Countrystyle Foods Junior D Hurling County Final
Graiguenamanagh 2-15; Erin’s Own 1-14
Graiguenamanagh made it a Junior D Hurling league and championship double for 2024 with a four-point victory over Erin’s Own, Castlecomer in Saturday’s Countrystyle Foods final at UPMC Nowlan Park.
This current season is proving to be a good year for Graiguenamanagh, as along with this double they have also won a County Junior Football Championship back in April.
This was a close contest throughout, Graiguenamanagh led by two points at the interval, but they still needed to defend manfully in the final few minutes, to record a hard-earned victory.
Former senior player Peader Boran opened the scoring for the Comer men on five minutes, added to by a fine solo run and point by James Coogan three minutes later.
Graiguenamanagh eventually got going in a low scoring opening quarter, to take the lead with three pointed frees. Two from the left-handed Tommy Dreelan, sandwiching a right-handed Steven Kinsella placed ball (0-3 to 0-2).
Comer’s James Coogan from 60 metres levelled matters.
Conor Clarke (EO) put his side ahead before both sides exchanged goals in a one-minute spell around the 20th minute. Dylan Cahill finishing a fine team move for Graiguenamanagh, at the other end it was Peader Boran raising the green flag after a long delivery into the square by James Coogan (1-4 each).
It was almost score for score throughout the rest of the first half, until two late Graiguenamanagh points by Niall Hayden from 90 metres, and a Stephen Kinsella free left them two clear at the break.
Half time Graiguenamanagh 1-8; Erin’s Own 1-6.
James Coogan opened the Comer scoring after the interval, but Graig replied with two Steven Kinsella points from play. Erin’s Own then had two scores from Conor Clarke and Peader Boran, to leave just two points in it (1-7 to 1-9).
It was between the 37th and 47th minute that this Junior D final was decided, as Graiguenamanagh added 1-2 without reply. A point from play by Steven Kinsella, a Jack Dunne individual goal, and a further pointed free by Kinsella (2-12 to 1-9).
Credit Erin’s Own for battling on however with four pointed frees from James Coogan to reduce the margin to two points (1-13 to 2-12).
Points by Sean Walsh and Nicky Ryan brought the Graiguenamanagh lead back to four (2-14 to 1-13), and both sides added a further point each, as three goal efforts by Comer were well defended by a solid Graigue rearguard.
The ‘green and white’ jersey men deserved their victory in what was an overall solid team performance. Steven Kinsella was the standout player, with points from placed balls and a few vital second half scores from play.
Erin’s Own were performing in Junior D following promotion last year and were not too far away from back-to-back successes on this occasion. Conor Clarke and James Coogan were amongst their better performers in this final.
Graiguenamanagh team & scorers: –
Colin Bolger, Sean O’Neill, Fintan Gahan, Gavin Kielthy, Martin Barron, Joe Dowling, Shane Kearney (Captain), Niall Hayden (0-1), Sean Walsh (0-1), Nicky Ryan (0-1), Jack Dunne (1-0), Terry Dreelan (0-4, 3 frees), Adrian Doyle (0-1), Steven Kinsella (0-7, 4 frees), Dylan Cahill (1-0).
Substitutes:-
TJ Caulfield, Dylan Cahill, Sean Walsh, lan Kavanagh, Oran Canning, Ciaran Kavanagh, Kian Murphy, Abhainn Flood, Conor Murphy, Steven Cosgrave, Jim O’Donnell, Devin Kielthy, Joe O’Neill (Injured).
Erin’s Own team & scorers: –
Conor O’Sullivan, Evan Harding, Liam Wallace, Shane Rice, Tommy Coogan, Damien Fogarty, Conor Brophy, Conor Clarke (0-2), Martin Walsh (Captain), Darragh Normoyle, Jimmy Comerford, Adam Brennan, John Kenny (0-1), Peader Boran (1-3), James Coogan (0-8, 4 frees).
Substitutes:-
Jack Comerford for Liam Wallace (blood sub), Jamie Maher for Darragh Normoyle, Ross Connolly for Martin Walsh, Cathal Dunny for Shane Rice, Cathal Murphy, James Mullins, Michael Whelan, Eoin Nolan, Conor Normoyle, Jack Coogan, James Comerford, Aaron Fanning, Ciaran Meagher, James Kenny, Dermot Wallace.
Referee: Brandon Power (Mooncoin).
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior E Hurling County Final
Mooncoin 4-12 (24); O’Loughlin Gaels 1-17 (20)
Over the years many Mooncoin men have appeared in finals on the first Sunday in September. The same happened last Sunday, in a lower-level grade, and representing club rather than county, but nonetheless this was a September success for men “from the banks of the Suir that flows down to Mooncoin.”
