Rahoon Salthill power into final

Rahoon / Newcastle Salthill  2-19

Oranmore / Maree 3-9

Cian O’Connell

FROM an early stage in Loughrea last Sunday, it was apparent that this Rahoon/Newcastle-Salthill combination have stitched a talented minor team together as they fended off a brave challenge from Oranmore-Maree to book a place in the County Minor B hurling decider.

Rahoon-Salthill laid the foundation for this encouraging triumph with a polished first half display and there was plenty to admire in the smooth manner their forward line hurled creating and converting opportunities. With Conor Hayes and Eamon O'Shea in their backroom team, there is certainly no shortage of sideline expertise and Rahoon-Salthill settled quickly.

Conor O'Shea, efficient in attack for Rahoon-Salthill and Oranmore-Maree's star turn Sean McInerney traded scores before the City amalgamation's first flurry of points. Seven scores on the run ensured Rahoon-Salthill seized the initiative as Oranmore-Maree were struggling to get out of their own half.

John Hanbury, a key component in Mattie Murphy's plans for next month's All Ireland hurling final against Dublin, was providing leadership and drive at centrefield for Rahoon-Salthill, commencing a brilliant burst of points with a tidy effort from distance.

Then Gavin Hayes, who put in a good shift for the victors too, Andy Dunne, and Hanbury added efforts as Rahoon-Salthill continued to torment a stretched Oranmore-Maree rearguard. In the 12th minute, Rahoon-Salthill were awarded a penalty when O'Shea was fouled in the square, but Hanbury was only able to register a point from the resulting placed ball.

O'Shea and Hanbury steered over two more as Rahoon-Salthill's advantage was fleshed out to 0-8 to 0-1 by the 17th minute. Oranmore-Maree were under pressure and Sean McInerney finally interrupted Rahoon-Salthill's dominance by clipping over a free.

Rahoon-Salthill were firmly in control and pounced in the 20th minute when corner forward Eamonn Brannigan flashed an opportunistic goal after gathering an O'Shea delivery. Brannigan and Hanbury extended Rahoon-Salthill's lead to a commanding 1-10 to 0-2 before McInerney struck two frees to narrow the half-time deficit.

Trailing by nine at the break, Oranmore-Maree knew that goals were required after the restart and the first thing they did was rattle the Rahoon-Salthill net in the 34th minute. Shane Geoghegan crafted a chance for the precise McInerney, who drilled a fierce shot through a cluster of bodies and it was quickly followed by a delightful point from the busy Niall Eames.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.