Castletroy College ease past Blackwater Community School to claim Munster U17 ‘B’ hurling title

CASTLETROY COLLEGE were crowned Munster U17 'B' hurling post-primary champions on last Friday afternoon after a comprehensive 0-20 to 0-2 victory over Blackwater Community School, Lismore in Fethard Town Park. 

It has been a highly successful few weeks for Limerick schools at U17 post-primary level, with Ardscoil Rís capturing the Dean Ryan Cup and Castletroy College claiming the ‘B’ Championship. Both city schools will hope to build on this success and push on at senior level next year.

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Castletroy College burst out of the blocks, with Cian McCarthy opening the scoring inside two minutes from a free on the edge of the D. That early score set the tone, as Danann Glynn and McCarthy followed with two quick points from close range to give Castletroy a 0-3 lead.

Blackwater Community School attempted an early response and applied pressure to the Castletroy defence, but the Limerick side dealt with it comfortably. A goal chance soon followed for Castletroy, and Blackwater were forced to foul Danann Glynn on the edge of the square. McCarthy converted the resulting free to extend the lead to four. Castletroy continued to dominate possession and added another point on eleven minutes after a fine midfield move to push them 0-5 to the good. 

Castletroy kept the pressure on and looked in complete control. John Sheehan showed excellent footwork to create space before slotting over Castletroy’s sixth point after the first quarter. Shane Moloughney then opened his account with a superb score from midfield, followed shortly by a well-worked team move finished by Paudie Quilter after a strong run from Kevin McNamara.

Blackwater won a free in midfield but spilled possession, allowing Castletroy to force a 45. McCarthy was unable to convert on this occasion, but Kevin McNamara soon added another point from distance to push the lead to nine. Castletroy’s intensity never dropped, and their relentless pressure continued to frustrate Blackwater.

Jack Moynihan added another point from play before Conor Langan won a free near the corner flag, which McCarthy converted. Five minutes before the break, Castletroy had built an 11-point cushion, leading by 0-11. Shane Moloughney added another point after another forced turnover, and just before the break a Castletroy goal chance was illegally stopped, resulting in a yellow card for the Blackwater corner-back. This proved to be the final action of the half, with Castletroy heading into the dressing room firmly in control at 0-12 to 0-0.

The Waterford school started the second half with the advantage of a strong breeze, but Castletroy continued where they left off, registering an early wide before Shane Moloughney opened the second-half scoring. Blackwater won a free but failed to convert, and Muiris Gilbourne's side extended their lead with a beautifully worked score finished by Danann Glynn after a sweeping move from defence.

Five minutes into the half, the Blackwater goalkeeper produced an excellent save to deny Castletroy a goal. Soon after, Fergal Ó Duinn was fouled in midfield, resulting in a second yellow card for Blackwater, though McCarthy was unable to convert the resulting free. Moloughney then added another long-range point to push the lead out to fifteen.

On 42 minutes, McCarthy landed another free, and moments later Blackwater finally registered their first score of the game from a close-range free. Despite this brief relief, the victors quickly reasserted control, with Moloughney and McCarthy adding further points to stretch the lead even further.

With 10 minutes remaining, Castletroy College led 0-20 to 0-2. A series of substitutions followed, with John Sheehan, Fergal Ó Duinn, Paudie Quilter and Donnacha Ryan making way to deserved applause from the stands. Mark O’Grady, Harry Phertah, Darragh Scully and Luke McDermott were introduced as Castletroy comfortably closed out the contest.

The full-time whistle sounded after an utterly dominant performance from Castletroy College, who controlled every area of the pitch from start to finish. Captain Conor Ryan was presented with the trophy amid jubilant celebrations from players, supporters and parents, as Castletroy ended their wait for hurling silverware in style.

CASTLETROY COLLEGE SQUAD: Donnacha Ryan(Monaleen), Harry Ryan(Monaleen), Ewan Coulter(Ahane), Harry Ferte(Monaleen), Kevin McNamara(Ahane), Andrew O'Connor(Ahane), Luke McDermott(Monaleen), Rory Devine(Monaleen)
Darragh Connolly(Ahane), James Webster(Monaleen), Shane Moloughney(Ahane), Fergal O Duinn(Monaleen), Mark O'Grady(Monaleen), Cian McCarthy(Ahane), Dara Scully(Monaleen), Jack Moynihan(Monaleen), Jack Noonan(Monaleen)
John Sheahan(Monaleen), Brian Halley(Monaleen), Paud Quilter(Monaleen), Rhys Guinan(Monaleen)
Conor Langan(Monaleen), Danann Glynn(Ahane), Ben Chawke(Monaleen), Sean Hendricks(St Patrick’s), Sean Heffernan(Monaleen), Joe Quigley(Ahane), Jamie Flannery(Monaleen) and Conor Ryan(Monaleen). 

MANAGEMENT TEAM: Liam Reale, Killian Gavin, Gary Murphy and Muiris Gilbourne.