2025 JJ Kavanagh Junior A Hurling Championship Final
Tullaroan 0-23; Threecastles 2-10
Tullaroan won the JJ Kavanagh Junior A Hurling Championship for a fourth time with a controlled seven-point victory over Threecastles in the final at UPMC Nowlan Park on Friday 29/8/2025.
By adding 2025 to earlier wins in 2001, 2011 and 2015 the Northern parish move joint third on the grades roll of honour.
Threecastles did not perform to their best on this evening before a decent crowd at Kilkenny GAA headquarters. They struggled for scores throughout, with Eamon Hennessy their only first half scorer, and just a further five points tacked on afterwards.
Tullaroan were fastest out of the blocks with an 0-3 to 0-0 lead after four minutes thanks to scores from Cathal Russell (2, one free) and Ciallin Brennan.
Cathal Russell with two frees got Tullaroan going, these replied to by a 100-yard pointed free from goalkeeper Mark Holland and a 50-metre point by Cathal Russell.
Eamonn Hennessy got Threecastles in the game in the ninth minute with a burst through five defenders and a fine goal (1-2 to 0-5).
By the eighteenth minute Tullaroan were back in control 0-10 to 1-3 with points from Jim Moore, Cathal Russell (3, one free) and Shane Cuddihy scores.
A second Hennessy goal a minute later had Threecastles back just a point behind (2-3 to 0-10).
At the interval Tullaroan led 0-13 to 2-5 with man of the match Cathal Russell knocking over a point from a free (21 minutes) and two from play (24th and 29th minutes).
Threecastles were slow in returning to the playing field after the interval, and again they were slow starters in the new half, with Tullaroan points from Sean Buggy and a Russell free.
An Eoin Dalton point opened the Threecastles scoring in the 34th minute, but space up front was still at a premium thanks to an excellent Tullaroan defence.
A sequence of four unanswered points by Russell (free), Shane Cuddihy and Sean Buggy, both from midfield, and Paul Mulligan left the winners ten points clear with twenty minutes remaining.
Darren Mullan and an Eamonn Hennessy free did reduce the margin for Threecastles, but in the games remaining fourteen minutes (two added) the Tullaroan men outscored Threecastles four points to two.
A fully deserved victory for Tullaroan who will now take part in Section B of the junior hurling championship in 2026. Cathal Russell was their star man with 0-13 (six from play) in a fine overall team performance. Others to excel were Niall Holland in goal when called upon, Mark Simpson, Sean Buggy, Shane Cuddihy, and Ciallin Brennan.
Threecastles can still look back on a successful first season back at junior A following C and B successes the last two seasons. Other than Eamonn Hennessy they struggled for scores, but the likes of Joe Lacey, David and Jack Cleere and Eoin Dalton battled to the finish.
Paddy Cooney, junior board chairperson, in his post match address, referenced that Threecastles can still try push onwards on to the premier junior grade very soon before Jack Kavanagh on behalf of the competition sponsors presented the trophy to Tullaroan captain David Fitzgerald.
This completed the six junior A to F finals for 2025, all played in UPMC Nowlan Park, something appreciated by players in these grades.
SCORERS
Tullaroan
Cathal Russell (0-13, 6 frees, 1 “65”), Shane Cuddihy (0-3), Sean Buggy (0-2), Ciallin Brennan, Niall Holland, Jim Moore, Paul Mulligan, Diarmuid Doheny (0-1 each).
Threecastles:
Eamonn Hennessey (2-7, 5 frees), Eoin Dalton, Darren Mullan, Cian Russell (0-1 each).
TEAMS
Tullaroan:
Niall Holland, Richard Cash, Eamonn Holland, Matthew Mulligan, Tommy Walton Mark Simpson, Josh Moore, Aaron Russell, Sean Buggy, Ciallin Brennan, Peter Walsh, Jim Moore, Cathal Russell, Shane Cuddihy Paul Mulligan
Substitutes:
Used – Diarmuid Doheny for Jim MOore, Tommy Walsh for Shane Cuddihy, Joey Walsh for Paul Mulligan, David Fitzgerald (captain) for Aaron Russell, James Waltonfor Cathal Russell.
