St. Patrick’s, Ballyragget, qualified for the AIB All Ireland Junior Club Hurling Final thanks to a hard earned four point victory over Ballygar of Galway in Nenagh yesterday. The Kilkenny champions dominated the first half and led by 0-11 to 0-3 at the interval. An easy victory seemed probable when that lead was increased to a ten point margin (0-13 to 0-3) immediately on the resumption. However Ballygar cut the deficit with three pointed frees and a goal from Eric Walsh but could not reduce the gap any further as St Patrick’s held out thanks to some impressive defending to win by 0-17 to 1-10. The Ballyragget team will play Charleville of Cork in he All Ireland final on February 11th.
Scorers for St Patrick’s, Ballyragget: Kevin Kelly 0-8 (0-5frees, 0-1 65), Joe Brennan 0-3, Brian Phelan, Brian Staunton 0-2 each, M Brennan, J Phelan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballygar: Eric Walsh 1-5 (0-5 frees), D. Nolan 0-2, S. Lohan 0-2 (65’s), P.Quinn 0-1.
ST PATRICK’S, BALLYRAGGET: M. Gannon; J. Mooney, S. Staunton, P. Cahill; R. Healy, G.Brennan, S Roberts; B. Phelan, J. Gannon; J. Phelan (capt), S. Kenny, K. Kelly; M Brennan, B. Staunton, J. Brennan.
Subs: C. Delaney for J.Gannon (53m), G. Morrissey for S.Roberts (58m), B. Mulhall for R. Healy (61m).
BALLYGAR: S. Harkin; G. Brennan (capt), D. O’Malley, P. Mannion; B. Nolan, P. Mahony, E. Naughton; P. Quinn, J. Fitzmaurice; D.J. Nolan, D. Nolan, E. Walsh; S. Lohan, T. Finneran, C. Greally.
Sub: N. Mannion for J.Fitzmaurice (48m).
Referee: P. Casey (Waterford).
By Mary Morgan Mon 23rd Jan
