The under 21 championship ends the Kilkenny hurling year as usual, action having commenced in the final weekend of October. Here we summarise the four under 21 championships to date. This update also has a report on the under 21 A Final, held at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday last, 24th November 2024.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21A Hurling Championship
Quarter Finals
Bennettsbridge 1-17; Mooncoin 1-15
James Stephens 3-19; Young Irelands 1-14
Dicksboro 2-19; O’Loughlin Gaels 0-15
Graigue Ballycallan 4-13; Thomastown 2-17
Semi Finals
James Stephens 3-18; Graigue Ballycallan 1-9
Dicksboro 1-20; Bennetsbridge 1-6
Final
Dicksboro 3-21; James Stephens 1-14
In the under 21A championship, James Stephens recorded impressive victories over both Young Irelands at Larchfield, and Graigue Ballycallan at St John’s Park, to reach the final.
On the other side of the draw Dicksboro proved much too strong for fellow senior clubs O’Loughlin Gaels and Bennettsbridge. Under 21A Final report included below.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21B Hurling Championship
Preliminary Round
Rower Inistioge 1-16; Graiguenamanagh 0-13
Galmoy/Windgap 2-17; Danesfort 2-16
Quarter Finals
Dunnamaggin 0-21; St. Martin’s 1-15
Lisdowney 1-19; Rower Inistioge 1-15
Tullogher Rosbercon 1-18; Glenmore 0-17
Erin’s Own 1-22; Galmoy/Windgap 0-20
Semi Finals
Dunnamaggin v Lisdowney (fixed for Saturday 7/12/2024)
Tullogher Rosbercon 2-14; Erin’s Own 1-14.
Final
Tullogher Rosbercon v Dunnamaggin or Lisdowney
Progress has been slow in-the under 21B championship where after a thrilling preliminary round game between Galmoy/Windgap and Danesfort, all four quarter finals were similarly tight affairs. Tullogher Rosbercon were too strong for Erin’s Own in last weekend’s semi final, despite the latter battling to the finish.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21C Hurling Championship
Preliminary Round
Tullaroan 1-26; Piltown 0-16.
Kilmacow 2-19; Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-11
Quarter Finals
Barrow Rangers 1-21; Emeralds 1-13
Dicksboro 0-18; Mullinavat 1-14
Fenians 3-18; James Stephens 5-10
Tullaroan 3-22; Kilmacow 0-14.
Semi Finals
Dicksboro 1-18; Barrow Rangers 0-15
Tullaroan 2-17; Fenians 1-9
Final
Dicksboro v Tullaroan (fixed tor Saturday 30/11/2024)
Tulloroan recorded victories versus Piltown, Kilmacow and Fenians to reach the under 21C final. Their opponents will be the second team of Dicksboro, who narrowly beat Mullinavat and recorded a six-point victory over Barrow Rangers in their semi final.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21D Hurling Championship
Quarter Finals
John Lockes 4-18; St Patrick’s 2-16
Clara 0-19; Carrickshock 1-8
St Lachtain’s 0-22; Conahy Shamrocks 1-14
Slieverue walk over.
Semi Finals
Clara 1-14; John Lockes 1-9
St Lachtain’s v Slieverue (fixed for Sunday 1/12/2024)
Final
Clara v St Lachtains or Slieverue
In the under 21D championship, aided by 1-3 from the impressive Rory Glynn, Clara advanced to the D final where they meet the winners of St Lachtain’s and Slieverue.
MATCH REPORT
JJ Kavanagh & Sons Under 21A Hurling Final 2024
Dicksboro 3-21; James Stephens 1-14
Dicksboro won their tenth JJ Kavanagh & Sons under 21 hurling championship title with a comfortable thirteen-point victory over James Stephens at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday 25/11/2024.
This was Dicksboro’s third Kilkenny under 21 title in four years, in what turned out to be a very disappointing final between the two City sides.
Dicksboro, aided by the strong wind, were quickly out of the blocks, 0-4 to 0-0 up after just six minutes, with four early points from Cillian Hackett (2), Mikey Stynes and a score from midfield by Matthew Kelleher.
Stephen Minogue opened the village account with a free, but by the tenth minute Dicksboro were already 1-7 to 0-1 ahead, Brian Moore the goalscorer.
Despite having to face the wind in the second half, the game was almost over at half time, By then, Dicksboro were fourteen points to the good.
Their second goal came after 25 minutes, when Cillian Hackett grabbed a long delivery, and struck it past David Power in the Village goal.
Dicksboro had eight different scorers in the first half, while James Stephens recorded just a single point from play.
Half-time Dicksboro 2-15; James Stephens 0-7.
A free from Harry Shine got Dicksboro up and running after the break, and whilst the margin was reduced to ten points, when Stephen Manogue goaled in the 42nd minute (1-20 to 2-17), there was never a real danger of the maroon and whites being overtaken.
On the 49th minute the margin was even briefly back at eight points, 1-14 to 2-19 but the Boro men closed out the game wiht the final three scores. First a Harry Shine free, a second goal from Brian Moore, and the same player with a point from 50 metres.
Full time Dicksboro 3-21; James Stephens 1-14.
Dicksboro were much the better team in this final. Tommy Clifford, Kevin Moore, James Carroll, Mathew Kelleher, Cillian Hackett and full forward Brian Moore, with an outstanding 2-3 from play, were stars on the day.
Noah Minogue, Stephen Minogue and Ed Lahore battled hard for the Villagers.
Surely, in the very near future Dicksboro will eventually convert all their recent underage victories into a senior success.
For James Stephens, this wasn’t the level of performance needed, but many of these players will feature at senior for that proud club in 2025.
Dicksboro: Tom O’Neill, Johnny Keane, Niall Rowe, Stephen Dermody, Evan Murphy, Timmy Clifford; Donnacadh Hennessy (0-1), Kevin Moore (0-2), James Carroll (0-1), Matthew Kelleher (0-5), Harry Shine (0-4, frees), Mikey Stynes (0-1), Cillian Hackett (1-4), Brian Moore (2-3), Sean Keenan.
Sub: Nick Doheny for Mikey Stynes (57 minutes), Sean Maher for Sean Keenan (58 minutes).
James Stephens: Daniel Power, Stephen Power-Kellett, Adam O’Connor, Darragh Behan, Noah Manogue, Sam McEvoy, Oisin Bateman, Eoin Deely, Sean Bergin (0-2), Stephen Manogue (1-8, 0-7 frees), Sean Deely, Ed Lauhoff (0-2), Zac Scanlon, Ed McDermott (0-1), Daniel Ring (0-1).
Subs: Bill Whelan for Stephen Power Kelley (17 minutes), Bill McDermott for Sam McEvoy (half time), Paddy Kehoe for Zac Scanlon (37 minutes).
Referee: Stephen Delaney (Graigue Ballycallan).
