Darragh Collins scores 2-5 as Bandon triumph in Féile final

Bandon 4-8  
Four Roads, Roscommon 3-5 (aet)

After an amazing weekend of U14 hurling in the national John West Féile na nGael, Bandon emerged heroic winners of Division 5 after they went to extra time to see off the challenge of a battling Four Roads from Roscommon in sunny Clonakilty on Sunday afternoon. 

Bandon were, in fact, hosting the Roscommon club for the weekend and had beaten them narrowly in their group game in Bandon. 

The West Cork lads then went on to beat Clonakilty in the quarter-final and Courcey Rovers in the semi-final, while Four Roads had accounted for St Colum’s of Kealkill and Michael Dwyer’s of Wicklow.

After Darragh Collins of Bandon and Conor Kelly of Four Roads swapped frees, Bandon struck for three goals in the space of six minutes, from Ronan Ahern, Darragh Collins and Hugh O’Mahony.

Four Roads looked in big trouble but with Conor Kelly outstanding at midfield, the Roscommon lads staged a comeback. Liam Óg Coyle rattled the Bandon net and by half time the gap was down to 3-1 to 1-4.

The second half was terrific. Bandon increased their lead with a quick Collins’ point but Four Roads replied with a goal from Dylan Tracey. After the Roscommon team levelled, Bandon rallied with points from Collins and outstanding midfielder Sean Ahern.

When Tracey finished to the net with three minutes left, the Roscommon lads were in front for the first time. It was time then for the West Cork lads to show their mettle. When Sean Ahern pointed a free it was all square, 3-5 to 3-5.

Extra time, five minutes each way, was then needed and it was Bandon who struck the vital blow, against the breeze, when man-of -the-match Darragh Collins raised a green flag. Bandon went on to add three points from Ronan Ahern and Darragh Collins, play and free, to cement a marvellous win, 4-8 to 3-5, as their large band of supporters rejoiced in style. Goalkeeper William Allen, Ciarán Twomey, Zac Canniffe, Stephen Murphy and Donncha McCarthy were others to stand out for the winners.      

Scorers

Bandon: Darragh Collins 2-5 (3f), Ronan Ahern 1-1, Hugh O’Mahony 1-0, Sean Ahern (1 65, 1f) 0-2. 

Four Roads: Dylan Tracey 2-1, Liam Óg Coyle 1-0, Conor Kelly 0-3 (1 65, 2f), Brian Mannion 0-1.

Bandon: William Allen; Jay Brennan, Donncha McCarthy, Kevin Hannon; Danny Crowley, Ciarán Twomey, Calum Waugh; Sean Ahern, Zac Canniffe; Darragh Power, Darragh Collins, Eoin Geary; Ronan Ahern, Stephen Murphy, Hugh O’Mahony. Subs: Conor Payne, Gearóid Murphy, Jack Cullinane.

Four Roads: Jamie Kelly; Sean Mannion, Oisín Flynn, Gavin Meares; Luke Finnegan, Tommy Morris, Eoin Campbell; Dylan Tracey, Conor Kelly; Conor Morrisey, Brian Mannion, Daniel Bulger; Rory Coyle, Liam Óg Coyle, Brian Killion. Subs: Ethan Kelly, Jack Tully, Oisín Finnegan, Seán Óg Burke.

Referee: Seamus Crowley (Argideen Rangers).