A youthful Urhan team keep their composure to complete a comeback win away to St. Colum’s – 0-12 to 1-07.
Urhan suffered a mishap in the very first minute, as Colum’s registered a fortunate goal. A handful of quick attacks for the home side followed, leading to one wide and one pointed free, and Urhan found themselves 1-1 to 0-0 behind. The next five minutes saw Urhan slowly settle, and when Declan Healy drove a long-range point to end the stalemate it signalled a period of Urhan dominance. Kieran Lehane, Dec Healy and Kieran Lehane again all pointed, and Urhan were level on the twelve-hour mark.
The game swung back Colum’s way again after that as they launched a series of attacks from a platform of possession. Three points from play and handful of wides were their reward, interrupted briefly by Dec Healy’s third point. Urhan trailed 1-4 to 0-05.
Urhan’s stout defence got back on top for the remainder of the half, centrefield roared into the game, and the scores followed – David McCarthy with a long-range effort reduced the margin to one, Dec Healy leveled, and Johhny Shea put Urhan in front. Half-time was blown. Urhan led 0-08 to 1-04.
The second half started as the first ended, with Urhan in the ascendancy. Davy McCarthy pointed again, and Dec Healy brought his total to five as Urhan stretched their lead to a goal.
The game then entered a crucial period. Possession was hard to come by and hard to maintain. Colum’s won a series of frees as the pressure mounted. One was pointed. Despite good defending by Urhan, the home side leveled with a brace of points. With ten minutes remaining the scores remained tied, and composure was key.
Urhan began to eke out valuable possession, relieving pressure on the backs. A lovely move led to a fine finish from Johhny Shea for a crucial point. Kieran Lehane kicked another, his third of the day. Urhan led by two with five to go.
From then on St. Colum’s laid siege to the Urhan goal as they sought the goal that might secure the win. However, in the aerial bombardment that followed, Urhan stood firm and remained disciplined, claiming high ball after high ball. Those that found a Colum’s man were defended well. Three minutes of added time brought no breach of the rearguard. Urhan remained resolute, and emerged with a hard-fought win.
Team: Sean Daly; Niall Dwyer, PJ Cadogan, Aidan O’ Neill; David O’ Brien, Luke Daly, Aurian Pickett; Finbarr O’ Dwyer, David McCarthy; Kieran Lehane, John Paul Sheehan, Kevin Harrington; Johhny O’ Shea, Declan Healy, Mícheál O’ Neill.
Subs: Martin O’ Neill for Kevin Harrington, David Cronin for David O’ Brien, Diarmuid O’ Sullivan for Sean Daly.
