Abbey CBS (Tipperary) 2-19
St Louis Grammar School (Antrim) 2-13
Fintan O’Toole reports from Semple Stadium
TIPPERARY’S ABBEY CBS turned on the style in extra-time to be crowned Masita All-Ireland senior B hurling champions in Semple Stadium this afternoon.
Abbey CBS finished six-point winners over Antrim outfit St Louis Grammar School but this was a closely fought contest for long stages before Abbey CBS eventually pulled clear.
The teams were deadlocked at 0-16 to 1-13 in the 71st minute but then Abbey CBS hit 1-3 without reply to put daylight between the teams. The goal was notched by Daire Egan after excellent approach work by Shane Neville and Shane Power.
There was some brief hope for St Louis when Ronan Graham flicked home his second goal of the game in the 80th minute to cut the Abbey CBS advantage to three points.
But the Tipperary school, who included Limerick senior hurler Darragh O’Donovan amongst their management team, powered back to fire a goal of their own through an unstoppable shot to the top corner from Power.
Abbey CBS had to work hard for this victory as they trailed for long stages in normal time. Man-of-the-match Rian Doody hit 0-10 overall and his accurate freetaking was crucial for Abbey CBS while the towering Josh Ryan had a vital impact on the game from centre-back.
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However it was St Louis who were ahead 1-6 to 0-6 at the midway mark in normal time. The goal arrived in the 19th minute when Graham booted home after being set up by James McNaughton.
The point-taking of McNaughton, Sean Elliot and Conal Doherty-Cunning was also significant in propelling St Louis into the lead.
The Ballymena outfit were in front 1-9 to 0-10 at the three-quarter mark as Abbey CBS struggled to draw level. Finally the Tipperary outfit achieved parity through Doody’s freetaking as the sides were tied at 1-10 to 0-13 in the 53rd minute.
There were no more scores in normal time which necessitated extra-time and then Abbey CBS upped the ante to strike the crucial scores that delivered glory.
Scorers for Abbey CBS: Rian Doody 0-10 (0-7f), Shane Power, Daire Egan 1-1 each, Shane Neville, Kevin Franks, Josh Ryan 0-2 each, Kieran Breen 0-1.
Scorers for St Louis GS: Ronan Graham 2-0, James McNaughton 0-6 (0-5f), Sean Elliot 0-3, Conal Doherty-Cunning 0-2, Eoin O’Neill, Keelan Molloy 0-1 each.
Abbey CBS
1. Aidan Griffin (Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill)
2. Cian Ryan (Arravale Rovers)
3. David Byron (Galtee Rovers)
4. Conor Bradshaw (Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill)
5. Stephen O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill)
6. Josh Ryan (Doon)
7. Conal Donovan (Arravale Rovers)
8. Kieran Breen (Knockavilla/Donasleigh Kickhams)
9. Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers - captain)
10. Niall Heffernan (Golden Kilfeacle)
11. Shane Power (Galtee Rovers)
12. Rian Doody (Cappawhite)
13. Kevin Franks (Lattin-Cullen)
14. Daire Egan (Galtee Rovers)
15. Shane Neville (Lattin-Cullen)
Subs
17. Caolan Hennessy (Doon) for Donovan (49)
19. Cormac Maher (Arravale Rovers) for Egan (54)
St Louis Grammar School
1. Ryan Elliot (Dunloy)
17. Paddy Graffin (Ahoghill)
3. Daniel Martin (Tír Na nÓg)
4. Ciarán Rice (Creggan)
5. Conor Kinsella (Dunloy)
6. Cathal McMullan (Loughgiel – captain)
7. Ryan McGarry (All Saints)
8. Seán Duffin (Tír Na nÓg)
9. Eoin O’Neill (Dunloy)
10. Keelan Molloy (Dunloy)
11. Conal Doherty-Cunning (Dunloy)
12. Ronan Graham (Ahoghill)
13. Ciarán Elliot (Dunloy)
14. James McNaughton (Loughgiel)
15. Sean Elliot (Dunloy)
Subs
2. Sean McKinley (St John’s) for Graffin (49)
22. Aaron Crawford (Dunloy) for McGarry (inj) (67)
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
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