The U14 Boys made the journey to Colaiste Eoin on Saturday for the hotly anticipated Division 4 Hurling Cup final against Kilmacud Crokes. Having faced off in the league the St. Finian's lads knew they were in for a tight encounter and so it transpired.

The match started at a frantic pace, both sides tackling strongly and possession was hard to come by. Cheered on by the travelling support though, the Finians lads racked up the first scores of the game to settle the pre-match nerves. 💪💪

A goal midway through the first half saw the Finian's lads strike the first significant blow, and they looked to be getting into their groove. However the always dangerous Crokes attack made inroads shortly after and were awarded a penalty. A fabulous save kept the Kilmacud lads at bay and both teams exchanged points as the first half drew to a close.

The boys knew the third quarter would be key, and started the second half with the same determination as the first. Crokes wouldn't go away though, and slowly began to close the gap. Another Finians goal early in the half gave them a lift, however it was cancelled out straight away by a goal for the home side.

As the half progressed it was a real dog fight, Crokes to their credit levelled the match, and a third goal with less than 10 minutes to go swung the tie in their favour and the travelling support started to fear the worst.

The drama wasn't over yet however, the Finians lads heart and courage came to the fore, and they laid seige to the Crokes end for the rest of the contest, scoring five points without reply to edge a titanic tussle.

The final whistle blew, and to their delight the boys were victorious, the celebrations rang around the ground, much to the delight of family and friends. 👏👏

A fine Crokes side were gracious in defeat, a deserve huge thanks for their part in a hugely entertaining game, and for the sportsmanship shown afterwards.

The last word goes to the U14 Boys, a fantastic group of lads who stuck by each other through thick and thin on a hard road to the title. A richly deserved win and reward for their efforts all year. 🏆🏆

🎤 Mark Boyd