Moolick drives impressive Carrick to U15 Hurling title

With the superb Jack Mookick leading the way, an impressive Carrick on Shannon team stormed to a comprehensive victory over Cluainin in last Wednesday's U15 Hurling Championship Final in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

Moolick and Carrick set the tone from the first whistle as they struck three points, two from the young Kiltubrid lad, inside the first 90 seconds and when Alex McTiernan finished a chance to the Cluainin net after nine minutes, the writing was on the wall.

Cluainin battled and battled but they didn't have Carrick's strength all over the field nor their comfort with the sliothar as their neat passing and close control often proved decisive at key moments in this contest.

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Jack Moolick was the outstanding player on the field by a big margin, his immense physical power allied with superb skill. Moolick  got great support from Donnacha Glancy, Conor Keenehan, Nathan Cox, Rossa O'Dowd & Ross O'Shea in a well drilled Carrick side. For Cluainin, Killian White's long range free taking was impressive and a threat while Cian Boylan always posed a threat to the Carrick defence

Moolkick fired over from 40 yards inside 20 seconds to open the scoring before Dean Reynolds soloed along the sideline before cutting a nice shot over the crossbar before the first minute was up. Barely seconds later, Moolick burst through a tackle and fired over from the wing and the tone of the game was set.

Not everything was going perfectly as Conor Deegan was unlucky not to connect with a goal chance but after Rossa O'Dowd struck from distance, Carrick hit their first goal when Deegan made a great catch to keep the ball alive and fed it to Alex McTiernan who finished from a tight angle.

With Cluainin missing a few chances, keeper Conor Reynolds made a good save from Boylan while Moolick drove a great chance wide after a strong run, the north Leitrim lads opened their account with a 13th minute Boylan free with Moolick responding immediately with a great point from the wing.

Cluainin's Ronan Fox keeps his eyes on the sliothar as he is challenged by Carrick's James Lynch during the U15 Hurling Championship Final Picture: Willie Donnellan

Moolick was the provider for Carrick's third goal when he won the ball out the sideline and soloed in before passing across to Conor Deegan for a tap-in on 19 minutes. Four minutes later, Carrick had the ball in the net again when Dean Reynolds' snap shot evaded the efforts of keeper John O'Brien and crept across the line.

Cluainin finished the half with a point apiece from Killian White (free) and Bruce O'Hagan, their only score of the game from play but good work from Conor Keenehan set up Moolick for a point and a 3-6 to 0-3 halftime lead for Carrick-on-Shannon.

Carrick continued to dominate in the second half as, despite some wides, a Michael O'Grady point and a Moolick free matched two scores from Boylan frees. Boylan was denied a goal by a Reynolds save while another free was stopped on the line.

Boylan converted another free but Carrick killed off the game when Nathan Cox's long range shot deceived Cluainin keeper John O'Brien as he rushed off his line on 44 minutes. 

Incredibly, that was Carrick's last score but Cluainin were only able to add two more frees from Boylan and Killian White before the final whistle.

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The weather may have ended the day prematurely but fans turned out in their droves for the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Quarter Finals in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Sunday and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some great images of supporters enjoying the day - before the rain! See who you can spot!

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON

Scorers: Jack Moolick 0-5, 1f; Dean Reynolds 1-1; Alex McTiernan, Nathan Cox & Conor Deegan 1-0 each; Michael O’Grady & Rossa O’Dowd 0-1 each

Team: Conor Reynolds, Riaghan Guckian, Ruadhan Kennedy, James Lynch, Ross O’Shea; Donnacha Glancy, Michael O’Grady, Nathan Cox, Rossa O’Dowd; Alex McTiernan, Jack Moolick; Conor Keenehan, Isaac Russell; Dean Reynolds, Conor Deegan. Subs: Cathal Rowley for McTiernan (47); Luke Sharkey & Evan Bohan for Guckian & Cox (55); Jake Charles & Eoghan Conway for Deegan & Lynch (5)

CLUAININ

Scorers: Cian Boylan 0-5, 5f; Killian White 0-2, 2f; Bruce O’Hagan 0-1

Team: John O’Brien, Mark Malaniff, Aaron McNulty; Shay Feely, Killian Curneen, Killian White, Daithi Cullen, Alex Pawluk; Anthony Loughlin; Ronan Fox; Nathan Stuart; Bruce O’Hagan; Lewis Meehan; Cian Boylan; Barry O’Hara

Referee: Gus Chapman