DG Stoves & Fireplaces Minor Hurling Championship Division 2 SHIELD Final

Dunderry 2-10 Kildalkey 1-10

The Dunderry minors were on the road again Saturday last after many of them participated in the winning of the LMFM Minor Football Championship Division 4 CUP Final on Tuesday night last at a wet and windy Dunganny.

Fr Plunkett Memorial Park, Kildalkey was the setting this time for a fiercely contested minor hurling clash between Kildalkey and Dunderry, played in the aftermath of Storm Amy. Despite the recent weather, the Kildalkey pitch held up admirably, allowing both juvenile teams to showcase their skill and determination in front of a strong turnout of supporters from both parishes.

Referee Stephen Dowling got proceedings underway and adjudicated with an even hand in a sporting encounter. Kildalkey won the coin toss and chose to play down from the Village end with the wind at their backs. From the throw-in, the intensity was evident as both sides battled to gain an early foothold.

It was Dunderry who struck first, establishing a two-point lead. Their relentless work rate and hunger were clear, driven by memories of a previous encounter this summer where Kildalkey had run out comfortable winners.

Midway through the first half, a long-range Dunderry free caused chaos in the Kildalkey goalmouth and, amid the scramble, the sliotar found its way to the net—giving the visitors a valuable cushion. 

The Kildalkey response was almost immediate with a finely converted goal, despite some heroic goal-line defending from the Dunderry keeper. The Dunderry stopper stepping up from the U15 ranks produced a composed performance that belied his years.

At the interval with the lead, the message from the Dunderry sideline was simple: “Keep at it.” With the wind now at their backs, they returned to the field with renewed energy.

With ten minutes remaining, Kildalkey looked to be gaining control, narrowing the gap initially and surging ahead with a series of well-taken scores. 

Dunderry weren’t finished. A high ball into the Kildalkey square was met and dispatched to the net, sparking celebrations outside the wall—only for the score to be ruled out for a square ball infringement.

Undeterred, Dunderry continued to press and were rewarded when a clever through ball was gathered behind the rising Kildalkey defence and calmly finished to the net. The green flag waved, and the visitors surged ahead.

With their defence now solid and their confidence growing, Dunderry added another point to stretch the lead to two. As their supporters called for the final whistle, they tacked on one more to go three clear. Referee Dowling obliged moments later, confirming a hard-earned victory for Dunderry—a reversal of fortunes from earlier in the season and a performance full of grit and character. A special thanks to Conor Leavy, with this group, and all current players, that give their time to assist the mentors of all age groups in both hurling and football each year.

De réir mar a chríochnaigh seachtar den fhoireann seo a n-oiliúint óige le gradaim bainte amach sna dhá chód i rith a ngairmeacha, tá siad ullamh chun tacú le cúis dhuilleog na darach dubh agus bán sna blianta amach romhainn, agus tá cúnamh maith faighte acu óna gcomhghleacaithe níos óige.

Comhghairdeachas agus buíochas leis na tuismitheoirí, na meantóirí sna dhá chód, agus gach duine a thugann tacaíocht dár bhfoirne gach bliain, seachtain le cuimhneamh uirthi sin.

Dunderry:  C Conaty, J Coogan, M Darcy, J Fagan, C Fagan, S Fulham, T Howley, G McGovern, C McHugh, M Moran, C O’Brien, C O’Leary, E O’Leary, B O’Rourke, N Rennick, D Sheridan, A Treacy, L Traynor

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