Stirring comeback seals victory for MacCumhaill’s over Letterkenny Gaels in U-16 Hurling Division 2 Championship final

IN WHAT WAS certainly a game of two halves, Sean MacCumhaill’s come from nine points down at half-time to overcome Letterkenny Gaels in the U-16 Hurling Division 2 Championship final on Thursday.

McCumhaills 2-12 Letterkenny Gaels 3-5

Letterkenny Gaels totally dominated the first half and had MacCumhaill’s chasing the entire first half and went into half time in trouble.

The game opened with a point from Fintan Griffin but Gaels stunned MacCumhaill’s with two goals on 10 and 12 minutes, through

Another point from MacCumhaills was soon cancelled out and Gaels were clearly the sharper and more aware team winning possession and going on to shock Mac Cumhaill’s confidence by adding another goal and three points.

Joel Bradley Walsh hit our third point of the half and both teams traded points to take the teams into half time with Mac Cumhaills on the wrong side of a nine-point score difference and some soul searching to do.

At half-time it was Letterkenny Gaels who led 3-4 to 0-4.

The second half bore no resemblance to the first half and a Mac Cumhaill’s team eager to make wrongs right emerged with a renewed tenacity and grit to launch a superb comeback. All the team played their part in this from the goalkeeper, back line to the forwards fighting for the vital possession that allowed their opponents to inflict such harm in the first half on them.

Letterkenny Gaels U-16 hurlers

All the scores in the second half came from Mac Cumhaills who went water and airtight to restrict Letterkenny Gaels and the opening score came from a 65 on 32 minutes and the second score of the half was a much-needed goal 10 minutes later as both teams competed for possession and scores in the period.

MacCumhaills, boosted by the goal went on to add four more points and got back to within a one-point gap from Letterkenny Gaels.

The real breakthrough came next when we got our second goal of the game and were now in a two-point lead in the game. With the lads realising they could salvage something from the game another two points followed and the lead was now two-points. Into injury time Gaels had won a free close to goal, Mac Cumhaills men formed a line of green and white to secure their lead and it was ‘keeper Darius McAteer who denied the shot.

Sean MacCumhaill’s: Darius McAteer; Peter Byrne, Ciaran Foy, Odhran McGurk; Jack Burke, Christopher Gallen, Josh McGhee; Oisin Gallen, Matthew Doherty; Aaron Gilhooley, Fintan Griffin, Ronan Laverty; Cian Gallen, Shea Logue, Eddie Crawford. Subs: Rory Mulligan, Andrew Gallen, Chad McSorley, Joel Bradley Walsh, Eoin Gillespie.

Gaeil Leitir Ceanainn: Peadar O Domhnaill; Ross O Mearthaile, Peadar O Connacháin, Jeaic Mac An Gheimhridh; Oisín O Ceallaigh, Diarmuid O Chathail, Breandáin O Fiannaí; Cathaír O Dochartaigh, Ruairí O Buadhaigh; Padráig Mac Giolla, Briain O Duibhir, Dónal MacCormaic; Daithí O hAirbhé, Sioradáin O Fearraigh, Sé O Dochartaigh. Subs: Antoin O Duibhir, Éanna O Ciaráin, Caolán O Margaidh, Seán O Dochartaigh, Seán O Baoill, Cormac O Gallchóir, Odhran O Muireadhaigh, Niall O Duibhir, Conchubar O Cuilinn.