Raheen Parish Gaels 2-10 Na Fianna 1-12
Minor B Hurling Championship Final

Raheen Parish Gaels had to weather a late storm of Na Fianna scores to hold on for victory in their Minor B Hurling Championship final this evening in the Centre of Excellence.

John Onions was the star of the show for Raheen Parish Gaels as he racked up 1-7 of their 2-10, whilst Oisin Hade was fantastic in defeat for Na Fianna.

A strong wind blew up the field and Raheen Parish Gaels took full advantage in the first half and they took a five-point lead into half time.

An early goal from Onions increased the lead to eight within seconds of the restart but Na Fianna now had the wind and they took full control as they outscored their opponents by 1-6 to 0-2 for the remaining 29 minutes, but they couldn’t quite claw back the deficit.

Raheen Parish Gaels raced into a two point lead thanks to scores from John Onions, the first a 65 and the second a free from the same spot.

Shane Connolly replied with a 65 of his own and Sean Duff levelled the game with a brilliant score under pressure.

Daniel Thornton did very well to regain possession after his shot was blocked and he made no mistake at the second attempt firing Raheen Parish Gaels into the lead again. Onions doubled the lead with a brilliant free from the sideline on the 45.

Shane Connolly and Oisin Hade both replied for Na Fianna either side of clever Onions score from play.

Centre back Liam Whelan launched one from midfield clean over the black spot and another Onions free made the Raheen Parish Gaels lead three.

Hade struck two more scores from play for Na Fianna but they were dealt a big blow when Sean Kirby rattled the net from close range.

Ruairi Burke saw out a good half for Raheen Parish Gaels with an excellent score from an angle and they led by five.

Raheen Parish Gaels got a dream start to the second half when a shot from Onions was almost saved as it just trickled over the line.

Shane Connolly immediately replied with a point for Na Fianna, using the wind to his advantage.

The scoring slowed early in the second half and we had to wait eight minutes for the next, another Onions free and that would be the last Raheen Parish Gaels score for 25 minutes.

Connolly landed a free over from the 65 and he followed that with a 65 as Na Fianna looked to chip away at the deficit, trailing by six with 15 minutes left.

That deficit was soon halved when substitute Jack Smith was quickest to react when a Connolly shot hit the post and he burst the ball into the net for a goal.

Another seven minutes went without a score and time was running out for Na Fianna but a 65 from Shane McCann got them back underway and an excellent point from Smith cut the gap to just one point.

Raheen Parish Gaels were struggling to get out of their half and unable to kickstart any meaningful attacks but when they did it paid dividends as they won a free and Onions made no mistake.

Na Fianna pushed to find scores as the game approached injury time and McCann brought the deficit back to one again with a free from midfield.

Time ran out for Na Fianna to find an elusive equaliser and Raheen Parish Gaels just held on for victory.

SCORERS – Raheen Parish Gaels: John Onions 1-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Sean Kirby 1-1, Liam Whelan and Daniel Thornton 0-1 each. Na Fianna: Shane Connolly 0-5 (two 65s, one free), Jack Smith 1-1, Oisin Hade 0-3, Shane McCann 0-2 (one free, one 65), Sean Duff 0-1.

RAHEEN PARISH GAELS: Robert Lawless; Tim Drennan, Charlie Hand, Callum Keegan; Ciaran Donoghue, Liam Whelan, Mark Hearns; Paddy O’Callaghan, Daniel Thornton; Jim Holland, Robert Keane, Monty Balfe; John Onions, Ruairi Burke, Sean Kirby.

NA FIANNA: Dylan Payne; Eli Colbert, Padraig Culleton, Ryan Gilligan; Tomas Lynch, Shane McCann, Ciaran Quinn; Manus Dunne, James Dunne; Ronan Carroll, Sean Duff, Shane Connolly; Pete Culleton, Ben O’Keeffe, Oisin Hade. Subs: Jack Smith for Carroll and Adam Connolly for Colbert (both 36), Aidan Byrne for Ben O’Keeffe (55)

REFEREE: Brian Farrell