Clan na nGael were crowned Laois U-20 ‘B’ Hurling champions overcoming Barrow Gaels in a war of attrition as both teams toughed it out in the wind for the last piece of silverware of 2025 at the Centre of Excellence this afternoon.

The victors have John Onions and Ruairi Bourke to thank as they were the difference makers at the full-time whistle.

Onions was at his brilliant best notching up 0-9 showing his brilliance in the tricky wind conditions while Bourke came off the bench with four minutes remaining and he made an instant impact by finding the net to put his side three points up as the final whistle was on the horizon.

Barrow Gaels played with a huge gale force wind in the first half and couldn’t open up a substantial gap by half-time to defend their lead.

In a very low scoring opening twenty minutes, Barrow Gaels hit the front with a point from Sam Somers who was brilliant throughout.

Clan na nGael hit back through two frees John Onions to put his side into the lead for the first time in the game.

The response from Barrow Gaels was an impressive one as they finally got to grips with the wind. They would hit four points in a row with points from Somers (2), Manus Dunne and Darragh Mulhall to give them the lead as the scores were 0-5 to 0-2 with 25 minutes on the clock.

But Clan Na nGael knuckled down for the remaining minutes of the half making sure no major damage was done against the wind and would hit the last two points of the half through Ruaidhiri Kavanagh and Onions to leave the scores at 0-5 to 0-4 to Barrow Gaels at half-time.

Barrow Gaels got on top early in the second half and found the net through Seamie McEvoy with a scrappy goal while Somers added another free and they were now in command

Clan Na nGael came storming back into the contest with Evan McSpadden and Dion O’Connor reducing the gap as they started to get on top using the wind to their advantage.

There was then a flash point on the sideline involving numerous players but the result of it all was two yellow cards one for either team with Ruaidhiri Kavanagh and Manus Dunne found guilty.

The hard hitting continued after that but Clan na nGael would soon level the game as Onions hit three frees in a row to make the game all square.

Both teams then traded scores with Onions grabbing another with Somers also adding a free as the game remained level in the closing stages of the contest.

Ruairi Bourke was then introduced as a sub and made an instant impact with a goal after a great finish to give his side some daylight.

Onions then put the gap out to four points meaning Barrow Gaels needed a goal from somewhere, but it didn’t come.

Somers fired over a free to reduce the gap back to three, but Onions had the final say in the game with another brilliant point from play to crown Clan na nGael champions.

SCORERS – Clan na nGael: John Onions 0-9 (0-7 frees) Ruairi Bourke 1-0, Evan McSpadden, Dion O’Connor, Ruaidhiri Kavanagh 0-1 each Barrow Gaels: Sam Somers 0-6 (0-3 frees), Seamie McEvoy 1-0, Manus Dunne, Darragh Mulhall 0-1 each

CLAN NA NGAEL: Jack Mulhall; Mark Hearns, Charlie Hand, Tim Drennan; Jim Holland, Liam Whelan, Ciaran Donoghue; Ruaidhiri Kavanagh, Evan McSpadden; Patrick O’Callaghan, Dion O’Connor, Paddy Farrell; John Onions, Jimmy Norton, Aaron Tynan. Subs: Ruairi Bourke for Tynan (57), Monty Balfe for O’Connor (60)

BARROW GAELS: Paul Mulhall; Daithi Peake, Peter Foynes, Jack Hyland; James Dunne, Oran Gorman, Jack Conroy; Scott Kelly, Shane McCann; Fionn Gorman, Manus Dunne, Seamie McEvoy; Joe Conroy, Sam Somers, Darragh Mulhall. Subs: Jack Smith for Peake (ht), Gary Fitzpatrick for McEvoy, Conor Thornton for Jack Conroy (both 54)

REFEREE: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney-Errill)

Man of the Match John Onions (Clan na nGael)

There were a number of players that were contenders for man of the match but we have opted for John Onions once again.

His free taking was exceptional throughout the game as the gale force wind caused havoc right through the game. He also hit two inspirational scores from play right at the end to crown Clan na nGael champions.

Courtesy of Laois Today