Rest of. panel – Tommy Holmes, Bill Cuddihy, Padraig O’Mahoney, Johnny Leahy, Ruairi O’Shea, Liam Teehan (injured), Bill Coogan (injured).
Threecastles:
Conrad Cooper, Joe Lacey, Frank Keoghan (C) David Cleere, Johnny Manogue, Jack Cleere, Joey Dalton, Cian Russell, Cormac Rafter, Mark Cleere, Tommy Rafter Darren Mullan, Eoin Dalton, Eamonn Hennessy, Cian Franey.
Substitutes
Used – Jack Holand for Tommy Rafter, Fergal Ryan for Mark Cleere.
Rest of Panel – Eoin O’Donnell, Darragh Walsh, Vincent O’Donnell, Eoin Dalton, Seamus McEvoy, Kyle Maher, Michael Trait, Clan Lyng, Bernard Mullan, Frank Campion, Paddy Trait, Josh Quirke, MJ Maher, Adam Ryan, Sean Rafter, David Butler.
Referee: Owen Behan (Fenians)
Photo: Willie Dempsey
Photo: Willie Dempsey
2025 JJ Kavanagh Junior B Hurling Final
Glenmore 2-16; Tullogher Rosbercon 0-19 (a.e.t.)
With four minutes remaining of normal time in the Junior B Final Tullogher Rosbercon were five points clear and looked like heading for victory. Nobody told Glenmore however, they battled on and recorded two pointed Jason Cody frees and a rebound goal by full-forward Robbie Fitzgerald, after a shot was stopped by the same player.
This was tough on Tullogher Rosbercon who had controlled most of what went before, despite having a player sent off after just three minutes.
Robbie Fitzgerald got a point at the start of extra time, followed by a Jason Cody free. It was now Glenmore two ahead, 1-14 to 0-15.
Back came Tullogher Rosbercon with three points from Dean Kinsella, and two Brian Walsh frees to regain the lead at the end of the opening extra time period.
Glenmore had a holden spell at the start of the second extra period, with two pointed frees from Jason Cody and a match winning goal when Robbie Fitzgerald broke onto a breaking ball and dispersed it to the Tullogher net , 2-16 to 0-18. While Tullogher Rosbercon had a pointed free by the finish it was a sweet victory for the Glensmen.
Tullogher led 0-12 to 0-6 at the end of the first half, never looking like they were at a numerical disadvantage.
In a game spoiled by frees it was often a shootout between Jason Cody (G) and Brian Walsh (TR), and so it continued through to the closing five minutes when Glenmore resurrected their title hoped.
For Glenmore this was a Junior B league and championship double. They had a side that included several Senior panelists and had enough about them to edge over the finish line.
Tullogher Rosbercon, Junior F winners the previous evening, were unlucky to get caught at the finish line. The club is in a good place at present and look like being competitive in both the Under 21 and Intermediate grades also.
SCORERS:
Glenmore:
Jason Cody (0-10, 9 frees), Robbie Fitzgerald 2-1, Darragh Hartley (sideline) Dean Croke, Richie Hennessy, Sean Duggan (free), Aaron O’Neill (0-1 each).
Tullogher Rosbercon:
Brian Walsh (0-10, 9 frees), James Cummins (0-3), Ryan Murphy (0-2), Kevin Hennessy, Kevin Aylward, Sean Murray (free), Dean Kinsella (0-1 each).
TEAMS:
Glenmore:
Paul Brophy, John Roche, Ciaran Vereker, Sean Duggan, Jack Ryan, Richie Hennessy (C), Colm Doherty, Darragh Hartley, Patrick Cody, Jason Cody, Dean Croke, Colm Roche, Ethan Phelan, Robbie Fitzgerald, Cathal Sheehan.