Goals win games, the Mooncoin men outscored their city opponents 4-1 on that front, and therefore clinched the county Junior F Championship at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Darragh Murphy pointed from Mooncoin from the throw in, replied to by Ben Tyrell (OLG) inside a minute. Then Mooncoin recorded the first of three opening half goals, from former Inter-County player Ray Wall. Shane Maher got a fine O’Loughlin’s point from midfield, but Mooncoin banged in a second goal with the game just five minutes old. Kevin Doyle the finisher after clever work by Ray Wall in the build-up (2-1 to 0-2).
The next four scores were all from the city side, three pointed frees by Shane Maher followed by a point from play by Ben Tyrell.
However, on 16 minutes it was goal number three for Mooncoin. Billy Delahunty the finisher after an inbound delivery from Darragh Murphy (3-1 to 0-6).
O’Loughlins replied with a pointed free from Shane Maher, answered by a fine Billy Delahunty (M) score from 50 metres, on the new stand side of UPMC Nowlan Park.
On 19 minutes O’Loughlins raised their only green flag of the afternoon. A Fionn Lawlor shot was saved, but Joe Bolger netted on the follow up.
Ray Wall converted a Mooncoin free on 21 minutes, replied to by two placed ball scores by Shane Maher of O’Loughlins, left the sides all square at the interval.
Half time: Mooncoin 3-3; O’Loughlins 1-9
Michael Butler put O’Loughlins ahead with a point on the 32nd minute, before Mooncoin recorded their fourth goal 30 seconds later. A nippy Stephen Brennan, an excellent second half substitute for the Suirsiders scored with a ground shot. This youngster, although small in stature, was big in hurling skills, and had a considerable influence throughout the second half.
Former O’Loughlin’s senior star Alan Geogheghan pointed from the 65-metre line on the old stand side, replied to by a Stephen Brennan point for Mooncoin (4-4 to 1-11).
Fionn Lawlor pointed for O’Loughlins, but between the 38th and 53rd minute Mooncoin were to record six of the games next seven points, as they edged towards the finish line.
An Aaron McLaughlin point, two fine scores by Mikey Ryan, another Stephen Brennan individual point, along with a couple of frees by Ray Wall, were the scorers (4-10 to 1-13).
O’Loughlins kept battling but the four goals conceded had made their task too challenging and Mooncoin held on for a 4-12 to 1-17 victory.
Mooncoin had star performers in goalkeeper Niall O’Hanlon, Jackie Ryan, Mikey Ryan, and particularly the forward duo of Ray Wall and ‘nippy’ second half substitute Stephen Brennan.
For the city side veteran Alan Geogheghan was always prominent. Ben Tyrell and the free taking ability of Shane Maher, were also driving on the O’Loughlins men.
Mooncoin team & scorers: –
Niall O’Hanlon, Adam Walsh Kevin Conneally (Captain), JP Purcell, Paddy Kinsella, Jackie Ryan, Luke Ramaswami, Robbie Finn, Kieran Fagan, Aaron McLaughlin (0-1), Darragh Murphy (0-1, VC) Billy Delahunty (1-1), Mikey Ryan (0-3), Ray Wall (1-4, 4 frees), Kevin Doyle (1-0).
Substitutes:-
Stephen Brennan (1-2) for Kevin Doyle, Sean Wall for Billy Delahunty, Liam Walsh, Adam Conway, Sean Drennan, James Blackmore, Padraig Walsh, Eoin McGrath, David O’Shea, Adrian O’Keeffe, Michael Murphy, Mikey Phelan, Martin Murphy, Lee Frayne, Jack Tyler, Mike O’Keeffe, TJ Mackey, Paudie Purcell, Sean Thornton, Patrick Dermody, Aiden Dermody, Chris O’Hanlon, Mark Tolan, Chris Norris (inj).
O’Loughlin Gaels team & scorers: –
Michael Lambert, Michael Twomey, Gavin Mahony, Jack Kearns, Peter McNamara, Alan Geoghegan (0-2, 1 free), Eoghan Bennett, Mark Croghan (Captain), CJ McChamcheu, Michael Butler (0-1), Ben Tyrrell (0-2), Kevin Rowe, Joe Bolger (1-0), Shane Maher (0-10, 9 frees), Fionn Lawlor (0-1).
