Churchtown end 35-year famine with deserved victory in Junior Hurling Championship.

by

Pat Ryan, The Corkman (Thursday, August 12, 2004)

CHURCHTOWN 2-12
DONERAILE 1-9

After years of being beaten in semi-finals and finals Churchtown finally ended the 35 year famine when they took the Junior (B)(1) Hurling championship title at the expense of Doneraile at Charleville on Sunday, August 8th, 2004.Churchtown last won this competition back in 1969. This was an evenly contested game with Doneraile aided by the strong breeze in the opening half but were only two points ahead at the break.

In the second half, Churchtown made good use of the strong breeze and went ahead in the 33rd minute and were never led from here to the final whistle. A late goal by Kieran Curtin made sure of victory in injury time.

Doneraile made the better start and came close to a goal in the second minute when the Churchtown 'keeper Padraigh Morrissey saved well from Luke Philpott with the ball being cleared with Colm O'Connell gathering possession and his long delivery led to Luke Philpott finding the net.

Churchtown's accurate free taker Brian Quinn opened his side's account when he pointed in the fifth minute. They came close to a goal moments later when John Quinn found Thomas Fehin who broke through the Doneraile defence with Fehin kicking inches wide. Patrick Enright had a point from the puck-out for Doneraile with Ian O'Brien pointing a '65 at the end of the opening quarter. Brian Quinn got a point back for Churchtown but it was Doneraile with a point each from Ian O'Brien and John Hickey that opened up a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

Doneraile were creating many attacks in front of goal but were very much off target having a total of 10 wides in this half. Brian Quinn reduced the lead to three points when he pointed two frees by the 25th minute. From the puck-out by Kevin Cotter, Ian O'Brien sent over a long range point at the other end. Churchtown came right back into contention two minutes later when Thomas Fehin's powerful shot at goal gave the Doneraile 'keeper Kevin Cotter no chance.

Doneraile added a late point before the break when Patrick Enright set up Ian O'Brien for a point to give his side a 1-6 to 1-4 lead but it would be fair to say that Doneraile weren't far enough ahead at half time as Churchtown would be aided by the strong breeze in the second half.

On the restart, Churchtown made the better start with Thomas Fehin, Tony O'Flaherty, Kieran Curtin, Paul McMahon and Brian Quinn very impressive in this half. They had an early wide before Paul McMahon pointed in the 32nd minute.
From the puck-out, the sides were level when Brian Quinn gathered possession to set up Kieran Curtin for a point and they went ahead for the first time a minute later when the accurate Brian Quinn pointed a free. In this second half, both sides missed chances in front of goal and the winners went two points clear when Brian Quinn pointed another free in the 37th minute.

Both sides had a wide before John Hickey cut the deficit to a point when he pointed a free in the 43rd minute. Churchtown restored their two point advantage when Padraigh Morrissey's puck-out found Kieran Curtin on the Doneraile 21 yard line with Curtin putting over a great point out near the sideline. However, Doneraile weren't going to be beaten easily and continued to drive forward with Colm O'Connell, Ian O'Brien, John Hickey, Andrew Hickey,, and Patrick Enright all impressing.

Two quick points from John Hickey had the side's level with 12 minutes remaining at 1-9 each. In an exciting finish, both sides fought to the very end with Churchtown unlucky not to goal in the 50th minute when Kieran Curtin's short pass across the square saw Brian Quinn shot at goal hit the upright and being cleared.

Churchtown edged ahead a minute later when Brian Quinn pointed a free. Quinn struck over another pointed free to open up a two point lead. Doneraile came close to gaoling from the puck-out when Luke Philpott's shot failed to go over the line following a goalmouth scramble. Churchtown went down the field and they nearly got in for another goal only for Kieran Walsh making a great interception from Kieran Curtin which was cleared out to Thomas O'Brien who set up Paul McMahon for a great point.

Doneraile 'keeper Kevin Cotter made a superb save entering the last 10 minutes from close range. Doneraile continued to press hard with Kieran Brennan, Joe Delee and Thomas Fehin making some vital clearances and it was Churchtown that made sure of victory in injury time when Colm Conroy set up Kieran Curtin for a great goal to make sure of victory. The final whistle followed and Churchtown ran out deserving winners in the end.

After the game, Julie O'Leary presented the 'Foxy'O'Leary Cup to Tony O'Flaherty, the winner's captain, in the presence of Tom Crowley, Chairman of the North Cork Junior Board Chairman.

SCORERS:

CHURCHTOWN

Brian Quinn 0-8 (0-7 frees, 0-1 '65), Kieran Curtin 1-2, Thomas Fehin 1-0, Paul McMahon 0-2.

DONERAILE

Ian O'Brien 0-8 (0-2 '65s), John Hickey 0-4 (0-2 frees, 0-1 '65), Luke Philpott 1-0, Patrick Enright 0-1.

TEAMS:

CHURCHTOWN

Padraigh Morrissey, Kieran Brennan, Joe Delee, John Howard, Thomas Fehin, Tony O'Flaherty, Anthony McMahon,
Colm Conroy, John Breen, Paul McMahon, John Quinn, Kieran Curtin, Michael Doyle, Thomas Fehin and
Brian Quinn.

SUB:

Brian O'Donovan for John Breen (injured).

DONERAILE

Kevin Cotter, Bill O'Brien, Tim Walsh, John Morrissey, Kieran Walsh, Colm O'Connell, Andrew Hickey, Ronan Good, Ian O'Brien, Luke Philpott, Patrick Enright, Gavin O'Keeffe, John Hickey, Stephen Walsh and
Jason O'Callaghan.

SUB:

David Carroll for Bill O'Brien.

REFEREE:

Jas Cummins (Glanworth).

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