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St. Finbarr’s triumph over Fintona Pearses in Táin Óg Cup

The St. Finbarrs and Fintona Pearses U-15 hurlers. 

The St. Finbarrs and Fintona Pearses U-15 hurlers. 

Under-15 Táin Óg Cup Group 2

ST FINBARR'S 2-9 FINTONA PEARSES 3-5

St Finbarr’s emerged victorious on home soil in the Drummullan heat last weekend by just one point after a closely fought Under-15 Táin Óg Group 2 encounter with Fintona Pearses on a score line of 2-9 to 3-5.

In a competitive and energetic back-and-forth game of hurling, it was the St Finbarr’s full-forward line that made the difference, notching 2-8 of the south Derry club’s 2-9. Corner forward Daniel Kane top scored with 1-5, including 1-2 from play, the highlight of which was a skilful goal taken off of his left side after a neat turn away from his marker. Fellow corner forward Emmet McNulty chipped in with two points, one from play, while full forward Eoin McGuckin grabbed 1-1, including the all important second goal that gave St Finbarr’s the cushion needed to see out such a tight game. In defence, Senan Lagan and Seán Walls marshalled the spine with great leadership and wing back Dylan Monaghan emerging with a number of clearances.

For Fintona, Eoin Maguire impressed, with the ciotóg hitting 3-2 for the Tyrone side, including 2-1 from play. Also impressive were Owen Griffiths, who notched two points, Philip McCaffrey and Diarmuid Martin. Corner forward Dara Cranny’s ability to take the ball into hand first time without the use of the hurl proved a constant threat, while goalkeeper Callum Donnelly produced some wonderful saves, as did his counterpart in the St. Finbarr’s goal, Christopher McAleer.

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For both clubs, participation in the Táin Óg league, where their group features teams from counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry and Tyrone marks another step in the remarkable progression made in the development of hurling in both areas. Both clubs now feature teams up to the age of the under-15s who graced the Drummullan pitch on Sunday, with Táin Óg fixtures providing the games needed to retain the numbers to progress onto under-17 and eventually senior level. For both clubs, who compete with more established powers such as Lavey and Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon in their home counties, the chance to play nearby teams of a similar level is an essential aspect of their development. The emergence of the two clubs is to be welcomed in their home counties, where other fledgling hurling teams such Tulach Óg, Ballerin, Claudy, and a reinvigorated Omagh St Enda’s have also come to the fore.

Fintona mentor Kieran Cranney said after game: “The Táin Óg league gives Fintona Pearses the chance to play double the number of competitive games we normally have against teams who we are reasonably matched against. It gives our boys a lift to play against different clubs.

“The boys know it is a development league where everyone is guaranteed meaningful game time. Where we have shared players with and from other teams, they have enjoyed the chance to pull on a jersey and try to score against their very own teammates and have the chat after the game.”

The catchment area for St Finbarr’s, not attached to an already established football club as their Tyrone opponents are, is summed up beneath its crest with the saying “Ó Loch go Sliabh”, from the Sperrin Mountains to the shores of Lough Neagh, all the way down to Derry’s border with Tyrone. Drawing children from The Loup, Ballinderry, Ballymaguigan, Lissan, Moneymore, Magherafelt and Drummullan, its strength lies in its ability to draw together these neighbouring parishes and footballing rivals into cohesive hurling unit. Key to this has been the generosity of the Ógra Colmcille club in Drummullan, whose offer to ground share with St Finbarr’s has given the hurlers a place to call home.

The Táin Óg is a vital step in the growth of St Finbarr’s, the evenly matched games allowing the children to grow into the game of hurling and gradually acquire the skills and confidence that will be needed to compete within their county and further afield in the years to come. For now, the youngsters, the first organised team in Derry’s lough shore area since St Finbarr’s of The Loup – in whose honour the current club is named – and Littlebridge Kevin Barry’s both took the fields in the 1960s, can delight in a job well done on home soil and look forward to what the Táin Óg promises them: more games, and more hurling.

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