2024/2025 Dean Ryan Cup Under 19 A Hurling Final – Midleton CBS 5-15 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 1-11

Midleton CBS defeated Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG by 5-15 to 1-11 in the 2024/2025 Dean Ryan Cup Under 19 A Hurling Final on Friday November 29th at Páirc Uí Rinn.

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Midleton CBS land Dean Ryan Cup with classy win over Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG

Report by Therese O’Callaghan for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Dean Ryan Cup Final: Midleton CBS 5-15 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 1-11

A flying start earned a classy Midleton CBS their first Dean Ryan Cup (Munster U17A hurling) title since 2015 at a wet Páirc Uí Rinn on Wednesday – their eighth in total.

After easing themselves into a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage, an Evan Connolly goal in the 10th minute after a superb run from just outside the 40 metre line set the pace.

By the time they were finished, they had 16 points to spare.

“It’s an outstanding team but you still have to perform on the day,” said mentor Aylwin Kearney.

“With the conditions, it was always going to be difficult. But even the way they worked the ball out of defence, we had a lot of work done on that.

“We knew we had a talented group but to get the performance and win so convincingly is great. Unbelievable.”

When joint-captain Shane Murtagh set up Dean Murphy for their second goal the lead was 2-5 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.

From this early stage, the outcome was never in doubt. Points from Craig O’Suilleabháin (2), Callum Ó Cofaigh and Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin (free) appeared to settle Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG.

However, the Midleton CBS reply was emphatic, the next four points went their way through centre-back and joint-captain Colm Garde, who is also on their Harty starting team, Sam Ring (0-2 frees) and Cormac Deane (son of Joe), which goalkeeper Seán Mac Cárthaigh Mac Héil tipped over the bar.

Midleton CBS ended the half strong, another pair of goals put the game beyond the AG reach.

The first of which came from Deane in the 30th minute, but the Gaelcholáiste will be disappointed not to have cleared their line.

Dean Murphy smashed his second, and their fourth goal, 60 seconds later.

Needless to say, these scores were a killer blow to the Northside city school who were seeking to end a 34-year wait for Dean Ryan silverware.

Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin added a green flag to his seven points in the second half. Meanwhile, the scores kept coming for the east Cork side.

Sam Ring’s major seven minutes after the restart meant the Midleton CBS support went home very happy.

Scorers for Midleton CBS: S Ring (1-5, 5fs), D Murphy (2-1), E Connolly and C Deane (1-1 each), C Garde (0-3, 2fs), S Carroll (0-2), D Heavin and S O’Mahony (0-1 each).

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG: G Ó Cheallacháin (1-7, 7fs), C Ó Suilleabháin (0-3), C Ó Cofaigh (0-1).

MIDLETON CBS: T C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (St Colman’s), D Guiney (Lisgoold), R O’Connell (Fr O’Neill’s); C Rooney (Carrigtwohill), C Garde (Lisgoold, J-Capt), S Carroll (Midleton); J Cullimore (Carrigtwohill), C Deane (Killeagh); S Murtagh (St Colman’s, J-Capt), D Mulcahy (Erin’s Own), E Connolly (Kiltha Óg); D Murphy (Lisgoold), T A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), S Ring (Carrigtwohill).
Subs: C Seymour (Carrigtwohill) for C Rooney (42), B Geary (Killeagh) for D Mulcahy (49), S O’Mahony (Midleton) for J Cullimore (57), F Connaughton (Kiltha Óg) for D Guiney, B Cooney (Kiltha Óg) for T A Walsh (both 60).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: S Mac Cárthaigh Mac Héil (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); R Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), N Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), S Ó Laocha (Naomh Uinseann); J Ó Conchúir (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Caoinleáin (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Criagáin (Na Piarsaigh); J Ó Brosnacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), S Ó Néill (Na Piarsaigh); E Mac Eocháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh), G Ó Ceallacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); R Ó Buachalla (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), C Ó Suilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh), C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: A Ó Murchú (Naomh Uinseann) for S Ó Néill (half-time), N Ó Dálaigh (Teampall Geal) for J Ó Criagáin (58).

Referee: John Bugler (Clare).