show in a team game, but if there was this was as close as it comes.
Competing in their second divisional junior hurling final in six days – St Patrick’s lost the ‘A’ final to Moyle Rovers last Sunday – St Patrick’s were first on the scoreboard within a minute from a Shane Gorey free. It would be their only time in the ascendancy in the decider and by the 20th minute they trailed by 3-3 to 0-2, their other point, also from Shane Gorey in the sixth minute.
Cahir were a point to the good at 0-3 to 0-2 (two Delaney frees bookending a superb long range point from ciotóg Mark Casey) before the game’s first goal arrived in the 11th minute. A well-placed Conor Casey pass put Sean O’Connor on a run towards goal only to be unceremoniously taken out. Up stepped Tom Delaney to go low with the free and while a defender got a touch on it, the sliotar still ended up in the back of the net for 1-3 to 0-2.
The goal of the game followed in the 18th minute scored by lively corner-forward Evin O’Regan who jinked in along the end line beating two tackles before sending a low screamer to the far corner of the net.
And within two minutes that lead was out to all of 10 points when Tom Delaney sent another free bobbling along the ground beyond the five-man goalline wall, a soft concession that St Patrick’s would have been very disappointed with. The free itself was won by Delaney, the referee adjudging that he was being held before the ball was delivered into the forward line.
An excellent Conor Brett point from near the corner flag was the first score in 14 minutes for a shell-shocked St Patrick’s, but two Tom Delaney frees extended the Cahir lead to 11 points at 3-5 to 0-3 after 24 minutes.
In the closing minutes of the half Cahir added three superb points from play from Delaney (2) and O’Regan, the Drangan/Cloneen side responding with a Conor Brett free and a point from Gerard Horan when goalkeeper Conor Kirwan did very well to touch Horan’s effort over the crossbar. At the interval Cahir looked to be in an unassailable position leading 3-8 to 0-5.
Cahir goalkeeper Kirwan was called on early in the first minute of the second period to pull off another fine save, before Aaron Cronin opened the second half scoring with a St Patrick’s point.
Two further Delaney points (one free) nullified a Conor Brett free and Cahir were still 12 to the good seven minutes into the second period before St Patrick’s began to make some inroads.
Three points within 90 seconds from Conor Brett (free), Shane Gorey (from the sideline at halfway) and Damian Barry made it a 3-10 to 0-10 game by the 40th minute.
With St Patrick’s making use of a stiffening breeze they made further inroads into their deficit with a long-range Jack Cleere free and an outstanding solo effort from wing-back Frank Meagher who ran 40 yards down the wing before pointing.
Crucially that momentum was disrupted in the 50th minute when Cahir substitute Brian Enright was hauled down after winning a high delivery and referee John Flynn signalled for a penalty. Up stepped Delaney to deliver his hat-trick when giving Paddy Moroney no chance in the St Patrick’s goal.
Once again ten points adrift with 10 minutes remaining, lesser sides would have thrown in the towel but not the Anner Park boys.
Two Conor Brett frees began yet another attempt from the foot of the mountain for St Patrick’s. They got a break in the 60th minute when a shot by Frank Meagher was caught by Conor Kirwan, but the umpire was adamant that the Cahir custodian had stepped behind the line in doing so. At 4-10 to 1-14 and just five points separating the sides, suddenly a nervousness appeared in the Cahir ranks and within a minute two further points from play from James Ryan and Nicky Kearney had St Patrick’s within a puck of the ball.
However, man of the match Tom Delaney sealed the win with a Cahir free from 65 metres, much to the relief of their followers, leaving the full-time score reading Cahir 4-11 St Patrick’s 1-16.
Besides the already mentioned performance of Tom Delaney, there was plenty to admire in the efforts of Evin O’Regan, captain Ger Hally, Daniel Moloney, Tom O’Gorman and Mark Casey for the winners.
Full credit to St Patrick’s who apart from that disastrous period in the first half were a match for the winners. There were workmanlike displays Sean Ryan, Keith Morrissey, Frank Meagher, Shane Gorey, Jack Meagher, Conor Brett and Gerard Horan, with four of the subs introduced getting on the scoreboard.
It’s been a disappointing fortnight for the St Patrick’s hurlers with defeat now in three South finals, Under 19 B, Junior A and Junior B. However, a common denominator in all deciders was undoubted heart and effort and never-say-die attitude. Despite recent results the St Patrick’s hurlers are going in the right direction.
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Cahir: Conor Kirwan, Keelan Looby, Kieran O’Dwyer, Thomas Molan, Mark Casey (0-1), Ger Hally (capt), Eoghan Kelly, Daniel Moloney, Niall McKenna, Sean O’Connor, Conor Casey, Tom O’Gorman, Tom Delaney (3-9, 2-6F, 1-0 pen), Johnny B O’Brien, Evin O’Regan (1-1).
Subs: Oisin Maher for McKenna McKenna, Brian Enright for O’Gorman, Dara Heffernan for O’Brien, Aidan Casey for O’Regan, Liam Meehan for Looby.
St Patrick’s: Paddy Moroney, Sean Ryan, Conor Gorey, Keith Morrissey, Brian O’Halloran, Colm Dunne, Frank Meagher (1-1), Shane Gorey (0-3, 0-1F), Jack Meagher, Jamie Brett, Robbie Noonan, Ciarán Mockler, Conor Brett (0-6, 0-5F), Aaron Cronin (0-1), Gerard Horan (0-1).
Subs: Jack Cleere (0-1F) for O’Halloran, Damien Barry (0-1) for Brett, Nicky Kearney (0-1) for Dunne, James Ryan (0-1) for C. Gorey, Eoin Fitzgerald for Mockler.
Referee: John Flynn (Carrick Swan).