Stronger Coolderry grind resistance out of Drumcullen to claim intermediate honours

EXPERIENCE and power combined to great effect for Coolderry as they captured the Intermediate Hurling Championship title in Birr on Saturday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship final

Coolderry 3-12

Drumcullen 1-12

The way the winners controlled the second half was very impressive and it ended up a very disappointing afternoon for Drumcullen. Drumcullen played with great intensity and heart in the first half against the wind to give themselves a real chance but they never got going in the second half, never looked like snatching the win.

Coolderry were just too strong down the spine of the team with Declan Parlon, Martin Corcoran and Kevin Brady using their strength to great effect. Brian Carroll also showed his vast experience in the second half, slotting over a couple of quality points but equally as importantly, winning frees and drawing a reaction from Drumcullen players which took their focus off the game.

Drumcullen brought terrific intensity to the table in the first half and were very much the better team for the opening quarter. They led by 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes with the very lively Patrick Lyons asking real questions of the Coolderry defence.

Coolderry found it hard to settle but when they did get the ball forward, Kevin Brady's physicality caused mayhem for Drumcullen. He almost got in for a sixth minute goal when he was hooked but he made no mistake in the 9^th minute, shrugging off Donal Guinan, who fouled him but the advantage was given.

Brady's second goal in the 12^th minute, a powerful strike from close range, gave Coolderry a 2-1 to 0-4 lead and their third in the 20^th minute made it 3-2 to 0-6: Shane Connolly finished well after Martin Corcoran slipped the ball to him.

That five point gap was very hard on Drumcullen who had played the better hurling up to that point and they were in serious bother when trailing by 3-5 to 0-7 with half time approaching. However, Colm Gath got in for a very good 29^th goal after a John Murray pass to make it 3-5 to 1-7 at half time. Drumcullen were crying out for that goal, they deserved it and a four point deficit was a much more accurate reflection of the first half.

It also suggested that they had a real chance with the wind to come but it just didn't happen for them in the second half. The game got very stop-start and messy for a few minutes as Drumcullen lost Dermot Gath to a shoulder injury. That held up play and it got very ragged which suited Coolderry down to the ground against the wind.

The half was 13 minutes old before Ciaran Teehan got the first point for Coolderry. It was 16 minutes on when impressive sub Ray Gath got Drumcullen's first but that was way too long with the wind on their back. From here on, Coolderry controlled proceedings, winning most of the battles. They led by 3-10 to 1-10 with eight minutes left and Drumcullen briefly threatened a comeback.

Dylan Hollywood and Eoin Gath ('65') brought the gap back to four with four minutes of injury time to play. There was a brief chance but the Coolderry defence were outstanding and they closed out the deal impressively with Brian Carroll getting the last two points – the first from a free and the last a delightful score from the wing.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kevin Brady (Coolderry): Kevin Brady had a huge impact on this game. As you would expect, Coolderry targeted him and he answered with a 2-1 haul. His two goals in the first half were instrumental in Coolderry's win as they struggled with the wind on their back. He also won great ball in the second half and battled for everything.

Declan Parlon was a very close second as he gave a tour de force at the heart of the defence. He cut out a lot of ball, stopped players in their tracks and found his man. Cathal Burke and Brian Carroll were also immense while Martin Corcoran was very effective at centre forward.

Drumcullen gave it their all and Patrick Lyons threatened to be a match winner up front early on. He showed great skill and pace and could have scored more. John Cashin and Padraic Guinan did a lot of good work in their defence and John Murray had very good spells up front but as a unit Drumcullen have no complaints.

THE SCORERS

Coolderry: Kevin Brady 2-1, Brian Carroll 0-6 (3f), Shane Connolly 1-1, Owen Connolly (2f) and Ciaran Teehan 0-2 each.

Drumcullen: Eoin Gath 0-4 (3f and 1 '65'), Colm Gath 1-0, John Murray, Patrick Lyons and Ray Gath 0-2 each, Dermot Gath and Dylan Hollywood 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

COOLDERRY: Conor Bergin; Charlie Hogan, Trevor Corcoran, Damien Fletcher; Cathal Burke, Declan Parlon, Marc Ryan; Mark Bergin, Owen Connolly; Shane Connolly, Martin Corcoran (Captain), Joe Larkin; Brian Carroll, Kevin Brady, Ciaran Teehan. Subs – Cathal Parlon for Larkin (46m), Paddy Maher for Owen Connolly (61m), Liam Brophy for Teehan (62m),

DRUMCULLEN: Killian Spain; Ciaran Guinan, Donal Guinan, Barry O'Meara; Padraic Guinan, John Cashin (Captain), Barry Kinsella; Mark Kennedy, Stephen Hanrahan; Eoin Gath, Dermot Gath, Colm Gath; Patrick Lyons, Joe McCarthy, John Murray. Subs – Conor Gath for Dermot Gath, inj. (35m), Ray Gath for McCarthy (40m), Jack Ryan for Hanrahan (52m), Dylan Hollywood for Murray (56m),

Referee – Matthew Farrell (Tullamore).

REFEREE WATCH

Matthew Farrell had a good game. He allowed things to develop but controlled everything. Kevin Brady was blatantly fouled by Donal Guinan on his way to scoring Coolderry's first goal. There was a suggestion that the whistle had been blown before the veteran Brady blasted to the net but if not, allowing the advantage was the correct thing to do. The second half was quite stop-start and messy with some frees missed while there were a couple of times when his signalling was not clear.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Coolderry's third goal from the lively Stephen Connolly in the 20^th minute was a big moment. It gave Coolderry a 3-2 to 0-6 lead that they scarcely deserved at that stage but ultimately, it gave them the cushion to get home.

VENUE WATCH

The Birr pitch looked really well, as good as it has been in a while. The scar through the middle caused by a spillage a couple of months ago remains visible but the club have clearly worked hard to reduce it and it had no impact on the game. It was almost perfect and there was a good atmosphere here.

WHAT'S NEXT

Drumcullen go into the Leinster Junior Hurling Championship as second teams can't compete at this level.

STATISTICS

Wides: Drumcullen – 11 (5 in first half); Coolderry – 9 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Coolderry – 1 (Declan Parlon); Drumcullen – 2 (Ciaran Guinan and Barry O'Meara).

Red cards: 0.