Substitutes:-
Kieran Delaney for Jack Kearns, Sean Cahalane for Kevin Rowe, Frank Noukeu (0-1) for Michael Butler, Matthew Hogan for Joe Bolger, Luke Quiqley, Adrian Maher, CJ Poyntz, Pacey McFarlane, Harry Roberts, Josh Owens, Nick Redmond, Lee Hehir, Conor Murphy, Luke Hanrahan, Darragh Digan, Eoghan O’Callaghan, John Comerford, Joe Murphy, Aaron Rodgers, Damien Culleton, Killian Byrnes, Vinny Wallace (injured).
Referee: Stephen Delaney.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior F Hurling County Final
Young Ireland’s 0-19; Mullinavat 0-10
They say a rising tide lifts all boats, and if that is the case, expect a serious challenge from Young Irelands, Gowran to return to the Kilkenny Senior Hurling grade in the months or years ahead.
Prior to Sunday, Young Ireland had already won the Junior A Hurling Final the previous weekend, and this team, (who had suffered defeat in the Junior F league final to St. Lachtain’s), made it a double Junior championship success in this Junior F final at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday.
For the Junior F hurlers of Mullinavat it was misery upon misery, as they again tasted defeat in a third successive Junior F County Hurling Final, having lost to Conahy Shamrocks (2022) and Windgap (2023).
From the start Mullinavat were chasing the game. Following the opening ten minutes, they were already 0-3 to 0-0 down, and this set the pattern for the rest of the afternoon.
At the interval, the more experienced Gowran outfit were 0-10 to 0-3, and while Mullinavat got the deficit back to four points by the 40th minute, a superior team beat them on Sunday.
Beaten, not just by a better side, but also by a ‘man of the match’ performance from former Young Irelands senior star Sean Kehoe. The big full forward lorded it for Gowran in all areas from midfield to his designated full forward position. Sean finished with 0-11, seven of these from play, a few from 100 metres or so.
The opening Gowran points came from David Holland (2) and Tommy Carroll. The Vegas men squandered chances of a goal and a couple of points in the same period, before John Reade eventually got them off the mark. The only other Mullinavat scores in the opening period was a Reade free and a Billy Delahunty score.
In the same period Young Irelands added seven points, four from Sean Kehoe (2 frees), Tommy Carroll, Christian Nolan and David Drennan.
Half time: Young Irelands 0-10; Mullinavat 0-3
The Vegas men introduced substitute Jack Walsh at the interval, and for the first ten minutes of the new half, hurled at last with some venom, and reduced the lead to four (0-6 to 0-10). Billy Delahunty, Jamie Dungan and John Reade the Mullinavat point scorers.
Young Irelands steadied the ship, and three points from play by Sean Kehoe (2) and David Holland restored the seven-point lead (0-13 to 0-7) by the 45th minute.
From here to the finish Young Irelands strode to the finish line without having to reach top gear. Collecting Junior A and F championship final trophies in nine days, quite an achievement by the red and whites.
Sean Kehoe was undoubtedly the star man, aided by a Young Ireland’s defence that never gave an inch. Along with all the defensive qualities shown, the likes of Chris Nolan, Tommy Carroll and David Holland stood out.
For the Vegas men Tommy Lanigan, Luke Byrne Doyle and Jake Morrissey were the best performers on the afternoon.
Young Irelands team & scorers: –
Peter Carroll (Captain), Martin Carter, Thomas Drennan, Michael Lennon, Eoin O’Neill, Jonny Dunphy Kieran Phelan, Jack Kennedy Byrne, CJ Delaney, David Drennan (0-1), Tommy Carroll (0-2), Paul Kinsella, Chris Nolan (0-2), Sean Kehoe (0-11, 4 frees), David Holland (0-3).
Substitutes:-
Niall Walsh, Ciarán Kavanagh, Jack Blagriff, Jody Foley, Luke O’Donnell, Peter McBride, Luke Phelan, Stephen Heffernan (injured), Ciaran Byrne (injured), Kieran Quinlan (injured).
Mullinavat team & scorers: –
James O’Keefe, Declan Duggan Tommy Lanigan (JC) Shane Kelly, Daniel Holden Luke Byrne Doyle Jamie Walshe, Jake Morrissey (JC), Darragh Davis, Cormac McEvoy (0-1), Pat Mulhern, Jamie Dungan (0-1), Brian Kenneally, Ryan Bland, John Reade (0-5, 3 frees).
Substitutes:—
Billy Delahunty (0-3) for Brian Kenneally, Jack Walsh for Ryan Bland, Michael Johnston for Pat Mulhearn, James Brennan for Declan Duggan, Gavin Maher for Jamie Dungan, Ross Conway, Mossy Jones, Jack Byrne Doyle, Richie Kenneally, Richie Cunningham, Stephen Law (Injured), Jamie Dempsey (Injured), Jamie Davis (Injured).
Referee: Richard Dowling (Kilmacow).
