JJ Kavanagh Kilkenny Junior E League Final
Dunnamaggin 0-18; O’Loughlin Gaels 1-10
Dunnamaggin made it two Kilkenny Junior League titles in five days when winning the Roinn E final, sponsored by JJ Kavanagh, at Gowran on Friday 27/6/2025.
This grade might be “division 8” in the Kilkenny hurling pyramid, but the standard of play, and the competitiveness of both teams were five-star, as both sides gave their all from start to finish.
There is a saying amongst inter county hurlers that it starts and finishes with the club, the two centre backs here were proof of this, Dunnamaggin stalwart Colin Herity and Alan Geogheghan of O’Loughlin Gaels. Both have operated at premier levels in the past for their clubs, but both continue to compete and help their sides.
Dunnamaggin made the early running in this contest with three early points from Darragh Walsh (2) and Bill McCormack.
Shane Maher opened the city sides account soon afterwards, his team assisted by a significant breeze. Points by Tim Doherty and a pointed free from youngster Noah Cahill left ‘Dunna 0-5 to 0-1 clear.
O’Loughlin’s got a grip of the game in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 0-5 to 0-2 in this period. One score deserves special mention, a beautiful sideline cut, into the breeze, from 50 yards by Dunnamaggin full forward Bill McCormack.
Half Time O’Loughlin Gaels 0-8; Dunnamaggin 0-7.
One minute into the new half the city side got the games only goal to move four points clear. Michael Butler the scorer after a lively attack.
Dunnamaggin’s response to this was what finally gave them victory, a sequence of five unanswered points, for them to regain the lead by the 36th minute.
A Noah Cahill free, along with further points from John Staunton, Tim Doherty, Colin Herity and another Cahill free, were the contributors. It was now Dunnamaggin 0-12 to 1-8 clear.
O’ Loughlin’s briefly regained the lead midway through the second half with two Shane Maher points, the first a free, but from here on there was only going to be one winner.
Another batch of six unanswered points saw the Junior E trophy head to South Kilkenny.
The scoring sequence was John Staunton, Noah Cahill, Conor Lawton, a Noah Cahill free, along with two placed ball scores from Colin Herity (“65”) and Ciaran Hickey.
Dunnamaggin did finish a man short following a later red card, but they were always looking winners in the final quarter.
Defending has always been the main attribute of Dunnamaggin teams, and here the likes of Kieran Buckley, Colin Herity and Pierce Costello continued that tradition. Others to impress were the midfield combination Thomas Deegan and Colin Lawton. Up front Billy McCormack, John Staunton and Noah Cahill were strong performers,
O’Loughlin’s were served well by Sean Kiely, Jack Kearns, Harry Nolan and Shane Maher.
Referee Colin Tobin and his linesmen did a professional job in a very entertaining contest.
Scorers: –
Dunnamaggin:
Noah Cahill (0-5, 4 frees), Tim Dohrtyy (0-3), Darragh Walsh (0-2) Bill McCormack 0-2. 1 sideline), Tim Doherty (0-2), Colin Herity (0-2, 1 “65”), Conor Lawton (0-1), Ciaran Hicley (0-1).
O’Loughlin Gaels:
Shane Maher (0-7, 5 frees), Michael Butler (1-0), Fevin Rowe (0-1) , Aaron Maher (0-1), Joe Bolger (0-1).
Teams: –
Dunnamaggin:
Canice Hickey, Conor Long, Mark Dowling (C), Kieran Buckley, Paddy Delaney, Colin Herity, Pierce Costello, Thomas Deegan, Conor Lawton, Cathal Buckley, Dylan Carroll, Darragh Walsh, Noah Cahill, Bill McCormack Tim Doherty.
Substitutes:
Used – John Staunton for Billy McCormack, Ciaran Hickey for Darragh Walsh, Jamie Tallon.
Rest of Panel – David Moore, Michael Costello, Darren Coffey, Sean Rossiter, Tommy Maher, Jason Doherty, John Hayes, Jason Noonan, Johnny Griffin, James Fennelly, Jamie Tallon.
Manager: Ciaran Moore. Selectors: William Kearney, Gerry Carroll, Padraig Lawton.
O’Loughlin Gaels:
Daniel McCormack, Michael Twomey, Sean Kiely, Jack Kearns, Peter McNamara, Alan Geoghegan, Kieran Delaney, Mark Croghan (C), Harry Nolan, Michael Butler, Kevin Rowe, Aaron Maher, Joe Bolger, Cathal O’Leary, Shane Maher.
