Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 1-5
Bredagh 2-17
It’s often said in the confines of the dressing room before all big games “…I want you’s to go out and empty the tank!!! Leave nothing behind in the changing rooms!!!” well never a truer word could’ve been said on Wednesday night, but not being privy to the inner working of the minor management setup, no one but those present could say otherwise, but it was as evident as the lashing rain on a cold dark night, that the boys in blue could not have been more ready and focused on this Final.
The opposition, Bredagh, who came to the Abbey that night were quietly confident of sending the Warrenpoint lads back down the dual carriageway empty handed, especially with four Down minors in their ranks, they could well afford an air of confidence. It was a man-of-the-match performance from Bredagh captain Declan McCartney, with a personal tally of 2-8, that saw Bredagh announced as Down Shield champions at the end of the night.
From the throw in McCartney and fellow County Minors Michael Napier and Jake Carlin got the Belfast side off to a positive start. It took some 10 minutes before Niall McParland struck a 60 metre free high into the dark skies and over the bar in reply. Having been well thumped in an earlier league fixture between the sides, Cumann Pheadaír Naofa were a much improved side and thanks to the preparations of Raymie Beggs, Adrian McNally and Brian Murphy the blues hurling was quick, smart and crisp. With the Bredagh captain having a massive influence on the Bredagh attacks, had it not been for blues Ronnie Cunningham, Saran McElroy and Liam Conlan this could have been a repeat of the league fixture back in July. In the heart of the defence the blues can be thankful to Jack Rafferty and the return of Joey Beggs for their solid play and standing tall when it mattered most. But with incessant pressure being put on the Cumann Pheadaír Naofa defence it was on 20 minutes gone that McCartney slipped through on goal and even though he had pulled off some fine saes earlier, Eoin McConville was given no chance this time. Another point from McCartney saw them push further ahead. To the blues credit they hassled and harried Bredagh for every ball and no easy possession was given throughout the 60 minutes. In Tomas Magill the blues had a potential threat when he struck over a delightful point that had the blues supporters cheer as spirits started to lift. A Joey Beggs free from almost midfield instilled a big more of a bite throughout the team as every Bredagh player who managed to gather the sliotar were hit hard and fair thus resulting in frees for the blues as the Belfast lads were forced into over carrying. But Bredagh managed to close out the remaining few minutes of the half with two more points from a Conor Sullivan free and McCartney again as the blues trailed 1-6 to 0-3 going in at half time.
On the resumption, it as you were, with two McCartney frees and another from Ronan Costello in response to another thunderous free from Niall McParland. In the half forward line blues captain Fergal Murphy put in a fierce amount of work, tirelessly trying to link up with Niall and forwards Tiernan Murphy and Michael Murphy in an effort to claw back more scores. It was in fact midfielder Liam Conlan that got the blues first open play score of the second half, a mighty fine effort from 50m out. Renewed with more spirit in the second half and with nothing to lose, Bredagh were pushed harder all the time and eventually they broke down, when a Liam Conlan pass from outside the 21 found Tiernan Murphy, who unleashed a bullet to the roof of the net, much to the delight of the many Warrenpoint supporters in attendance. But within two minutes, that man McCartney had set off on one of his trademark solo runs before flashing past McConville. By this time the game had well and truly slipped beyond Cumann Pheadaír Naofas grasp and Bredagh finished off the final 10 minutes with further points from Costello (3) and McCartney.
Although well beaten at the final whistle the Warrenpoint side left nothing behind and deep down they knew it was the better side that had triumphed in the end. In closing Down Minor Manager and competition sponsor Rónán Sheehan presented Declan McCartney with the shield and man-of-the-match trophy as he paid tribute to the effort that a talented Cumann Pheadaír Naofa side had put into such a fine spectacle of hurling.
CPN were: Eoin McConville, James Harkin, Jack Rafferty, Joey Beggs (0-1), Ronan Cunningham, Saran McElroy, Oisín McCann, Liam Conlan (0-1), Tomas Magill (0-1), Niall McParland (0-2), Fergal Murphy, Tiernan Murphy (1-0), Thomas Magee, Conn Lennon, Michael Murphy
