Passage 4-15 – St. Vincents 4-4

The Passage U16 hurling team overcame the odds and emerged victorious against the formidable St. Vincent’s team last Wednesday night. The match, which took place at St. Vincent’s grounds last Wednesday night, saw Passage rewrite the script with a stunning display of determination, skill, and teamwork. Having been previously beaten by St. Vincent’s earlier in the summer, Passage found themselves labelled as the underdogs in the highly anticipated fixture. Nonetheless, they shattered expectations from the onset, scoring a magnificent goal by star forward Sean Coughlan in the opening minute. This score set the stage for a captivating and hard-fought battle that pulsated throughout the match. Before Vincents could catch their breath he added another point after a solo run through the Vincents defence. Vincents who are always a hard nut to crack came back and almost scored a goal only for Passage keeper Jack Barry to pull off a great save. The Passage’s backs were battling hard in this tenacious battle, with Shane Whyte, Oisin O’Sullivan, Dermot Buckley, Alex Maher, Carlos O’Callaghan and Josh Walton giving exceptional displays of skill throughout the game.

U-14 star Philip Heavey and Sean Coughlan scored two more points to leave Passage 6 points up after 10 minutes. The match flowed end to end and both sides missed some scoring chances before Vincents finally got off the mark with a well-taken goal from their centre forward. Passage replied immediately scoring a fortunate goal from Philip Heavey after the keeper spilled the ball. Passage midfielders Calum Griffin who ran himself to a standstill and captain Orhan O’Donovan were winning the midfield battle. Vincents were finding the going hard but scored the next two points and it would have been three only for an outstanding block from corner forward Ben Walton out in the middle of the park. This block highlighted the work that these Passage players were putting in.

Half-forward Josh Barry and Cathal Lee were working up and down the pitch all night and it was an impressive sight. Passage settled back into their groove and Sean Coughlan fired over a free after full forward Zac Hanlon was fouled. From the puck out Calum Griffin caught the sliotar from out of the sky and passed to Sean Coughlan who split the posts from out by the sideline. Carlos O’Cllaghan and Dermot Buckley cleared an amount of ball in the next few minutes hooking, blocking and giving their opponents no time to settle on the ball. Philip scored a great point after a great pass from Orhan to lift the siege. Sean Coughlan fired over another free to increase the Passage lead to 8 points with 10 minutes left in the half.

The clash of the titans was unfolding with tough battles reverberating across every inch of the pitch. The Passage players showcased their expertise by skillfully executing blocking, hooking, and delivering strong yet fair challenges. The sheer commitment and dedication displayed by these young players was nothing short of inspiring, as they left no stone unturned in pursuit of victory. Just when it looked like Passage was cruising Vincents quickly scored 1-1 to narrow the Passage lead to four points. Passage replied with a point from Sean Coughlan and a goal from Cathal Lee after Zac Hanlon burst through Vincent’s defence and hit the post. The rebound was hit first time by Cathal and it was a crucial score just before the break. Vincents replied with a goal straight from the puck out to leave the halftime score Passage 3-8 to Vincents 3-3.

The large crowd of spectators present anticipated a fervent response from the home team, expecting St. Vincent’s to come out all guns blazing in an attempt to overturn the deficit. However, contrary to expectations, St. Vincent’s struggled to make an impact, taking a staggering 25 minutes to find the net and put points on the scoreboard. In the face of St. Vincent’s challenge, Passage remained composed and focused, capitalizing on their strategic advantage. With every passing minute, their lead continued to grow, as they consistently and expertly converted scoring opportunities. Sean Coughlan fried over three frees in the opening five minutes. Calum Griffin added another after great work from Orhan O’Donovan, Oisin O’Sullivan and Dermot Buckley set him up for the score. Passage brought on Daniel Garcia, Dean Connelly and Sean O’Regan and all immediately settled into the battle playing their part in this great victory.

Sean Coughlan added two more frees and a point from play to leave 12 points between the sides with ten minutes left on the clock. Vincents battled gamely and finally got a goal and a point in the closing minutes. Jack Barry made another great save to deny them another goal right at the end of the game. Calum Griffin scored a great goal to finish the game out. This Passage team’s triumph can be attributed to their unwavering team spirit and a collective desire to overcome adversity. Every player effortlessly demonstrated their ability to rise above the previous defeat against Vincents and seize their moment to win the final. There was immense pride and joy felt by the Passage supporters. Their unwavering support throughout the match undoubtedly played a role in bolstering the team’s morale and pushing them towards ultimate success.

The euphoria was palpable as captain fantastic Orhan O’Donovan proudly claimed the league final trophy, ensuring that another Cup heads to Passage in what is truly a remarkable year for the underage section of the club., Well done to all the players and to the management team who have played an integral role in nurturing the young talents and crafting an exceptional team spirit. Their dedication to building and fostering a competitive and spirited squad has now been rewarded with this remarkable victory. Special call out to the u-14 and U-13 players who didn’t get a chance to play on the night but who all played their part in the matches over the summer months.

Scorers for Passage: Sean Coughlan 1-12 (0-7 frees), Philip Heavey 1-2, Calum Griffin 1-1, Cathal Lee 1-0.

Team: Jack Barry, Dermot Buckley, Shane Whyte, Alex Maher, Oisin O’Sullivan, Carlos O’Callaghan, Josh Walton, Calum Griffin, Orhan O’Donovan capt, Josh Barry, Sean Coughlan, Cathal Lee, Philip Heavey, Zac Hanlon, Ben Walton.

Subs Used: Daniel Garcia, Sean O’Regan, Dean Connelly.a