Carndonagh win U-14 B hurling final as they slot four goals past Setanta

A physically powerful Carndonagh side held off a spirited second-half challenge from Setanta to deservedly take the U-14 B title in an entertaining affair on a 4-8 to 3-4 scoreline in the Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence in Convoy. 

This was a game of two halves with Carn taking advantage of the breeze to lead by 2-7 to 0-1 at the break. 

But wind-assisted Setanta hit back with three goals of their own in the second half and brought the margin back to a mere three points that started thanks to a goal from their excellent Matthew Kelly 12 minutes into the second half. 

But Carn’s towering Man of the Match Danny O’Brien galloped through for a clinching goal -but he clearly caught the ball twice en route, while a late Darragh O’Donnell goal sealed it for the winners. 

Carn had the breeze in the first half and the smaller Setanta side had trouble dealing with the power, pace, and accuracy of O’Brien who hit four points on the trot in the first 10 minutes. 

Full forward Oiain Curran then fielded a high ball and netter for Carn, although there was a suspicion that he may have been in the square in the 14th minute. 

He repeated this dose a few minutes later as Davin Kelly added three points. 

But it was a much-changed Setanta that emerged after the break and midfielder Cormac McKelvey soloed through for a fine goal. 

Ryan Rushe found the net for Setanta and Kelly added a point and a goal to make it 2-7 to 3-1 by the 42nd minute. 

The pace quickened but Setanta hit three wides before O’Brien got a vital goal for the winners midway through the half 

Kelly replied with a brace of points to make the score 3-8 to 3-3 in favour of Carndonagh while a late goal from Darragh O’Donnell sealed the deal for Carn. 

Carndonagh scorers: Danny O’Brien 1-5; Oisin Curran 2-0; Darragh O’Donnell 1-0; Davin Kelly 0-3. Setanta scorers: Matthew Kelly 1-4; Cormac McKelvey and Ryan Rushe 1-0 each. 

Carndonagh: Jack Canny; Aaron Doherty, Dominic Donaghy Rees, Donal O’Carroll; Cillian Gallagher, Oisin Harkin, Liam Doherty; Dylan Donaghy, Alex Bradley; Darragh O’Donnell, Danny O’Brien, Riley Houghton; Cillian McElhinney, Oisin Curran, Devin Kelly. Subs: Rory Brady for Cillian McElhinney (37), Cillian McElhinney for Riley Houghton (54)  

Setanta: Eoghan Kelly; Daithi Merritt, Pauric Moss, James Chambers; Jayden McBride, Conor Farren, Ryan Rushe; Matthew Kelly, Cormac McKelvey; Mathew Patterson, Kiernan Coyle, Ronan Moss; Adam Foy, Darragh Rushe, Oisin Ewing. Subs: Tommy James Lyng for Daithi Merritt (h-time). 

Referee: Noel Mullaney (Gaeil Fhanada)