Substitutes:
Used – Conor Murphy, Eddie Kearns for Cathal O’Leary, Jack Sinnott for Joe Bolger, Frank Noukeu for Kevin Rowe, Fionn Lawlor for Shane Maher.
Rest of Panel – Michael Lambert, Josh Owens, Gavin Mahony, Fionn Lawlor, Vincent Wallace, Sean Cahalane,
Eddie Kearns, Jack Sinnott, Luke Hanrahan, Daniel Walsh, Conor Murphy, Jack Aylmer, Tadhg Crowley, Ben Tyrrell, Joe Leydon, Luke Quigley (inj), CJ MC Chamcheu (inj).
Management: Andy Cantwell, Aidan Fogarty, Austin Cooney.
Referee: Colin Tobin
JJ Kavanagh Junior F League Final
St Lachtain’s 0-20; Tullogher Rosbercon 0-18.
St Lachtain’s, appearing in a fifth consecutive JJ Kavanagh Kilkenny Junior F League Final, made it three successive titles after a hard-fought contest at sweltering Danesfort on Sunday 29/6/2025.
This was a toughly contested contest, with no quarters asked or given, before Freshford finally edged their Southern opponents by just two points.
Star of the show for St Lachtain’s was midfielder Cian Donnelly who finished with 0-16, ten of which were from placed balls and six from play.
Twenty minutes into the half St Lachtain’s were just a point ahead, but four of the last five points at the interval had them 0-12 to 0-8 ahead.
Tullogher Rosbercon stayed in touch all through the second half but the accuracy of Donnelly, particularly in a game where plenty of frees were on offer, made all the difference. Dean Kinsella was the Tullogher Rosbercon free taker, and he too finished with quiet the total, 0-12 with eleven from frees.
St Lachtain’s had star performances from their captain Darragh Quinn, Marty and Philip Campion and Colin McGree. Full forward Ben Dermody and star man Cian Donnelly never faltered in their efforts.
Tullogher Rosbercon were always only a score or two away from ultimate success. Billy Ryan, Dean Kinsella and Richard Aylward were amongst their top performers.
Three league titles in a row at once means Freshford are installed as the team to beat in the 2025 championship.
Scorers:
St Lachtain’s
Cian Donnelly (0-16, 9 frees, 1 “65”), Colin McGree, Jordan Burke, Jack Whitty, Ben Dermody (0-1 each).
Tullogher Rosbercon
Dean Kinsella (0-12, 11 frees), Richard Aylward (0-2), Billy Ryan, James Cummins, Kevin Aylward, Richard Aylward (0-1 each)
Teams: –
St Lachtain’s
Robbie Dowling, Caillin McCabe, Darragh Quinn (C) James O’Connor, Marty Campion, Philip Campion, Colin McGree, Matthew Durnan, Cian Donnelly, Declan Killeen, Shea Burke, Jordan Burke, Jack Whitty, Ben Dermody, Sean Counihan.
Substitutes
Used – David Burke, Mark Nolan for Sean Counihan, Jonathon Doheny for Ben Dermody., Luke Phelan
Rest of Panel – Michael Murphy, Leo White, Kevin Dalton, Nicholas Maher, Jimmy Cantwell, Jamie Denieffe, Cathal Bowden, Fergal Tobin, Evan Landers, Jack Dalton, John Dooley, Cian Leahy
Management: Eamon Ryan, David Martin, Owen Dalton, JP Kavanagh, David Burke.
Tullogher Rosbercon
Eoin Ryan, John Hartley, , Dara Murray, Sam Ryan, Niall Cummins, Anthony Cottrell(C), Terrance Croke, Ronan Moore, Billy Ryan, Dean Kinsella, Marc Lawlor, James Cummins, Kevin Aylward, Richard Aylward Joe Malone
Substitutes
Used – Philip Walsh for Mark Lawlor, Brian O’Shea for James Cummins.
Rest of Panel – Padraig Dooley, Tony Conway, Dylan Morrissey, Paul Manning, John Murphy, Matt Rossiter, Jamie Power, Evan Fitzgerald, Liam Murphy, Fergal O’Shea, Liam Walsh, Evan Morrissey, Keelan Ryan, Finbarr Kelly, Robert Hartley, James Mullally, Sean Meaney, James Banville, Liam O’Neill, James Murphy, Frank Murphy
Management Ted Cullinane & Declan Grennan.
Referee: Jack Miller.
By John Power Tue 8th Jul
