Educational Supplies Roinn A Final

St. Patrick’s De La Salle 3-12 St. Canice’s 2-7

 St. Patrick’s De La Salle won the Educational Supplies Roinn A final for the first time since 1997 when they defeated their city rivals St. Canice’s after an excellent final in Nowlan Park on Tuesday last. St. Patrick’s went into this game as favourites but they were made fight all the way by a determined St. Canice’s outfit. The opening exchanges were tense and after eight minutes the sides were level at one point apiece. Tadhg O Dwyer opened the scoring for St. Pat’s with a point from a free and Adrian Nolan replied with a similar score for St. Canice’s.  St. Canice’s edged ahead with points from Bill Sheehan and Aidan Nolan (’65). Aidan Nolan then found the net with a ground shot bit St. Patrick’s struck back quickly with a goal from Shane O’Shaughnessy. Tadhg O’Dwyer added two points from frees before the break and right on the stroke of halftime  William Spencer added another point to leave St. Patrick’s ahead by 1-5 to 1-3.

 Two points from Tadhg O’Dwyer  straight from the restart put St. Patrick’s on their way but St. Canice’s hit back with a fine point from Aidan Nolan. However St. Patrick’s were gradually getting the upper hand and they added 1-3 to their tally in the next ten minutes to put them in a commanding position. Eoin Wall scored the goal and Tadhg O’Dwyer, Ross Whelan and Andrew Parsons supplied the points. St. Canice’s refused to throw in the towel and came forward in search of scores. Harry Duggan Scored an excellent point to give them some hope. St Patrick’s added a goal when Andrew Parsons  scored after a good pass from Liam Rafter. Harry Duggan  scored an excellent goal  for St.Canice’s to reduce the deficit , but they were unable to close the gap and the sides shared four points between them Harry Duggan(2) and Tadhg O’Dwyer (2) to see St. Patrick’s run out deserving winners on a scoreline of 3-12 to 2-7.

St. Patrick’s De La Salle:  Richard Stapleton ,  Patrick Kennedy , Ben Devlin,  Shane Donohoe , Noah Canty   ,Shane O’Shaughnessy (C)   Jack Butler ,Tadhg O’Dwyer ,  Andrew Parsons , Liam Rafter, William Spencer , Shane Stapleton , Christian Holohan , Niamul Hossein,  Nathan Donohoe , James Walton,  Ross Whelan, Eoin Wall, Tommy Walton, Aaron Kelly, Michael Doyle, Andy Whelan, Ryan Scanlon, Andy Walsh

St. Canice’s:  Gavin Byrne, Tommy Byrne, Evan Carroll, Cormac Buggy, Conor Doheny, Edward Moylan (C),   Robert Crotty, Oisin Gough, Harry Duggan, Bill Sheehan, Kieran Ryan, Aidan Nolan, Peter Collins, Chris Kavanagh, Adam Clifford, Colin Dempsey, Mark Nolan, Peter Lynch, Jack Condren, Panos Brennan

Tedcastle Oils’ Roinn B Final

Ballyhale 5-13 Thomastown 4-9

Ballyhale and Thomastown served up an absoloute thriller of a game in the last final of the current school year. This was one of the best finals seen in Kilkenny in recent years and both sides are to be commended for providing a wonderful game . 31 scores in 50 minutes tells you something about the exciting spectacle but there were more than scores to keep the crowd entertained. There were spectacular saves, goal line clearances, hooking and blocking of a very high standard. This game had everything you would want to see in hurling. Both goalkeepers, Conor Reid from Ballyhale and especially Adam Power from Thomastown were absoloutely brilliant and deserve the highest praise for their performances. Although the final margin of seven points would suggest a comfortable victory for Ballyhale, this was not the case and the issue was in doubt right up to the final minutes.

Both sides went about their business right from the start and by the seventh minute they were level. Ballyhale’s four points coming from Joseph Cuddihy (3) and Darren Mullen (1), while Thomastown’s scores came from Dylan Caulfield’s goal and a point from John Donnelly.  While Thomastown were doing most of the attacking at this stage, the Ballyhale boys were making better use of their possession and by the end of the first half they led by 3-6 to Thomastown’s 1-6.  Two goals just before the break from Joseph Cuddihy and Andrew Moran gave them a six point lead which was to prove crucial.

The second half was barely a minute old when Rory Monks goaled for Thomastown after Conor Reid had saved a shot from Dylan Caulfield. Ballyhale responded with a point from Adrian Mullen. Within a few minutes Thomastown scored a great goal when Dylan Caulfield grabbed a high delivery from Paul Burke Kelly and buried the sliotar in the net. There was now just a point separating the sides and the excitement in the stands was at fever pitch. Adrian Mullen then struck a lovely point for Ballyhale and Thomastown replied with an excellent point from Rory Monks. A minute later Adam Power made a brilliant save from a shot from Joseph Cuddihy at the expense of a ’65 which was pointed by Adrian Mullen. John Donnelly pointed from a free to leave just a point separating the sides. The scores were coming fast and furious now and two excellent points from the Mullen brothers, Adrian and Darren edged Ballyhale three points ahead. Thomastown were not giving in and Rory Monks gathered the sliotar and headed for the Ballyhale goal. He found Dylan Caulfield and the full forward buried the sliotar to level the game  4-8 to 3-11. It was wonderful stuff and the crowd erupted. Ballyhale again went on the attack and Thomastown goalie Adam Power brought off a spectacular double save to deny them. However five minutes from the end Joseph Cuddilhy unleashed an unstoppable shot to the net to put Ballyhale ahead again. Kevin Fennelly shot another point for Ballyhale but back came Thomastown again and a piledriver from Dylan Caulfield went barely over the crossbar.  Thomastown had fought a brave fight and never threw in the towel but Ballyhale had the final say with a goal from Joseph Cuddihy and a point from Evan Shefflin finally putting the title beyond doubt. What a game we had witnessed, tremendous displays from both sides, with every player giving his all for the cause. For Ballyhale it represented a notable double having won the Corn de Bhaldraithe title the previous week. Thomastown can take a lot of pride from their performance and they contributed  handsomely to a wonderful game of hurling.

