By: Kevin Egan
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship relegation final
Carrig-Riverstown 4-23
Drumcullen 0-17
A goal ahead at the turnaround with a strong wind set to favour them in the second half, Carrig and Riverstown had the stronger hand even before they sprung the former Offaly underage hurler. Even so, Freeman’s first touch was perhaps as significant as any in 2026 for the border club, as he met Cathal King’s handpass with a deft one-handed half volley, lifting the sliotar over the advancing Killian Spain and into the net via the crossbar.
Three minutes later Freeman rifled his second goal into the top corner of the Drumcullen net from a narrow angle, and no amount of graft and spirit from the Sash men could compensate for their inability to match their opposition’s cutting edge.
If there was any issue with confidence or self-doubt in the Drumcullen ranks on the back of a difficult round robin campaign, there was no sign of it as they more than played their part in a wonderful opening quarter hour, albeit assisted by the breeze.
A low driving shot from Cathal King that whipped inside Spain’s near post was an early setback for the underdogs but they promptly undid the damage with some excellent points from Colm and Conor Gath, the latter thriving in a two-man full-forward line where Stephen Hanrahan dropped back to sweep up in front of his own full-back trio.
With 14 minutes played, Eoin Gath and Lee Hogan had just traded frees and the score was 1-6 to 0-9 with just one wide between the two sides, hinting at the prospect of a memorable and thrilling shootout.
The scoring slowed down from there however, albeit there was still plenty of goalmouth action. Liam Hoare smothered a Colm Gath ground shot at one end while Danny Maher made a fine block on an Andrew Coakley shot for goal at the other, but six points from Carrig and Riverstown to three for Drumcullen represented a big surge when the wind was taken into account.
Gradually, Carrig and Riverstown were getting to grips with Drumcullen’s more defensive alignment and once the second half started, the prospect of shooting from greater distances – evidenced by a wonderful puck from Brendan Hoctor to open the scoring after the interval – showed just how much tougher it would now be for Drumcullen to create enough scoring chances.
They were always going to need goals to hang in there and their best chance came when Máirtin Ryan was tripped at the end of a long run, setting up Colm Gath with a 20m free right in front of the posts.
There was power in Gath’s low shot but Michael Fitzgerald covered his stand-side post well to block and once the ball was cleared, the subsequent attack yielded Freeman’s goal.
Aside from scoring 2-3, the impact sub also played a key role in setting up Lee Hogan for the fourth goal for the winners, not to mention a crucial and clever touch in the lead up to a Peter King point.
John Murray and John Foley added impressive late scores for a Drumcullen side that scored just a single point between half-time and the 52nd minute, but despite repeated attempts to shuffle the deck and find a more penetrative combination at the top end of the pitch, not to mention a few brief flashpoints as the reality of the unfolding situation began to dawn on them, their season finished the same way as it went throughout the Summer – with plenty of honest endeavour, but nowhere near the required level of impact.
THE SCORERS
Carrig & Riverstown: Lee Hogan 1-11 (0-10f), Conor Freeman 2-3, Cathal King 1-2, Peter King 0-1, David Egan 0-1, Liam Hoare 0-1f, Caelum Larkin 0-1, Patrick Bergin 0-1, Brendan Hoctor 0-1, Dylan Hogan 0-1.
Drumcullen: Eoin Gath 0-6f, Conor Gath 0-5, Colm Gath 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Máirtín Ryan 0-1, John Murray 0-1, John Foley 0-1.
THE TEAMS
CARRIG & RIVERSTOWN: Liam Hoare; Thomas Hogan, Michael Fitzgerald, Dylan Hogan; Seán Connaughton, Joe Hoctor, Brendan Hoctor; Caelum Larkin, Peter King; David Egan, Patrick Bergin, Lee Hogan; Andrew Coakley, Cathal King, Conor Hanamy. Subs: Conor Freeman for Hanamy, 35mins; Eoin King for Egan, 47mins; Cathal Hanlon for Connaughton, 51mins; Daniel England for Bergin, 54mins; Michael Hough for Coakley, 57mins.
DRUMCULLEN: Killian Spain; Fiachra Dooley, Donal Guinan, Danny Maher; John Foley, Colm Gath, John Cashin; Eoin Gath, James Hennessy; Paddy Lyons, Ray Gath, Joe McCarthy; Stephen Hanrahan, Máirtín Ryan, Conor Gath. Sub: Dylan Hollywood for Ray Gath, half-time; John Murray for McCarthy, 42mins; Barry Kinsella for Hennessy, 47mins; Donal Mahon for Dooley, 51mins; Jack Ryan for Foley, 58mins.
Referee – Matthew Farrell (Tullamore)
By Offaly Secretary Sat 26th Sep
