Mullinahone.net

For the second time in six days our under 16 hurlers are the toast of the parish. On Sunday they defeated Carrick Swan to win the South Tipperary under 16 B hurling title. On Saturday the new south champions travelled to Cashel to take on the west champions Lattin Cullen in the county semi-final.

On a lovely afternoon where we got a flashback to the summer we never had, once again our lads came up trumps. They started slowly but improved steadily as the game progressed. By half time, they had build up a slight lead and a cracking goal from Cathal Horan just after half time gave them the breathing space that they needed. Mullinahones’ hurling was now the equal of Lattins and as the second half went on the Mullinahone lads got better and better.

A third goal and a series of points followed. Meanwhile, at the other end, the defence was miserly in the concession of scores. The final score was Mullinahone 3-13 Lattin Cullen 0-6. While the scoreboard may have been unkind to our west Tipperary opponents, Mullinahone still deserved a clear win. Goalie Richard Walsh made no mistakes and hence the empty goals column. Captain Danny Croke was a clear master at full back and was well supported by his two corners George Browning and Killian Skarka. Considering he was faced by the county under 16 centre forward, our centre back Garry Cronin did very well.

His two wing backs Diarmuid O Halloran and Niall Kennedy made it very hard for Lattin to break through. The lines effectiveness was not lessened when wing back Niall Kennedy had to retire with an injury before the break and he was replaced by bringing back Luck Mullally from the forward line. Our midfield pair worked will together with one coming to the fore as the other eased off. Eoin Fennelly shot some valuable points from the midfield while Jack Shelly kept going like a dynamo, until the final whistle.

Our forwards too, played their parts. Michael Dunne led the line well for awhile and his speed was a thorn in Cullen’s side. The two wingers Cathal Horan and Denis Connolly are very neat hurlers and Horan especially when he moved to full forward was full of scoring menace. Upfront William Croke set Mullinahone on the proper path with a good early goal. Ben Reilly tried had and Kevin Walzer who was brought on as a sub scored some grand points.

Stephen Quirke and Jack McCarthy weren’t on long enough to be rated. It is expected that the final against Borrisoleigh will take place next weekend. The mentors of the team Ky Vaughan, Johnny Kennedy, Eddie McCarthy with help from Kevin Walzer can be proud of the progress so far. It must have been a source of encouragement for the team to see two county senior hurlers among the supporters urging them on.