Malone the hero in thrilling Cullohill championship triumph

Scoil Tighearnach Naofa Cullohill 1-11 

Ratheniska NS 0-12 

 (aet) 

JACK Malone proved to be the match-winner for Cullohill as his extra-time goal secured victory over Ratheniska in a gripping Roinn 2 Hurling Championship final at O’Moore Park.

The decider was the second last of 26 Cumann na mBunscol finals played across a busy two-day festival and it produced a fiercely competitive contest between two evenly matched sides.

Cullohill held a narrow three-point advantage at half-time, but Ratheniska battled throughout and extra-time was ultimately required to separate the teams. Jack Kavanagh opened the scoring for Cullohill before Danny Conroy replied with a free for Ratheniska. Goalkeeper Eddie Ramsbottom then made an outstanding save to deny Finn Lalor what looked a certain goal.

Ratheniska moved 0-3 to 0-1 ahead thanks to another Conroy free and a point from Sean Kelly, but Cullohill answered strongly with three scores in succession through two Dáithí Russell frees and a point from Ríghán Kelly.

The sides were level again after Conroy added another free, though Cullohill finished the half in impressive fashion. Russell converted two 45s and another free to send his side into the break leading 0-7 to 0-4.

Ramsbottom continued to impress after the restart when he once again denied Kavanagh a goal, tipping the ball out for a 45 which was ultimately missed. Finn Lalor then got Cullohill up and running in the second half before Conroy’s fourth point reduced the gap once more.

Alex Douglas narrowed the deficit to two and the contest remained finely poised. Russell and Conroy exchanged further scores before Sean Kelly left just a point between the teams entering the closing stages. Conroy’s free taking had been excellent throughout, but he missed a late opportunity to win the game for Ratheniska. Instead, Kelly stepped up to send the final into extra-time.

Russell opened the additional period with another converted free before the decisive moment arrived. Ramsbottom managed to bat down a Russell effort, but Jack Malone reacted quickest to flick the sliotar to the net. That goal gave Cullohill breathing space and although Kelly replied with a point, they still led 1-10 to 0-10 at the midway stage of extra-time.

Lalor added another score early in the second period to stretch the lead again. Ratheniska pushed hard in the closing moments and added two late frees through Conroy and Sé Ramsbottom, but Cullohill held firm to secure the Roinn 2 title.

SCORERS - Cullohill: Dáithí Russell 0-7 (0-4fs, 0-2 45’s), Jack Malone 1-0, Finn Lalor 0-2, Jack Kavanagh and Ríghán Kelly 0-1 each.

Ratheniska: Danny Conroy 0-6 (fs), Sean Kelly 0-4, Alex Douglas and Sé Ramsbottom (f) 0-1 each.

SCOIL TIGHEARNACH NAOFA CULLOHILL: Tadhg Russell, Jake Whelan Carlyle, Charlie Dunne, Darragh Phelan, Gerard Brennan, Oisín Moore, Daniel Holland, Dáithí Russell, Jack Kavanagh, Finn Lalor, Adam Moore, Jack Dunne, Jack Malone, Colm Delaney, Finn Malone, Joe Dooley, Ríghán Kelly, Harry Bjoremark Deegan, Josh Whelan, Kyle Whelan, Eoin Gleeson.

RATHENISKA: Eddie Ramsbottom, Conor Keane, Jack Costelloe, James Fingleton, Danny Conroy, Conor Fitzgerald, Sé Ramsbottom, Alex Douglas, Sean Kelly, Tom Ramsbottom, John Fitzpatrick, Ben Lalor, Michael Clear, David Fitzpatrick, Oisín Guinan, Bobby Dargan, Ciarán Duff, Jack Morning, Gareth O’Donovan, Michael Quigley.