Outstanding Achievement Finalists: National title for hurlers
The Cavan senior hurling team continued their impressive rise when they won the National Hurling League Division 3B title on April 1, 2023 at Abbotstown in Dublin. In claiming rare adult silverware in the small-ball code, Cavan defeated neighbours Leitrim by 0-17 to 0-16 in a nailbiting clash.
Cootehill Celtic youngster Rian Delaney was the hero for Ollie Bellew’s men, coming off the bench to fire over the priceless winning point. The closing stages produced almost unbearable tension as Cavan held on throughout a surprisingly lengthy nine minutes of injury time.
In the end, though, Cavan, who never trailed, stood strong to claim rare adult silverware. When the sides met earlier in the campaign, Cavan ran out four-point winners and another very close contest was anticipated here.
Cavan were the better side in the first half and by the midway point, the Breffni men had built up a 0-11 to 0-8 lead. Kilkenny native Canice Maher opened the scoring with a 50-metre point and from there on, Cavan managed to keep their noses in front for the remainder of the game.
Maher (one 65, one free) made it 0-5 to 0-2 in favour of the Ulster side with 11 minutes played, with Nicky Kenny outstanding, but an impressive score from late call-up Sean Markem and another from O’Hagan made it a one-point game.
Diarmuid Carney created a chance which Maher finished and after captain Mattie Hynes turned over possession, Kenny sent over a quality score to leave three between the sides again. Kenny and Maher were on the mark again to make it 0-9 to 0-5 and Maher scored again as Cavan went in at half-time leading by three points.
The outstanding Kenny registered twice to extend Cavan’s lead but Leitrim came roaring back. As the skies opened, Cavan found themselves under pressure. On a rare foray forward, Delaney pounced on a break and hooked over a classy point which looked like the winner.
Cavan: Darren Sheridan, Shane Briody, Dominic Crudden, Liam Óg Cooke, Jack Barry, Cillian Sheanon, Matthew Hynes, Dillon Mulligan, Nicky Kenny (0-7), Tom Leonard, Canice Maher (0-9, 3f, 65), Colum Sheanon, Sean Keating, Diarmuid Carney, Colin Gargan
Subs: Rian Delaney (0-1) for S Keating (51), Anthony Sheridan for C Gargan (57), Mark Moffett for D Carney, Philip McCabe for Cooke (both 66), Enda Shalvey for T Leonard (70)