JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling E League Final 2026
John Power at St Lachtain’s GAA Grounds
St Martins 2-17; Danesfort 2-15.
St Martins clinched the JJ Kavanagh Junior E league title on Friday night last with a two-point victory over Danesfort in a well contested final at Freshford.
This was a third league success for the Northerners in recent seasons, following on from a 2022 Junior D success and a 2024 Junior E victory.
On an evening where conditions changed from drizzle to heavy rain, making the second half going especially difficult, this was an extremely competitive contest, with the result in doubt right through to the finish.
Whilst Danesfort started both halves with goals in the first minute of each, both from ace forward Stephen McKenna, the Coon/Muckalee outfit were the better overall team and well merited their victory.
Danesfort led by a point at the interval, 1-12 to 2-8. The St Martins two goals came in a five-minute spell in the second quarter, the first by Padraig Buggy after being set up by Darragh Quinlan, the other from Ronan Shore.
After the early second half goal from Stephen McKenna, Danesfort were outscored 0-9 to 0-3 from there to the finish. Tommy Quirke punished a combination of physical and technical fouls and ultimately this contributed to their victory.
Danesfort did launch a couple of late attacks, but the St Martins defence held firm and deserved their victory.
SCORERS
ST MARTINS
Tommy Quirke 0-11, 0-9 frees), Padraig Buggy (1-1), Ronan Shore (1-0), Patrick Coughlin (0-2), Daragh Quinlan, Ronan Shore. Daragh Quinlan (0-1 each).
DANESFORT
Stephen McKenna (2-8, 0-4 frees), Oisin Barry (0-2), Coleman Dunne, James Cunningham, Mark Fitzpatrick, Charlie Sheehan, Timmy Corr (0-1 each).
TEAMS
ST MARTINS
Niall Shore, Daragh Coughlin, Jack Nolan, Damien Tynan
Thomas Lawler, Colm Kealy, Adrian Farrell
Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Jack Dooley, Patrick Coughlin, Shane Fahey, Tommy Quirke, Ronan Shore, Padraig Buggy Daragh Quinlan (C)
Substitutes
Used – Jack Farrell for Damien Tynan, Cormac Quirke, Shane Rice, for Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Daragh Purcell for Daragh Coughlan,
Rest of Panel – Darragh Fahey, Hugh Quirke, Tom Davies, Chris Kealy, Josh Dempsey, Cormac Quirke, Paddy Nolan, Shane Rice,
DANESFORT
John Doheny, Tom Sheehan, Bill Smith (C) Jack Doyle, Cian O’Reilly Joe Cowhig, Padraic Barragry, Oisin Barry, Charlie Sheehan, Stephen Duncan, Mark Fitzpatrick, James Cunningham, Stephen McKenna, Peter Donohoe Coleman Dunne
Substitutes:
Used – Paddy Kelly for Tom Sheehan, Jonathan Kennedy, Conor O’Keeffe for Padraic Barragry, Conor Dillon for Mark Fitzpatrick, Timmy Corr for Stephen McKenna.
Rest of Panel – Bill Clune, Cillian Maher, James Reddy, Aidan McGree, Leon Brown, Jack Deegan, Ronan O’Mahony, Austin Dovle, Conor Dillon, Ronan O’Mahony
Referee: Patrick O’Reilly.
