Dean Ryan champions 2020!!
In a remarkable year, 11 schools entered the 2019/2020 Munster GAA PostPrimary Schools Dean Ryan Cup (U16½ A hurling competition). With grit and determination St. Colman’s College were crowned champions.
They claimed their 13th Dean Ryan title against a strong Árdscoil Rís team last October in Kilmallock. Prior to this game they had beaten Hamilton High School, De La Salle College, and Midleton CBS en route to the final.
Despite heavy rain and difficult conditions underfoot, both sides gave it their all. From the beginning, the St. Colman’s College backline were under pressure from a speedy Árdscoil Rís attack, however, to their great credit they defended resolutely with hooks and blocks galore. In a game that went all the way to the wire, a point from Ben Nyhan, two minutes from time decided the outcome of this keenly contested decider.
This game was close throughout as the sides were level on five occasions, but in the end the St. Colman’s lads showed tremendous character to claim the spoils. Dan Roche was exemplary with his free taking and in total notched up 11 out of the 14 points that St. Colman’s College scored.
Overall, it was a terrific team performance. Many hours of hard work and tough training sessions had paid off. The team’s panel was made up of players from eleven different clubs in the locality and every panel member will now go down in history as Dean Ryan champions. Many of the panel subsequently went on to win the Hurling U16 A Cork Colleges title after defeating Christian Brothers College, Cork on a scoreline of 0-20 to 0-10.