JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21 B Hurling Championship Final
Young Irelands 1-19; St Martin’s 0-16.
Young Irelands, Gowran won the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21B hurling championship for a third time, following an extra time victory over St. Martin’s, in a high-quality final at Ballyragget on Saturday last.
Before a large crowd, the game ebbed and flowed throughout, but the Young Ireland’s boys just about deserved to emerge victorious, having outscored St. Martins 0-7 to 0-1 in the extra time period.
For Young Irelands Gowran, who recorded previous wins in this competition in 1979 and 1985, this is proving a tremendous year, having already recorded a league victory at Under 19B, and still awaiting a final, versus Bennettsbridge, in the Under 19B championship final.
St. Martins were first off the mark with a Joe Reid point from midfield, before Young Ireland’s settle, and by the tenth minute, Tommy Phelan, a highly effective free taker, recorded three unanswered points (0-3 to 0-1).
Jack Farrell (SM) and Killian Carey (YI) exchanged scores before Farrell reduced the lead to one with a pointed free. The only goal of the game arrived on the 19th minute. The St. Martin’s keeper was dispossessed close to his goal, and Paddy Brennan pounced to raise the green flag for Young Ireland’s, 1-4 to 0-3.
St. Martins responded well to this set back, with points from Sean Hunt and Tristan Roche, both distance scorers from the midfield area. Diarmuid Langton pointed for the Gowran men to make it 1-5 to 0-5 in the 23rd minute.
Martins had a ‘purple patch’ between this and the interval, with points from Joe Reid, goalkeeper Oisin Kelly from a penalty that went skywards, and Sean Hunt from 60 metres. The penalty decision was awarded when St. Martins best forward, Jamie Morrissey was unceremoniously upended, following a defence splitting solo run.
Half-time Young Irelands 1-5; St Martin’s 0-8.
Padraig Naddy was one of Gowran’s strongest performers throughout, and he opened the new half with a fine point.
St. Martin’s responded however by going two points clear by the 35th minute, with a duo of points from Jamie Morrissey, and a distance free from Sean Hunt (0-11 to 1-6).
The second half continued with both sides having periods of dominance on the scoreboard, and the next four points were all by Young Irelands, three from Tommy Phelan and the other by Jimmy Lennon, following a fine team attack (1-10 to 0-11).
St. Martin’s levelled matters by the 47th minute with points by James O’Neill and Jamie Morrissey.
The exchanges were hugely competitive from here to the end of normal time, with both sides adding two further points. A Phelan free put Gowran ahead, with Jack Farrell (free) replying in the 53rd minute. St. Martin’s missed a couple of frees before Paddy Brennan gave Young Irelands a point lead in the 59th minute. It looked like this could prove the winner, but three minutes into added time, Ciaran Nolan pulled out an equaliser from 70 metres, to take the game to extra time.
Full-time Young Irelands 1-12; St Martin’s 0-15.
Three minutes into extra time James O’Neill got St. Martin’s a lead point, but in the remaining twenty minutes of hurling time, they failed to raise a further white flag.
On the other hand, by the ten-minute interval, Young Ireland’s recorded a Tommy Phelan free, a Padraig Naddy score when he emerged with possession from a ruck, and a Michael Keating point, to lead 1-15 to 0-16.
Four further points by Tommy Phelan, two each from frees and open play, saw the title go to Gowran on a score of 1-19 to 0-16.
This was a seriously competitive hurling game, on a Ballyragget pitch in very good condition for December and following a serious amount of Autumn rainfall.
Best performers for Young Irelands were Padraig Naddy, Killian Carey, Paddy Brennan, and Tommy Phelan, both from frees and open play.
St. Martin’s gave their all, and the likes of Ciaran Nolan, Tristan Roche, Tadhg Gill, Sean Hunt, and the excellent Jamie Morrissey all stared at stages.
Referee Owen Beehan allowed the game flow as much as possible, which made this an exciting contest throughout.
SCORERS
Young Irelands – Tommy Phelan (0-12, 0-10 frees), Paddy Brennan (1-1), Padraig Naddy (0-2), Diarmuid Langton, Tim Brennan (penalty), Jimmy Lennon, Michael Keating (0-1 each).
St. Martin’s – Jamie Morrissey (0-4), Jack Farrell (0-3, frees), Sean Hunt (0-3, 0-1 free), Joe Reid, James O’Neill (0-2 each), Tristan Roche, Ciaran Nolan (0-1 each).
