Kerry 2-12
Wicklow 2-8
Kevin O’Brien reports from Semple Stadium
KERRY CLAIMED THEIR first All-Ireland U21 B hurling title since 2013 and their eighth overall with a deserved four-point win over Wicklow in Thurles today.
The Kingdom trailed by two points at half-time after a strong Wicklow start, but second-half goals from Shane Conway and Maurice O’Connor sealed victory for Ian Brick’s side.
Senior boss Fintan O’Connor was part of Brick’s backroom team as was former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.
Ballyboden St Enda’s minor Michael Boland bagged a goal in either half for Wicklow, but they didn’t trouble the scoreboard enough from play to warrant a victory
Wicklow played with two full-forwards and Enda Donohoe acting as a spare man around their half-back line.
Kerry left Jason Diggins as a sweeper in front of his two corner-backs and he duly cut out the majority off the ball into Wicklow’s inside duo. Kerry forward Jack Goulding played a starring role in between the full-forward and half-forward lines, and duly picked up man of the match honours.
Goulding landed over a delightful sideline cut in the early stages of the second period to highlight his class.
Wicklow led by 0-3 to 0-1 early on, before Kerry took control with four points on the bounce. The Kingdom looked to be settling into the game when Boland struck for a 25th minute goal.
Wicklow were in front on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval, but Kerry were back on level terms five minutes into the second-half thanks to the accurate free-taking of Conway.
Boland dispatched his second goal after a swift Wicklow move in the 41st minute, but Conway immediately cancelled that out with one of his own 60 seconds later.
Then Maurice O’Connor got himself on the end of a long delivery inside and dispatched past Cian Staunton to put Kerry in control. Shaun Hughes hit a monster point for Wicklow but a brace of frees from Conway sealed the Kerry win.
Scorers for Kerry: Shane Conway 1-6 (0-6f), Maurice O’Connor 1-1, Jack Goulding 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Ronan Donovan and Daniel O’Carroll 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wicklow: Michael Boland 2-0, Enda Donoghue 0-3 (0-3f), Jack Doyle (0-2f) and Seanie Germaine 0-2 each, Shaun Hughes 0-1.
Kerry
1. Stephen Murphy (Causeway)
4. Billy Lyons (Causeway)
2. Stevie O’Sullivan (Abbeydorney)
6. Jason Diggins (Causeway)
5. Eoin Ross (Ballyduff)
7. John Buckley (Lixnaw)
12. Jordan Brick (Milmoyley)
8. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
9. Tomas O’Connor (Crotta)
18. Ronan Donovan (Abeydorney)
11. Michael O’Leary (Abbeydorney)
14. Shane Conway (Lixnaw)
10. Brandon Barrett (Causeway)
15. Jack Goulding (Ballyduff)
13. Maurice O’Connor (Kilmoyley)
Subs
22. Daniel O’Carroll (Ballyduff) for Donovan (46)
20. Robert Collins (Kilmoyley) for Barrett (51)
Wicklow
1. Cian Staunton (Glenealy)
2. Shaun Hughes (Eire Og/Greystones)
3. Oisin Furlong (Tinahely)
7. Terry Healy (St Patrick’s Wicklow)
5. Matthew Traynor (Glenealy)
6. Andrew Hughes (Carnew Emmets)
4. Seanie Maloney (Bray Emmets)
13. Enda Donohoe (Carnew Emmets)
8. Christy Moorehouse (St Patrick’s Wicklow)
9. Cormac Whitmore (Arklow Rocks)
11. Jack Doyle (Carnew Emmets)
14. Padraig Boyle (Bray Emmets)
10. Gary Hughes (Glenealy)
12. Michael Boland (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
15. Seanie Germaine (Kiltegan)
Subs
27. Padraig O’Toole for Whitmore (33)
21. Tiernan Mellon (Arklow Rocks) for Healy (43)
17. Aaron Kinsella (Coolboy) for Jack Doyle (blood sub, 58 – 61)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
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