Lockes Win U-16 League
JOHN LOCKES 2-08 DICKSBORO 0-07
Same teams four weeks later playing an U-16 Hurling final but for the John Lockes a most rewarding reversal of results. When both these teams faced one another in the U-16 Championship ‘A' final on 4thOctober it was the city outfit who won that day, but last Sundays stunning display of hurling by the Lockes team put to bed any doubts about this team as they lifted the County League title and in doing so bringing the John Lockes club their first Hurling ‘A' title in 24 years.
From the throw in the Callan lads played with a never say die attitude showing they were determined to win the league title and were on the score board within one minute with a point from Shane Bergin. The Lockes with a strong wind in the first half but it didn't seem to favour them as they drove a large amount of wide's throughout the half. Scores were hard to come by as both teams served up some stunning hurling and certainly justified both as the best U-16 clubs in the county. Ten minutes passed before The Dicksboro team registered their first score with a point from the classy Shane Clohessy which could easily have been a goal when he broke inside the Callan defence. The Boro were to add just one more point in the first half from a free by Cillian Buckley as the Lockes completely dominated in every part of the field adding five more points before Shane Bergin broke through the Dicksboro defence to crash the ball to the net just before half time.
The second half was a more even affair, but the Callan team were clever with the use of the wind and were proving more adapt at getting scores from play. Dicksboro opened the scoring in the second period with a pointed free from Cillian Buckley but The Lockes struck back with two points from Matty Holohan and Graham Bergin. The city team had opportunities in the early period but failed to capitalise on the wind driving a large number of wides. On the 40th minute Shane Bergin who had caused havoc in the Dicksboro defence throughout the game made another searing attack on the Boro defence, passing to substitute Thomas Rowntree who crashed the ball to the net. Ironically when Rowntree was introduced as a substitute in the previous week's football final he also scored a vital goal to win the game for the Lockes. The Lockes didn't add any additional scores after that and battened down the hatches allowing the Dicksboro just further four points with three coming from frees which told the story of Dicksboro's game as they only scored two points from play
This was a highly entertaining game with the skill level of the highest standard from both teams. There were no incidence of any significance, but Referee Domo Connolly was a little over zealous with yellow cards. The Lockes win was down to great displays from all of the team but in particular from Tony Delaney, D.J. Bergin, Jason Corcoran, Cathal Byrne, Matthew Holohan, Eoin McGrath, Ryan O'Dwyer, Graham Bergin and Shane Bergin, while best for Dicksboro were Gary Gaule, Conor Maharaj, Cillian Buckley and Shane Clohessy.
John Lockes; Luke Burke, D.J. Bergin, Tony Delaney, J.J. Corrigan, Jack McDowell, Jason Corcoran, Cathal Byrne, Eoin McGrath, Matthew Holohan ( 1pt play), Jamie Bergin (1pt play), Ryan O'Dwyer, J.J.O'Keefe (1pt Play) , Graham Bergin (2pts Play), Shane Bergin (1-1 pt from free), Jason Foran. Sub Thomas Rowntree (Goal Play).
Dicksboro; Aaron Deegan, Rory Glynn, J.J.Hickey, Ruari Morrissey, Jack Deegan, Gary Gaule, Conor Maharaj, Mickey Hayes, Ollie Walsh, Mason Clifford, Cillian Buckley (5pts Frees), Darragh Buggy ( 1 pt Play), Eoin Cantwell, Aiden Nolan, Shane Clohessy (1pt Play). Subs; Eaven Guilfoyle, Eoin Gaule