U15 Hurling Championship Mid Div 2 Final on 11/09/23 in Ballinhassig

Passage 1-17 Ballygarvan 1-11

From the first whistle, it was clear that both teams were going to go all out to claim victory. The intensity of the game was evident, with players from both sides leaving everything on the field. The crowd at Ballinhassig were in for a treat as they witnessed a thrilling encounter that showcased the very best of underage hurling. Sean Coughlan split the posts after just 30 seconds to set the standard for the rest of the game. The Passage backs settled early and Shane Whyte who was immense throughout cleared the first Ballygarvan attack. The Ballygarvan Cork U15 goalkeeper dropped a high ball into the Passgae square for the next attack of the game and cornerback Rueben Ring won the ball and cleared down the field. It was end to end now with both sides hitting some wides. Philip Heavey had a shot blocked down and Sean Coughlan fired over the resulting 65. From the puck out Ballygarvan had a goal chance that went narrowly wide. Sean Coughlan won the puck out and fired over his third point from out by the far sideline. Ballygarvan started to get to grips with the game from the 10th minute but fortunately for Passage, this didn’t reflect on the scoreboard. They hit 3 wides in a row before finally scoring their first point of the game in 12 minutes. They quickly fired over another to leave a point between the teams.

The Passage backs were working hard Aidan O’Connor, Oisin O’Sullivan and Sean Cash were getting in important blocks and clearances to keep Passage ahead. Callum Griffin who was carrying a leg injury all week and only declared fit before the game, was hurling a lot of ball in the middle of the park. The next ball into the Passage square left the large crowd watching holding their breaths. Passage Goalkeeper David O’Connor caught the ball out of the sky going backwards right on the line. His clearance found the excellent Alex Maher who went on a solo run. He was fouled for a free and Sean Coughlan fired over. Passage’s Mark Barry then scored a fortuitous goal from a high ball when the Ballygarvan keeper dropped the ball on his goal line.

It was a pivotal moment in the game, as it allowed Passage to go into halftime with a bit of cushion and momentum on their side. Sean Coughlan fired over another free after corner-forward Eoghan O’Bryne was fouled and suddenly Passage was 6 points ahead. Ballygarvan came back strongly but couldn’t find a way past Shane Whyte and Dermot Buckley who both made some great clearances. David O’Connor dealt with another ball in and cleared it out to the wing. Sean O’Regan won the ball and passed to Philip Heavey who dispatched the ball over the bar. Both sides exchanged frees coming up to the half-time whistle to leave the score Passage 1-7 Ballygarvan 0-3.

Ballygarvan refused to back down in the second half and quickly scored from another free. Young Brian Griffin came on at the start of the half gave a great pass to Sean Coughlan who fired over the bar for Passage’s first score of the half. Ballygarvan upped their game and their relentless attack tested the Passage defence, which held strong until the 10th minute. Ballygarvan fired over 3 unanswered points to leave only 4 points between the teams after 13 minutes. Sean Coughlan lifted the siege for a period with a long-range free. Sean Cash and Oisin O’Sullivan both made great clearances before Ballygarvan scored another point. Passage was unlucky with a great goal chance when Zac Hanlon fired a shot across the goal and Sean Coughlan missed getting a touch by centimetres. Ballygarvan then had a chance of their own when their centre forward burst through and fired a close-range shot, somehow David O’Connor managed to save the effort much to the relief of the Passage supporters present. Ballygarvan missed the 65 and from the puck out Sean Coughlan fired over a free after Philip Heavey was fouled.

Ballygarvan replied with a free of their own which left 4 points between the sides with 10 minutes left to the final whistle. Sean Coughlan quickly made it 6 points when he fired over two points from play within a minute. Fionn Flaherty came on as a sub and he quickly settled in making a score for Passage full forward Zac Hanlon. Just when it seemed Passage was home and dry the Ballygarvan centre forward hit an unstoppable shot to the bottom corner of the net. It was all drama now as Ballygarvan believed they still had a chance. Led by the inspirational Shane Whyte and Dermot Buckley the Passage backs showed great determination and resilience, making it difficult for Ballygarvan to find the scores they needed. Midfielders Philip Heavey and Callum Griffin were doing trojan work. Ballygarvan won a free on the 21-yard line. Their Keeper ran up to take but thankfully the ball went over the bar. Sean Coughlan showed his class in the closing minutes scoring some great long-range efforts to leave Passage the winners by 6 points at the end.

Sean Coughlan was the standout performer for Passage. His sharpshooting skills were on full display, as he consistently found the target and helped his team maintain their lead. Coughlan’s 15-point contribution played a crucial role in securing the hard-fought victory for Passage. The match was filled with great plays, near misses, spectacular saves, and tough physical exchanges. Both teams left it all on the field, showcasing their love for the game and their desire to claim victory. It was a true display of sportsmanship and skill.

As the final whistle blew, Passage celebrated their well-deserved. Their Feile title earlier in the summer seemed like a distant memory, but this victory served as a reminder of their undeniable talent and determination. Both teams can hold their heads high after a thrilling encounter. It was a night of great entertainment for all the spectators who witnessed this intense battle between two talented sides. With this win, Passage has undoubtedly cemented their position as a force to be reckoned with in the local under-age scene.

Overall, it was a memorable night with Passage emerging victorious in a hard-fought battle against Ballygarvan. The game had it all – skill, passion, and determination – leaving the Passage supporters eagerly awaiting the next game the semi-final of the County.

Team: David O’Connor, Rueben Ring, Dermot Buckley, Aidan O’Connor, Sean Cash, Shane Whyte, Oisin O’Sullivan, Callum Griffin, Philip Heavey, Alex Maher, Sean Coughlan, Sean O’Regan, Mark Barry, Zac Hanlon, Eoghan O’Bryne.

Subs Used: Brian Griffin and Fionn O’Flaherty.

Scorers for Passage Sean Coughlan 0-15 ( 5 frees, 1 ’65), Mark Barry 1-0, Zac Hanlon 0-1, Philip Heavey 0-1.