Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry 2-21

Ardrahan 4-14

DARREN KELLY AT DUGGAN PARK

TYNAGH/Abbey-Duniry found one last moment of inspiration in last Wednesday’s under-20 B Hurling Final after a thrilling fightback from Ardrahan nearly forced another day out at Duggan Park.

Fergal Fahey’s team scored four goals and came from four points behind to equalise in injury time but Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry got another chance. Man of the match Jack Moran won a free which Evan Glynn converted and Tom Breheny’s team were one-point victors.

“I’m very, very proud of them, the group of lads we have there,” stated the Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry manager afterwards.  “We put in Mattie Kenny (former Dublin manager) as head coach. He did great work and he organised us all. And then we got this group of guys together.

“This is great reward for it now. But we slipped down the ladder for the last few years in Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry and we want to try and climb that ladder again. We’ve a long way to go all the time. But this is a great stepping stone and it will give our young lads great confidence,” added Breheny.

It was an exciting contest with plenty of twists. Glynn and Conor Jordan quickly gave Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry a two-point lead but it was shortlived.

On four minutes, Donagh Fahy lined up for a routine Ardrahan free but spotting gaps in the opposing defence, he struck low and into the net. Alex O’Flynn and Enda Gardiner added white flags leaving it 1-2 to 0-2 on six minutes.

Ardrahan nearly added another goal as Jonathan Sullivan set up Fahy but Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry keeper John Mitchell produced the stop  And on the counter attack, John Dervan’s run resulted in the deficit being reduced to two.

Gardiner replied from a free before Sean Slevin made it 1-4 to 0-3. Two Glynn placed balls allowed Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry narrow the gap again. But two Fahy points, from the right and left, along with a Gardiner free had Ardrahan 1-7 to 0-5 clear on 21 minutes.

Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry showed their resilience but Jordan was denied by Ardrahan stopper Adam Andrews. Lorcan Cunningham did add a point on 22 minutes and Glynn pointed from play 60 seconds later following an assist from Jordan.

Pictured: Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s Michael Power breaking free from Donagh Fahy of Ardrahan during the County U-20 B Hurling Final at Duggan Park last Wednesday. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.