Sunday 14th February 2016. Lucan Hurlers v Naomh Fionnbarra in Dublin's (2015) U21 B Championship Final.

Why are we playing the 2015 final in February 2016? When Lucan won their semi final back in November, the quarter finals were yet to be played on the other side of the draw. The Barrs only  earned their place in the final only a week ago. 

The final was set for 12:30pm on a cold morning. The car said six degrees, the hands said that was optimistic. The game started promptly with a heavy shower of hailstones adding further to the cold feeling amongst the unsheltered crowd. The Barrs got the better start scoring a couple of points before Sean McClellan settled things with a superb point from the far right, before doubling his tally from a free. Teams traded wides before Lucan’s Paul Crummy took the return from his own sideline cut and pointed. 

Ciaran Dowling, who seemed to be playing most positions on the pitch, scored a fantastic point on the run from half way.

Little comfort in the three point half time lead for Lucan.

Tom Ryan, Lucan’s new Senior Hurling Manager was on hand to see some players that will surely be knocking on the doors of the senior ranks before too long. 

Dowling was on hand to get the second half scoring underway for Lucan, working really well with Donie Flannery up the right. The Barrs clawed a few back before John Bellew found the net. No sooner had that score been noted than The Barrs got one past Dan O’Neill for a goal of their own. 

Maybe it was the cold, or the anticipated result, but the second half seemed to go on for an eternity. Voices on the sideline debated, were we three or four up?

Caomhan O’Chonghaile and Ciaran Dowling got a couple each to match those of the Barrs, before the final whistle leaving Lucan Sarsfields Champions with 1:14 to 1:08.

Lucan Team : 

Dan O’Neill, Aidan Sheehan, Philip Smith, Colm Kelly, Robbie Ennis, John Bellew, Diarmaid Reynolds, Rory Stapleton, Ciaran Dowling, Eoghan O’Conghaile, Paul Crummy, Tadhg Behan, Caomhan O’Conghaile, Donal Flannery, William Swaine, Cian Nolan, Kevin Redmond, Alan Flanagan, Cathal O’Maolmhana, David Parsons, John O’Farrell, Leon Breen, Niall Stagg, and Captain Sean McCleland. Management team of Anthony Nolan and Paul Stapleton.