Lucan Under 21 hurlers raise Championship title
By William O'Connor
IT WAS a job well done by Lucan Sarsfields Under-21 hurlers as they claimed the ‘B’ Championship crown at Alfie Byrne Road recently.
A strong finish from the Lucan boys saw them get the better of Naomh Fionnbarra 1-14 to 1-8 to make sure of the title.
Fionnbarra got off to a positive start with a couple of well-worked scores, but Sarsfields got a grip to proceedings and established a 0-7 to 0-3 cushion at the break.
Sean McClelland settled the Lucan boys with a fine point out from the right before quickly adding on a second from a free.
The sides traded points before Paul Crummey chipped in with a fine effort to edge Lucan three in front.
The game did hang in the balance right throughout the second half before Sarsfields’ goal eventually arrived when John Bellew’s effort dipped underneath the crossbar.
But the Cabra side responded immediately when they fired the sliothar passed Dan O’Neill.
The game did hang in the balance right up to the final minutes when Ciaran Dowling and Caomhan O Conghaile tagged on points to see Lucan past the post.
Dowling impressed for the winners and contributed five points in total while Eoin Oconghaile and Paul Crummey all got on the scoresheet.
“We are delighted to win the championship, the team has worked so hard,” remarked Lucan manager Anthony Nolan.
“We got a couple of late scores in the second half that proved crucial,” he added.
It all looks well for Sarsfields at this level this year as they will have all of the panel, save three players, participating at this grade.
LUCAN SARSFIELDS: D O’Neill, A Sheehan, P Smith, C Kelly, R Ennis, J Bellew, D Reynolds, C Dowling, R Stapleton, T Behan, P Crummey, C O’Conghaile, C O’Conghaile, S McClelland, D Flannery. Subs: C O Maolmhana for Kelly, C Nolan for McClelland, D Parsons for O Maolmhana, J O’Farrell, A Flanagan, K Redmond, W Swaine, L Broin.