Bal lyhale:  Conor Reid (C.), Enda Kenneally, Patrick Doyle, John Hession, Eoin Walsh, Darren Mullen, Paul Holden, Adrian Mullen, Dylan Aylward, Evan Shefflin, Joseph Cuddihy, Eoin Kenneally, Eoin Cody, Andrew Moran, Kevin Fennelly, Adam Brenner, Patrick Hearne, Darragh Corcoran, Keelan O’Donoghue, Ronan Hayes, Billy Moran, Jason Devereux, Christopher Coady, Conor Doyle, John Shortall, Dean Mason, James Reid.,

Thomastown: Adam Power, Edward O’Keefe, Brian Hanrahan, Cathal O’Neill, Jack Delahunty, Paul Burke Kelly (C.), Ned Kirwan, Brian Staunton, Sean Roche, Eamon Forristal, John Donnelly, Rory Monks, Frank Carroll, Dylan Caulfield, David Barron, Shane Butler, Kevin Kanopka, Callum Taylor, Ivan Waugh, Tom Lawlor, Cian Kelly, Edward O’Hanrahan, Luke Gibbons, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Conor McDermott, David Griffin, Michael Murphy, David Walsh, Philip Somers.

Referee: Sean Cleere (O Loughlin Gaels)

Tedcastles Oils Roinn C Hurling Final

Tullogher/Rosbercon 5-6 Conahy 3-3

Tullogher/Rosbercon added the Tedcastles Oils Roinn C Hurling title to the Roinn B Football title won earlier this year by defeating a gallant Conahy team in Ballyhale. The southern side went into this game as strong favourites after an unbeaten run to the final but they were made work extremely hard by a determined Conahy side which battled all the way to the end. Conahy played with wind advantage in the first half but it was Tullogher who got off to the better start. Paul Manning pointed in the first minute. Conor Hennessy added another point from a ’65 in the fifth minute and Conahy were finding it difficult to keep them at bay. Within a minute they suffered a further blow when Paul Manning doubled on a free to finish to the net.  Thomas O’ Connor added another point in the seventh minute and it was all Tullogher at this stage. Conahy showed real character however and slowly they got themselves back into the game. Edmond Delaney pointed a free in the tenth minute and within a minute James Bergin added another from play. Tullogher added an excellent point from Tadhg Cody but two minutes later a goal from James Bergin put Conahy right back in the game. Tullogher went on the attack again but struck four wides in a row to leave the half time score Tullogher/Rosbercon 1-4 Conahy 1-2.

Tullogher began the second half with intent and within two minutes they added a goal. Paul Manning gathered the sliotar forty metres out and headed for the Conahy goal. He weaved his way in and struck a blistering shot to the net. It looked ominous for Conahy as Tullogher now had wind advantage. Conahy responded brilliantly however and within a minute they had the ball in the back of the Tullogher net thanks to Niamh Delaney. Conor Hennessy added an excellent point from a free in the sixth minute and Richard Hennessy added a goal a minute later. Tullogher were gradually getting on top and Daire McGrath scored a goal after good work by Paul Manning. Conahy still refused to surrender and immediately replied with a goal from James Bergin. Tullogher added a point from Conor Hennessy and Richard Hennessy struck for his second goal after a good run from Daire McGrath. Conahy to their credit never gave up trying and the final score of the game went to Edmond Delaney with a point from a ’65. In the end the title went south and there was no doubting the merit of Tullogher’s win. Conahy can however take a great deal of credit for their dogged resistance and the character they showed in their gallant performance will surely stand them in good stead in the future.

Tullogher/Rosbercon: Padraig Walsh, Mark McGrath, Mark Forrestal, Aidan O’Neill, David Walsh, Conor Hennessy, Richard Gill, Daire McGrath, Tadhg Cody, Donagh O’Connor, Paul Manning, Niall O’Beirne, Richard Hennessy, Thomas O’ Connor, Jack Kennedy, Dylan Morrissey, Shane Lyng, John Forrestal, David O’Connor, Frank Murphy, Stephen Gahan, Brian Lynch, Richie Aylward, Thomas Johns, Terry Lawlor, Conor Brett, Frankie Power, Sean O’Neill.

Conahy: John Byrne, Niall Walsh, Kieran Delaney, Pádraig Gunner, Roisín Phelan, Donal Cass, Justin Brophy, Edmond Delaney, Leon Butler, Niamh Delaney, James Bergin, Conor Watters, Keith Dunne, Bill Murphy, Sean Hennessy, Darragh Dooley, Laurence Feehan, Conor Blanche, Ethan Butler, Frank Gunner, Siobhán Mullen, Evelyn Phelan, Paul Healy, Tommy Hennessy,  Vincent Brophy, Cian Harding, Ben Lawlor, Amy Morrissey, Daniel O’ Shea, Brendan Nolan.

Referee: Paschal Connolly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)