TEAMS
Young Ireland’s- Tim Brennan, Jake Byrne, Bobbie Brennan, Charlie Fitzgerald, Ben Phelan, Padraig Naddy, Gavin Manning (jc), Killian Carey, Jimmy Lennon, Patrick Langton, Tommy Phelan, Paddy Brennan (jc), Diarmuid Langton, Conor Fitzpatrick, Cian Phelan.
Subs – Michael Keating for Fitzpatrick, Jake Byrne for Carey (extra time), Ciaran Kavanagh, Charlie Brennan, Ciaran Byrne, Daniel Manning, Eóin O’Neill, Jack Kennedy Byrne, Jake Byrne, Luke Phelan, Rory Farrell, David Holland, David Drennan, Cathal Darcy.
St. Martin’s – Oisin Kelly, Cathal Keegan, Ciaran Nolan, Billy Dowling, Matthews Bolger, Tristan Roche, Matthews Shortall, Tadhg Gill, Michael Keane, Jack Farrell (captain), Joe Reid, Russell Kealy, James O’Neill, Sean Hunt, Jamie Morrissey.
Subs – Aaron Farrell for Kealy, Niall Shore, Colin Hayes, Shane Fahey, Shane O’Neill, Cormac Quirke, Conor Dooley, Ross Dowling, Luke Burke, Adam Morrissey, Paddy Brennan, Ewan Buggy, Christopher Kealy.
Referee – Owen Behan.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21 C Hurling Championship Final
Glenmore 2-10; Kilmacow 1-7
Glenmore capped a great year for the club with a fully deserved victory over Kilmacow in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21 C Hurling Final, before a great attendance at Mooncoin on Sunday last. Many of this batch of players had also been involved in the Under 19 Roinn C league and championship double earlier this season. In full forward Ian Byrne, the club had a definite stand-out player in this U21 final, the Glenmore captain recorded all bar a point of the Glens-men total.
For Kilmacow the defeat was a second successive final loss in this competition, having fell at the final hurdle last year also, versus Mullinavat.
In the game, played on a slippery surface, in greasy conditions, scores were often at a premium, with defenders coming out on top, particularly in the first half exchanges.
Glenmore had opening points by Ian Byrne on 3 and 5 minutes, the first a 50-metre score from play, the other from a free.
Kilmacow got back on terms by the 11th minute with points from a Sean Dowling (free), and a well worked Callum Regan point.
By the 20th minute Byrne had added two further Glenmore pointed frees, 0-4 to 0-2.
Dowling (free) and James Walsh added two Kilmacow points by the interval, sandwiching an 80-metre score by Glenmore’s Billy Reid.
Half-time Glenmore 0-5; Kilmacow 0-4.
It was still tight in the opening ten minutes of the new half, two Ian Byrne points, the latter from play, putting them three points clear. Kilmacow got a 42nd minute point by James Walsh from a free to reduce the margin to two points, but then Ian Byrne got the first of his two goals. He got possession close to goal, rounded Kieran Dowling in the Kilmacow goal, and batted home (1-7 to 0-5).
He followed with a 45th minute free, but Kilmacow battled on, and were right back in the game six minutes later when Fergal Suffin goaled.
In the 54th minute a Byrne pointed free left them four ahead, 1-9 to 1-5.
Two Kilmacow scores from their best player on the afternoon, ex county minor James Walsh, the first a free, the other from play, left just two points between them, 1-7 to 1-9, but these were the losers final scores in the tricky conditions.
A further 1-1 by the outstanding Ian Byrne, the goal after a long delivery from a colleague, gave Glenmore a merited six-point win, 2-10 to 1-7.
Other than Byrne, players like Ciaran Vereker, Billy Reid and Tomas Mullally were the winners star performers.
Kilmacow, who will regroup again with many players still eligible next year, had solid performances from the likes of Billy Phelan, Liam Lacey and James Walsh
Glenmore team & scorers –
Mikey Kirwan, Shane Duhig, Ciaran Vereker, Darragh Vereker, Jack Ryan (VC), Billy Reid (0-1), Jack Cody, Thomas Mullally (Weatherstown), Cathal Sheehan, Evan Halligan, Colm Roche, Charlie Phelan, Padraic Cody, Ian Byrne (captain, 2-9, 0-6 frees), Paul Murphy.
