Down prove a bridge too far for gallant Wicklow U20 hurlers

Wicklow 0-9

Wicklow U20 hurling manager Emmet O’Sullivan agreed that the concession of the goal just before half-time in the All-Ireland ‘B’ semi-final against Down in Darver was a bad blow but he said he was immensely proud of his players for all they’ve done for the county in 2024 despite the heavy defeat to the Mourne County.

O’Sullivan said he didn’t feel the scoreline reflected the game, given that his charges had likely left 1-10 behind them over the game against a quality Down outfit.

The Garden County boss also said that his players deserve huge credit for “propping up Wicklow hurling” when the “roof was falling in” earlier this year.

“We kind of stemmed the tide in the first half, and it took a huge amount of energy to get us back to 0-10 to 0-6 there just before half-time, but the goal just before half-time was a real sucker-punch. It was a huge blow,” he said after the game at a sunkissed Louth GAA Centre of Excellence.

“It’s just little things. We’re trying to up the levels with the lads. They are such a good crew of lads. And as I’ve just said to them there, they propped up Wicklow hurling this year. When the roof was falling in, those lads propped it up. And they have to take huge credit for that. They’re a great bunch of lads. I would die for every one of them.

“The scoreline doesn’t reflect the game. I know they missed a few as well, but we probably left 1-10 out there that we should have been taking. At 0-6 to 0-1 (behind), we missed 1-2, small margins.

“I’m still fierce proud of the lads. They’re a great bunch. You’ve nine Minors coming through this year. And that’s what it’s about. You’re probably going to struggle to win that All-Ireland ‘B’ with the calibre of teams in it. Down lost nine of last year’s team so there’s a serious conveyor belt coming through up there.

“We did look to go back a level, but Croke Park will probably have to look at this. To be fair, we got the second match this year (after only getting one in 2023). For what the county boards are putting in, I think the Sligo, Donegal, Armagh and Tyrone got one match, and they’ll tell you about promoting the game in the lesser counties. It’s not good enough.

“It’s great to pick up the Irish Independent a few weeks ago and see a big headline saying that Brian Cody is on this new committee, but this is the level that the committees are needed at. Limerick and Kilkenny are going to be all right,” he added.

The warning signs were there for Wicklow when Down midfielder Sean McCarthy rampaged up the field from the throw-in and lashed over after just 15 seconds.

It was 0-8 to 0-1 after 18 minutes, the Down men operating at a superior level to their Wicklow counterparts but, as Emmet O’Sullivan said, the Garden County hurlers were creating chances, the best of those falling to Dan Redmond who fired a rocket that was saved by Down goalkeeper Pearce Smyth.

Reacting to the relentless Down pressure, the Wicklow management sent in Kiltegan’s James Boland to the action after 14 minutes and switched Dan Redmond with Sean Kenny after 20, Redmond profiting from the move immediately when lofting over a fine score after good work from John Lynch and Boland to make it 0-8 to 0-2.

This was the beginning of a really positive spell for Wicklow with the lively Fionn D’Arcy, Ken Cullen, goalkeeper Billy Molloy (free) and a 65 from Jack O’Toole making it 0-10 to 0-6 in favour of the Down men as the first half drew to a close.

Down had some serious operators all across the field. Dan Redmond was being marked tightly by the impressive Ben Taggart, Finn Turpin was outstanding, and Michael Dorrian and Noah Rogers were superb hurlers.

Billy Molloy pulled off a fine save from full-forward Noah Rogers with 30 on the first-half clock and you just hoped that the Wicklow lads could get to the dressing rooms without conceding a goal.

But disaster struck in the last play. The Wicklow supporters felt that Andrew Lynch was fouled on his way up the field, but no whistle sounded and Down launched a lethal attack that ended with Michael Dorrian finishing to the back of Molloy’s net to leave it 1-10 to 0-6.

A lovely score from Fionn D’Arcy early in the second half promised something of a recovery but Down added five points in quick succession and the game was over as a contest given how limited the Wicklow attack was against a formidable defence.

Finn Turpin grabbed the goal his performance deserved 19 minutes into the second half as Down blitzed Wicklow with superb off-the-shoulder running and crisp passing.

From there to the end, it was a case of Down keeping the foot on the pedal as they powered into the All-Ireland decider where it’s going to take a serious outfit to stop them.

A special word of mention for the Wicklow full-back line of Ciaran Matthews, Ruairi O’Brien and Charlie Chamney who performed very well while under constant pressure from start to finish in this encounter.

Emmet O’Sullivan paid tribute to his players and appealed to Wicklow GAA to keep going with the county U20 team in 2025.

“They’ve put in a huge effort. When the roof was falling in for Wicklow hurling back in January, those lads were there to prop it up. They’ve given a huge amount to Wicklow.

Hopefully, they (Wicklow) will keep the U20 team. There are little rumours that there might not be an U20 team in the future, but I don’t think that can even be a thing, to be honest.

“It’s a pleasure to deal with those lads, and it’s a pleasure to deal with everybody in the set up.

“And I just want to thank all the players, the backroom staff, the medical team, our nutritionist, kit man, admin and the parents for the getting the lads to matches and trainings,” he added.

Wicklow: Billy Molloy (0-1, f, Carnew Emmets); Ciaran Matthews (St. Patrick’s), Ruairi O’Brien (Shillelagh-Cooboy), Charlie Chamney (Hollywood); Larry Kinsella (Tinahely), Andrew Lynch (Glenealy), Fiachra Downey (Bray Emmets); Riain Waters (capt., Donard-The Glen), Cormac Byrne (0-2, 1f, Glenealy); Fionn D’Arcy (0-2, Carnew Emmets), Sean Kenny (Bray Emmets), Ken Cullen (0-1, Carnew Emmets); Jack O’Toole (0-2, 1 65, 1f, Kiltegan), Dan Redmond (0-1, Carnew Emmets), James Ffrench (Glenealy). Subs: James Boland (Kiltegan) for F Downey (14), Alec Bartek (Éire Óg Greystones) for K Cullen (46), Cillian Ryder (Bray Emmets) for S Kenny (48), Emmet Ronan (Rathnew) for A Lynch (52).

Down: Pearce Smyth (0-1, f); Leigh Morgan, Ben Taggart (0-1), Donal Magee; Deaglan Mallon (0-1), Shea Pucci, Patrick McGarry; Finn Turpin (1-2), Sean McCarthy (0-3); Calum O’Neill (0-1, f), Ben Christie (0-6, 1 65), Tiernan Connolly; Michael Dorrian (1-3), Noah Rogers (0-2), Rory McCamphill (0-1). Subs: Conor Leneghan (0-2) for R McCamphill (42), Tiernan Kelly for T Connolly (48), Fergal Gilmore (1-0) for C O’Neill (50), Rory Taggart for P McGarry (52), Cormac Blaney for N Rogers (55).

Referee: Kevin Parke (Antrim)