Tyrone Minor Hurling League

Setanta 5-8 Naomh Colum Cille 6-11

The minors made the long journey to Fintona on Wednesday night (31/05/2023) and made it two league wins out of two, defeating the local Setanta side in an exciting match.

In a game that ebbed and flowed, a number of times Naomh Colum Cille seemed to be pulling away for a comfortable win, only for the home team to reel them back in again.

In lovely sunny conditions, both sides got some great scores with most coming from open play. In fact within two minutes it was a goal a-piece as Fintona hit the net with their first attack only for full forward Fionnán Salmon to reply at the other end.

Naomh Colum Cille then hit four points without reply from Eoin Canavan, Thomas Kelly-Watt, Conor Doherty and a tip-over by the Setanata keeper Dara Cranny from a shot by Salmon.

Setanta mid-fielder Liam Griffiths had an outstanding game and scored the first point of the game from a free. It was when Canavan was given the task of marking him closely that his contribution was somewhat subdued.

Goal!

On 15 minutes Salmon hit another goal after receiving a pass from Conor O'Neill. Doherty then got NCC's first point from a free. Much of the attacking was from long balls driven on top of the opposing defence by centre-half back Odhrán Murray. The back line was also strengthened by the return of Tyrone minor captain and senior club player Sean O'Neill.

Setanta then launched one of several comebacks on the night with their star man Griffiths grabbing a goal. They then hit a point and a goal when young keeper Erikas Petrauskas made a good catch but was unlucky to see his clearance blocked and hit to the net. The sides were level but the Cille's went back in the lead before half-time when Watt took the initiative and hit two excellent overs. All but one of NCC scores in the first half came from open play.

Half-Time: Setanata 3-2 Naomh Colum Cille 2-7.

With five minutes of the second period gone, the Cilles again took a commanding lead with a great goal and point from Conor Doherty, a goal from a rebound by Michael Kerr and a Conor O'Neill point to put ten points between the teams.

However it was backs to the wall again as Setanta made a resurging come-back with Griffiths, Shane Donnelly and Oisin O'Neill most prominent. In a purple patch the home side hit a goal and a point while Callum Jackson made some good blocks when he went into goals in the second half.

The pressure was relieved again when Lughaidh Mór Ó'Néill scored a good point and Salmon flicked a high ball to the net for his third goal of the game.

Yet another resurgence saw Setanta score two goals and two points to leave five between the sides in the closing minutes.

Naomh Colum Cille finally pulled away when TKW fired low past the keeper for an excellent goal and Lughaidh Mór was accurate with a free before the referee blew the whistle on a highly entertaining game.

It was a good effort by all against a Setanta side that never gave up.

Naomh Colum Cille: Erikas Petrauskas, Ferdia McCartney, Seán O'Neill, Cormac Mallon, Connor McMurray, Odhrán McMurray, Eoin Canavan (0-1), Conor Doherty (1-3, 1F), Lughaidh Mór Ó'Néill (0-2, 1F), Thomas Kelly-Watt (1-3), Donncha Mór Ó'Néill, Callum Jackson, Conor Ó Néill (0-1), Fionnán Salmon (3-1), Michael Kerr (1-0).

Next up are County Champions Éire Óg in Clochóg in two weeks time.