Subs – Cian Conick, Paul Brophy, James Hendrick, Patrick O’Conor (Foristalstown), Dominic Roche, Jack Dollard, James Reid, Jason Cody, Oisin Mullally, David Walsh, James Connolly.
Kilmacow team & scorers –
Kieran Dowling, Lorcan Suffin, Donnacha Williams, Billy Phelan, Tadhg Connolly, Liam Lacey, Dev Lowe, Sean Dowling (0-2, frees), Tom Butler, Tom Reddy, James Walsh (0-4, 2 frees) , Fergal Suffin (JC, 1-0), Calum Regan (0-1), Ted Doyle, Jack O’Neill.
Subs – Fionn Blanch, Caoilin Kelly, Stephen Moore, Fionn Walsh, Jack Murphy, Darragh Kelly, Conor Walsh, Ben Doyle, Ciaran Murray, Eoin Walsh, Paddy Regan.
Referee – Paul Whelan (Mullinavat).
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21 D Hurling Championship Final
Fenians 3-24 Tullaroan 5-15
Fenians, Johnstown emerged victorious after 80 minutes of hurling, 47 scores, 8 of which were goals. What a game this was in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21 D Final at Ballyragget on Saturday 25th November 2023.
Fenians had lost last year’s D final to Emeralds, but made no mistake this time, against a valiant Tullaroan side, who made them fight all the way, right through to the final minute of extra time.
The opening portion of the game set the trend for what was to follow. Regan Downey got the game’s first goal for Tullaroan in the 4th minute. Billy Keoghan was a goal scorer for Tullaroan in the 11th minute, but Padraic O’Grady raised a green flag in response just a minute later, which left Fenians 2-1 to 1-2 ahead after 12 minutes. At the interval Fenians had stretched the lead out to seven points, 2-9 to 1-5.
By midway through the second half Fenians were eight points clear, 2-13 to 1-8, but the never say die attitude of the Tullaroan boys was particularly exemplified in the final quarter.
They outscored the eventual winners 2-4 to 0-2 in this period. James Walton goaled for Tullaroan in the 54th minutes, to reduce the lead to four points, 2-9 to 2-13. It actually took a 65th minute goal by Tullaroan to take this match to extra time. At the end of the sixty plus minutes it was Fenians 2-15 to Tullaroan’s 3-12.
EXTRA TIME
So onwards to extra time, and even though Fenians outscored Tullaroan eight points to two by half time in extra time 2-23(29) to 3-13(22), to their credit the green and whites never gave up.
In the opening section of second extra time period the outstanding Gearoid Dunne reduced the margin to four with a Tullaroan goal. Whilst they added another before the finish, Fenians held on to win this “score-fest” contest by three points, 3-24(33) to 5-15 (30).
Fenians finished the day with eight different scores. Amongst their star players were Regan Downey, Podge O’Grady, Cathal Phelan and Jack Walsh.
For Tullaroan the likes of Billy Walton, Gearoid Dunne and colleagues have to be commended for their battling qualities all afternoon.
For an Under 21 D Final this contest had everything. Congratulations to Fenians Johnstown, who will move up to Roinn C in 2024, and the courageous never say die spirit of Tullaroan augurs well for the future of that club also.
Fenians team & scorers –
Billy Garrett, Niall Mackey, Jerry Henderson, Shane Whyte, Darragh O’Grady, Aaron Duggan (captain), Rory Garrett (0-2), Paddy Cullen, Podge O’Grady (1-1), Alex Lawlor (0-1), Darragh McCormack (0-4), Tomas Sharkey (0-1), Cathal Phelan (1-3), Regan Downey (1-7, 0-2 frees), Jack Walsh (0-3).
Subs – Eoghan Sommers (0-2), Craig Bowe, Evan Ryan, Donagh Maher, Sam Murphy, Cillian Purcell.
Tullaroan team –
Niall Holland, Tom Dillon, Richard Cash (captain), Jack Cleere (vc), Billy Coogan, Bill Walton,Padraig O’Mahoney,Aaron Russell,Paul Mulligan,James Cash, Gearoid Dunne, Charlie Cleere, Josh Tallis, Brendan Walsh, Cillian Brennan.
Subs – Matthews Mulligan, Billy Keoghan, James Walton, Richard Delaney, Colm Fitzgerald, Eamonn Holland, Cathal Russell, Tommy Holmes, Johnny Leahy.
Referee- Eamonn Mansfield.
By John Power Tue 5th Dec
