Daimhin Byrne inspires Sean MacCumhaills to U16-A title against Carndonagh

Sean MacCumhaills put in an impressive second half, led by Daimhin Byrne, to defeat Carndonagh in the Under-16 Hurling final in Páirc MacDiarmada in Lifford.

Byrne hit 2-6 in total as they came from 0-6 to 0-3 down at the break, with three points each from Cian Lafferty and Hugh McGinn for the Carn men.

But when Byrne hit the net on 33 minutes, it began a dominant period for them, with Byrne and Lee McGranaghan hitting the net within two minutes, as Caolan Gillespie also added a couple of scores.

And while Sean MacCumhaills played the last five minutes with 14 men, they were well in control of the game by then as they lifted the Corn Cuimneachain JP Brolcháin.

Having met in the league final, won by MacCumhaills by three points, a close contest was expected, but the Twin-Towns men were keen to add to their Minor and Under-14 titles already picked up in Donegal.

And they got the first point inside a minute through Byrne, but it was responded to quickly through Carndonagh from Cian Lafferty and a Hugh McGinn free.

Caolan Gillespie levelled things up in five minutes, but the Inishowen side dominated the next 20. 

McGinn put them back ahead with another free, and Lafferty pointed again from play. 

Both sides then had half chances to hit the net, McGinn going for goal from a free, which was blocked, while Oisin Mullen’s shot dropped short and caused a scramble in the square, but Carn got rid of the danger. 

McGinn hit a third free and a Dylan Donaghy shot going short almost got flicked in by Danny O’Brien, while Josh Walsh had a shot come off the bar, and Evan McCarron had to react quickly to clear. 

Byrne got a third score for MacCumhaills from a free, but Lafferty got another score from the right to leave it at double scores at the break, 0-6 to 0-3.

But that advantage was quickly removed within three minutes of the restart, first as Byrne pointed within 20 seconds, and when captain Oisin Mullen played a neat pass into the powerful forward, he tapped the ball through the legs of Stephen Miller for the game's first goal.

Gillespie added another, and a quick response from Lafferty left a point in it, but MacCumhaills really dominated in the next 15 minutes, hitting the next 2-6.

A Sean Óg Hannigan free along with points from Byrne, Gillespie, and Matthew Dowds extended the gap, before a brilliant goal as Dowds fired the ball long to Byrne, who again charged forward, firing into the right corner.

It took another minute before Paddy Hannigan’s side got a third goal, an Ultan Gilligan free coming off the crossbar, and after a scramble in the square, substitute Lee McGranaghan swept the ball home.

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Gillespie and Zack Carroll pointed next for the leaders, while McGinn and Byrne traded scores.

But there was a glimmer of hope for Carndonagh when Ultan Coyle was given two yellow cards in quick succession, with Keith Callaghan and Ronan Butler both striking for goal, but neither could find the net.

And MacCumhaills defended well, Danny O’Brien putting over a point, while Hannigan and Byrne responded from a free and ‘65 respectively.

Carndonagh kept pressing for a goal and as the sliotar dropped in the square, it led to some unsavoury scenes in added time, with a pushing and pulling match kicking off as the umpires had to get involved.

But once the game was settled down again, the whistle soon sounded for full time as MacCumhaills came away worthy winners.

Carndonagh scorers: Cian Lafferty 0-4; Hugh McGinn 0-4,3f; Danny O’Brien 0-1.

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Daimhin Byrne 2-6,1f,1’65; Caolan Gillespie 0-5; Lee McGranaghan 1-0; Sean Óg Hannigan 0-2f; Zack Carroll 0-1. 

Carndonagh: Stephen Miller; Darragh McLaughlin, Eoghan Browne, Nathan McGuinness; Finn Duffy, Hugh McGinn, Keith Callaghan; Ronan Butler, Oisin Harkin; Cian Lafferty, Josh Walsh, Alex Bradley; Jack Canny, Danny O’Brien, Dylan Donaghy.

Subs: Luke Butler for Canny (40), Liam Doherty and Donal O’Carroll for McLaughlin and Bradley (51), Cillian Gallagher for Donaghy (58)

Sean MacCumhaills: Evan McCarron; Lewis Harold, Oran Cannon, Daire McIntyre; Patrick McNulty, Ultán Coyle, Ultán Gilligan; Oisin Mullen, Sean Óg Hannigan; Matthew Dowds, Shay McNulty, Zack Carroll; Caolan Gillespie, Daimhin Byrne, Cahir McCloskey. 

Subs: Lee McGranaghan and Daithi Doherty for McCloskey (ht), Niall Hegarty for Gillespie (51), Conor Gallen for McIntyre (57), Emmett Cannon for Carroll (60)

Referee: Ciaran O’Neill (Setanta)