Cappagh Avenge Championship Loss To NCC

Wednesday 04.10.2023

Hurling

A large crowd turned up at Garvaghy on Wednesday evening for the Grade 2 league final between Cappagh and NCC. After a very entertaining game Cappagh emerged 2-10 to 1-5 winners. The scoreboard fails to tell the whole story as the game was much closer that the double scores win it turned out to be.

Despite playing with the breeze Cappagh took a while to settle and NCC  controlled most of the early possession and created the better chances in the first half. NCC went in at the break leading 1-4 to 0-4 with their goal coming from the impressive Pol O’Brien and points from Callum Jackson and Fionn Daly. Cappagh kept in touch courtesy of points from Daithi Mc Mullan and Oisin Mc Crory but they must have known a huge improvement was needed in the second half if they were to get close to their opponents.

Cappagh’s  half back line led the fight back after the restart with some seriously dogged defending as Jamie Pearson, James Maguire and Shane Mc Philips turned the tide in their favour. Thomas Kelly Watt extended the lead for NCC two minutes into the second half but from then until the end they failed to score as Cormac Mc Crory, Thomas Meenan, Charlie Meenan and Cormac Cunningham fought for every ball.

Their tenacity paid off when, ten minutes into the second half, the midfield won possession and launched a high ball towards the NCC goal. Substitute Shea Mc Ginn took the pass without breaking stride and fired to the net to put his team ahead for the first time. Suddenly Cappagh were like a team transformed and they played some superb hurling forcing turnovers and mistakes from their opponents.

Points from Ciarnan Devine, Thomas Meenan, Cormac Mc Crory, Cormac Cunningham and Oisin Mc Crory and a goal from Thomas Meenan sealed the win and saw the league title go to Ballinamullen.