JJ Kavanagh Junior B Hurling League Final
Bennettsbridge 0-24; Fenians 2-16 (22)
Bennettsbridge emerged with the honours in an always competitive Junior B League Final on Sunday 23/06/2024 at Jenkinstown. Whilst the result could have gone either way against opponents Fenians, Johnstown, it was the Bridge men who finished the stronger to emerge victorious.
Bennettsbridge built up a 0-7 to 0-2 lead in the opening quarter and were 0-14 to 0-11 clear at the interval. In truth, Fenians were lucky to be just three points behind, as the Bridge had quite a bit more possession.
The ‘Bridge captain Willy Murphy registered 0-4 in the opening period, Harry Murphy 0-3, and Aidan Cleere with 0-3, before picking up an injury. Niall Carroll who scored 0-3, and battled well, was the pick of the Fenians players in the same period.
Fenians must have got the “hairdryer treatment” at the break, as they struck back with an unanswered 1-2 within five minutes of the restart. Cathal Phelan pointed, Sean Tobin goaled from close range, and the same player pointed a free, 1-13 to 0-14.
Harry Murphy was still doing major damage outfield for Bennettsbridge, and by the 55th minute quick scores by Harry and a Nicky Cleere (free) has Bennettsbridge 0-20 to 1-15 ahead.
Soon afterwards Mark Hughes of Fenians was fouled in the square, and Kieran Grehan goaled from the resulting penalty. Fenians were now a point in front, 2-15 (21) to 0-20.
The excellent Harry Murphy equalised, but in the final minute of regulation time, Grehan pointed a free to put Fenians back in front.
Bennettsbridge finished the stronger, to clinch a high-quality junior B league final with unanswered points from Willy Murphy (2) and Kevin Brennan.
Final Score – Bennettsbridge 0-24; Fenians 2-16.
Bennettsbridge team & scorers:
Jack Forristal, Sam O’Dwyer, Lar Mahon, Kyle Ryan, Gearoid Kent, Shane Byrne, Kevin Brennan (0-1), Willy Murphy (captain, 0-6), Stephen Holden, Aidan Cleere (0-3), Nicky Cleere (0-6, 0-4 frees), Harry Murphy (0-6), Jack Campion (0-1), Billy Nolan (0-1), Paddy Walsh.
Substitutes – Oran Lavery for Aidan Cleere, Tom Bolger, Ivan Kelly, Patrick O’Neill, Maurice Walsh, Conor Nolan, Johnny Doyle, Luke Dowling, Joe Hughes, Myles McGovern, Sean O’Connell, Michael Shiel, Eoin O’Connor.
Fenians team & scorers:
Billy Garrett, Eoin Phelan, Johnny Henderson, Addy McCormack, Gerry Henderson, Kieran Grehan (1-2, goal penalty, 0-1 free), Rory Phelan, Cormac Ryan, Rory Garrett (0-2), Niall Carroll (0-3), Cathal Phelan (0-4), Alex Lawlor, Sean Tobin (1-4, 0-4 frees), Mark Hughes (0-1), Danny Dermody (captain)
Substitutes Used – Aaron Dermody for Alex Lawlor, Adam Duggan for Gerry Henderson, Regan Downey for Danny Darmody, Thomas Sharkey for Niall Carroll.
Other Panelists- Podge Sweeney, Paddy Cullen, Eddie Hughes, Dara O’Grady, Dian Quinlan, Bobby Tynan, Aaron Okorah, Damo Delaney, David Ryan, James Sweeney, Cillian Purcell, Cillian Walsh, Niall Mackey.
Photos:
Both teams.
Pat Cooney presents the JJ Kavanagh Junior B League trophy to Bennettsbridge captain Willy Murphy.
The captains Willy Murphy & Danny Darmody with referee Sean McMahon.
Country Style Foods Junior D Hurling League Final
Graiguenamanagh 0-20; Rower Inistioge 3-9
Graiguenamanagh were victorious in a close and exciting Junior D League Final on Saturday 22/6/2024 at Dr. Tierney Park. The home side dominated the opening half, but the sides were all square at the interval, 0-11 to 2-5. The main reason for the halftime stalemate were goals in the 8th and 26th minutes by former Kilkenny senior hurler Sean Cummins. On both occasions the big man grabbed high deliveries and applied the necessary finishing touches.
The Graigue men had their own scorer in chief in Terry Dreelan. He recorded four points from play and a pointed free in the opening period.
Graiguenamanagh had the better of the third quarter going five points clear, 0-17 to 2-6, before the veteran Cummins continued his goal scoring exploits in the 45th minute, when he finished a long range free to the net.
A Dreelan free kept the Graiguenamanagh scoreboard ticking over, as he went on to record seven points in the second period, 0-12 in all, made up of seven frees and five from play.
With Graiguenamanagh two ahead and two minutes remaining, Rower Inistioge had a couple of attacks, but the green and white Graiguenamanagh men stayed solid.
The Junior D League trophy was presented on behalf of Country Style Foods by Rory Williams, to Graiguenamanagh captain Shane Kearney.
The top performers for Graignamanagh were Terry Dreelan, Stephen Kinsella, Sean O’Neill and Martin Barron.
Sean Cummins with his hat trick was almost certainly man of the match, though on the losing side. Others to excel were Harry Murphy and Fiachra Farrell.
Graiguenamanagh team & scorers:
Colin Bolger, Gavin Kielthy, Fintan Gahan, Sean O’Neill, Martin Barron, Joe Dowling, Shane Kearney (captain), Niall Hayden (0-1), Sean Walsh (0-1), Nicky Ryan (0-1), Jack Dunne, Terry Dreelan (0-12, 0-7 frees), Devon Kielthy, Steven Kinsella (0-4, 0-2 frees), Ciaran Kavanagh.
Substitutes – Dylan Cahill for Ciaran Kavanagh. Oran Canning (0-1).
Panelists – Sean Cahill, lan Kavanagh, TJ Caulfield, Abhainn Flood, Steven Foley, Jim 0 Donnell, Cathal Dunne, Conor Murphy, Adrian Doyle, Stephen Cosgrave, Ryan Foley, George Wakeham, Tommy Brazil, Joe O’Neill (Injured).
Rower Inistioge team & scorers:
Dan Mulholland, Tommy Grace Kieran Meaney, Tom Cullen, Patrick Prendergast Harry Murphy (captain), Jack Morrissey, Caomhin Lynch, Luke Tennyson, Fiachra Farrell (0-8, 0-6 frees), Howard McDonnell, David Lyster, Robby Walsh, Sean Cummins (3-0), Michael McDonald.
Substitutes used – Ewan Gilsenan for Michael McDonald, Donal O’Brien (0-1) for David Lyster, Conor Lyng for James Prendergast.
Panelists – Richard Ryan, Oisin Whelan, Michael Moffatt, David Prendergast, Michael Chapman, Eoin Prendergast.
Referee : Sean McMahon
Photos : Winners Graiguenamanagh
Rory Williams of sponsors Country Style Foods presenting the Junior D League Final trophy to Graiguenamanagh captain Shane Kearney.
By John Power Tue 25th Jun
