SMI Newcastle West's senior hurlers power their way into All-Ireland Michael Cusack Cup final

SCOIL Mhuire agus Íde's, Newcastle West's senior hurlers powered their way into the Masita Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Senior 'C' hurling final after recording an emphatic 3-24 to 1-6 semi-final victory over St Patrick's High School, Keady at Heywood Community School, Ballinakill on Saturday last.

The Newcastle West side will now face Boyne Community School, Trim in the All-Ireland decider for the Michael Cusack Cup on Saturday, March 15.

SMI started their semi-final with intent as captain Diarmuid Lyons pointed straight off the throw-in and quickly took firm control of possession in the opening five minutes. However, despite some excellent movement from the inside line, the shooting was erratic during the early stages with SMI shooting five wides in succession before their next score.

St. Patrick’s capitalised on SMI’s lack of efficiency in front of goal with Jack Loughran levelling proceedings after ten minutes.

SMI’s early missed chances appeared to have only delayed the inevitable as points from Meehan, Cagney and Dorgan began to get them in the flow.

A fluid counter-attack movement put Dorgan in space to fire over his second before he followed up with a free just 30 seconds later to put his side five points up after 16 minutes.

The quick, dry ball supply was aptly suited to the lightning dynamism of Hough and Dorgan who combined for their side’s next three scores.

Loughran tapped over a free for his side before an ambush of goals descended on the Heywood playing surface. A one-two between Lyons and Long knifed open the St. Patrick's defence before the ball was flicked in the direction of Dorgan who sedately side-stepped the keeper and finished to the net.

From the resulting puckout, the St Patrick’s defence were startled by the heavy pressure applied by the SMI forward line
and as a result coughed up possession. The ball fell to Dorgan who zipped it across the square to Hough who flicked the ball up and volleyed home to make it 2-10 to 0-2 to the West Limerick students after 25 minutes.

Fionn Meehan the burned down the right to slot home a third SMI goal after 27 minutes. Dorgan closed out the half with a sweetly struck score over his right shoulder as SMI took a significant 3-12 to 0-2 lead into the half-time break.

Hough and Dorgan’s continued to torment the full back line as the pair combined for the opening three scores of the second half. Charlie Lennon was then fouled inside the penalty area with Loughran sending Darragh Tierney the wrong side with his well struck penalty.

Sean Lyons responded for SMI before Tom Fox slotted over. Sean Long then made a brilliant run along the side-line before firing over as a few of SMI’s main protagonists were given some respite by the management.

Fox swung over his second point of the game which was followed by another Loughran free two minutes later. Jack O’Sullivan
got off to the perfect start in his new role as principal free-taker while Andre Lyons overcame a nasty knock to the back to get his name on the scoresheet.

Loughran then struck a superb free from well inside his own half to further add to his personal tally.

O’Sullivan nailed two more frees which sandwiched one score from play before Sean Lyons put the furnishings on an
outstanding SMI performance to leave them victors on a scoreline of 3-24 to 1-6

SMI’s brilliant run has continued towards a historic All-Ireland final appearance where they will play Boyne Community School of Trim in two weeks time.

SCORERS: SMI, Newcastle West: Gavin Dorgan 1-8 (0-5 frees), Conor Hough 1-3, Fionn Meehan 1-2, Jack O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-3 frees), Sean Lyons 0-2, Diarmuid Lyons, Patrick Cagney, Diarmuid Mullaney, Sean Long, Andrew Lyons 0-1 each. St Patrick's: Jack Loughran 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3 frees), Tom Fox 0-2.

SMI, NEWCASTLE WEST: Darragh Tierney (Newcastle West), David Moloney (Knockaderry), Odhran Kelleher, (Kileedy), Eoghan Sheehan (St. Kierans), Liam O’Connor (Monagea), Patrick Cagney, (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) Seán Long (St. Kierans), Gavin Thompson (St. Kierans), Diarmuid Lyons (Newcastle West), Diarmuid Mullaney (Kileedy) Seán Lyons (Newcastle West), Gavin Dorgan (Monagea), Conor Hough (Monagea), Andrew Lyons (Newcastle West), Fionn Meehan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
Subs: Shane O’Mahoney for Odhran Kelleher HT, Sean Lee for Conor Hough, Jack O’Sullivan for Gavin Dorgan, Cathal Kiely for Patrick Cagney (37 mins), Conor McMahon for Diarmuid Lyons (47 mins).

ST PATRICK'S: Aaron Keenan, Ethan McEneaney, Liam Rafferty, Johnny Loughran, Shae McNaughton, Conor Lappin, Ronan Gaffney, Sean Óg McNaughton, Darragh Nugent, Tom Fox, Jack Loughran, Darragh McKee, James Hamilton, Charlie Lennon, Cayden Feeney. Subs: Darragh Burke for Ethan McEneaney, Caoimhin Mone for Ronan Gaffney (half-time).