Gort minor hurlers prove too strong for Ardrahan in one-sided decider
GORT claimed the Galway Minor B Hurling title in emphatic fashion as they recorded 4-20 to 0-14 win over their neighbours Ardrahan on Monday afternoon in Athenry
Jason Grealish’s team produced an excellent display in difficult conditions, giving a great exhibition of scoring throughout this final.
On a day when Gort had nine different scorers, their goal scoring ability was fundamental to their victory. Mark Quinlan’s Ardrahan outfit produced plenty of work rate but lacked the cutting edge of the winners’ forward line in a one-sided contest,
Gort made a strong start at Kenny Park and established a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage after 14 minutes. Fionnán Walsh sent over their first point, before adding two more impressive efforts from play during the next ten minutes. Killian Grealish and Jamie Egan also tallied early points for Gort.
Ardrahan’s opening score came from Aidan Donohue, but they soon had an early deficit to chase. Nevertheless, Quinlan’s side dominated the scoring during the next ten minutes, outscoring their opponents by 0-3 to 0-1.
Ultan O’Connor converted two frees, while centre forward Eoin Hynes chipped in his first point. At the other end, Ardrahan ‘keeper Ryan Mullen was called into action, making an excellent double save from Gort’s Kyle Fairweather and Brodie Linnane. The resulting ’65 was converted by Conor Cummins.
Gort led by 0-6 to 0-4 after 22 minutes, but they soon upped the gears, reeling off 1-3 without reply. Cummins, Grealish, and Cathal Nolan tallied points, while some good work from Linnane led to Jamie Egan finishing off their first goal of the game.
O’Connor responded with a pointed free for Ardrahan, but Gort then tallied their second goal. After taking a pass from Fairweather, Brodie Linnane fired a tremendous shot to the top corner of the net. Fionnán Walsh soon added his fourth point shortly before half time, to give Gort a 2-10 to 0-5 interval lead.
Grealish’s charges wasted no time in picking up from where they left off early in the second half. Gort scored 1-2 during the first six minutes to pull further away from their opponents. Egan and Walsh struck points, while Linnane scored his second goal; finishing off from close range after Fairweather’s shot rebounded off the post.
At the other end, Dempsey tallied his second point for Ardrahan, but the blues were now chasing a 15-point point deficit. Gort pulled further ahead over the next 15 minutes, outscoring their opponents by 1-5 to 0-3.
Fairweather was involved once again in the move which led to Fionnán Walsh scoring Gort’s fourth goal. The player of the match also added his sixth point while efforts from Linnane, Arthur Fernandes, Jamie Walsh, and Grealish (free) stretched their lead.
Ardrahan added three points during the same spell. Two of which came from the impressive Hynes, while O’Connor pointed his fourth free. However, with 20 points separating the sides, the contest was well and truly finished.
The sides soon traded two scores apiece. Linnane and Christian Cristaldo pointed for Gort, while Hynes and Donohue tallied for Ardrahan at the other end. The blues then registered three consecutive scores.
Two points from O’Connor (one free) and Hynes’ fifth of the afternoon narrowed the margin slightly. However, Cummins had the final say for Gort at the other end, pointing a free to put the gloss on a comprehensive minor B county final win.
The winners had stand out performances on the day from Oren Donnellan, Seán Quinn, Jamie Walsh, Killian Grealish, Jamie Egan, Arthur Fernandes, Brodie Linnane, and Fionnán Walsh.
Ardrahan had impressive displays from Ryan Mullen, Ultan O’Connor, Jack Dempsey, Aidan Donohue, and Eoin Hynes.
Gort: Y. Alexandrov; O. Donnellan, S. Quinn, P. Castor; C. Brehony, D. Linnane, C. Nolan (0-1); J. Walsh (0-1), K. Grealish (0-2, one free); A. Fernandes (0-1), C. Cummins (0-4, one free, one ’65), F. Walsh (1-6); B. Linnane (2-2), K. Fairweather, J. Egan (1-2). Subs: R. Sheridan for Brehony (42), C. Cristaldo (0-1) for Fairweather (53), P. Melville for J. Walsh (57), G. O’Grady for Castor (58), O. Finnegan for B. Linnane (58).
Ardrahan: R. Mullen; C. Hynes, E. Phelan, M. Cannon; M. Heffernan, U. O’Connor (0-6, five frees), C. Linnane; Carl Morris, J. Dempsey (0-1); A. Donohue (0-2), E. Hynes (0-5), M. Campion; B. Gilmore, D. Whelan, O. Cannon. Subs: J. Fahy for Carl Morris (HT), Cathal Morris for M. Cannon (HT), D. Lynskey for O. Cannon (37), M. Fee for Gilmore (57), R. Morrissey for Phelan (59).
Referee: Seán Trowell.