Substitutes:
Used – Stephen Cody, Shane Duhigg, Aaron O’Neill, Emmett Vereker, Evan Halligan
Rest of Panel – Davey Aylward, Colm Doherty,,, P.J. Roche, Oisin Mullally, David Walsh, Paddy O’Connor, James Hendrick, Jack Cody, Michael Phelan,Philip Roche, David Burke, Christopher Hennessy, Paul Murphy, Jack Dollard.
Tullogher Rosbercon:
John Kennedy, Conor Ryan Simon Kennedy, Sean Murray, JJ Ryan, (jc), Pat Hartley, Niall Cummjns,, Niall Mooney, Tarek O’Connor, Michael Handrick, Brian Walsh (jc), Ryan Murphy, Kevin Alyward
Substitutes:
Used – James Cummins for Michael Handrick, John Murphy, Neil O’Shea (jc).
Rest of Panel – John Ryan, Shane Lyng, Richard Aylward , Sam Ryan, Dean Kinsella, Fergal O’Shea, Tony Conway, Keenan Ryan, Joe Malone, Paudi Dooley, Liam Murphy.
Referee: Vivienne Holmes (Bennetsbridge).
Photo: Willie Dempsey
Photo: Willie Dempsey
2025 Iverk Produce Junior C Hurling Final
Kilmacow 1-18; Piltown 2-13
Kilmacow emerged two-point victors over neighbours Piltown in the first of the weekends five Junior finals at UPMC Nowlan Park.
This Junior C victory bridged a thirteen-year gap to the club’s last junior success, a 2012 victory over Barrow Rangers in the Junior B grade.
Their junior team proper has also started the season well, and this C graded team qualified for the decider with victories over Graignamanagh, John Lockes (quarter final), and Blacks and Whites (semi final)
Included here were several who had not taken part in a final in Nowlan Park previously, they took control early on and deservedly were victorious.
To their credit Piltown, already C League Champions, battled to the final bell, including a goal from the excellent John Kenny with a close in free, four minutes into added time. This reduced the lead to two points, but substitute referee Sean McMahon, who took over from his injured colleague Anthony Barcoe in the final 15 minutes, called a halt to proceedings on the puck out.
Star of the show for Kilmacow was ‘evergreen’ half forward Shane Gaule, who had also featured in that 2012 success. He finished with thirteen points here, eight pointed frees and five points from play.
Shay Dempsey opened the scoring for Kilmacow after 30 seconds, replied to by a John Kenny Piltown free less than a minute later.
A sequence of points gave the green and white Kilmacow men an 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the tenth minute. Three were from Gaule, the first from play, and a Jack O’Neill score.
Points by DJ Knox from midfield and two placed balls from Kenny, reduced the margin to one by the 16th minute.
By the 25th minute it was all square at 0-7 each, but late points from distance by Sean Blanchfield, a Shane Gaule free, a Shay Dempsey score from 50 metres and Gaule from even further out, left Kilmacow 0-11 to 0-7 ahead at the interval.
They went six clear early in the new half, remaned in the ascendancy, and when substitute Fionn Blanche pointed on 42 minutes were still five clear, 0-16 to-12.
Two minutes later Piltown were back in the game when the referee spotted an infringement after a long delivery into the Kilmacow square and awarded a penalty. John Kenny scored this and substitute Sam Garbutt left just one point between them two minutes later, 1-12 to 0-16.
In the 55th minute a delivery from Fionn Blanche was finished to the net by Kilmacow captain Conor Dowling. It was now 1-17 to 1-13 for the winners. Shane Gaule added a free a minute into stoppage time, and despite that late Piltown goal already mentioned, it was a rare success at Kilkenny GAA headquarters for the Kilmacow men.
Best for Kilmacow were high scoring Shane Gaule, defenders Calum Regan and Eoin Murray along with forwards like Shay Dempsey and substitute Fionn Blanche.
Piltown had their own scorer in chief in John Kenny while others to impress were goalie Pauric Wall, Tom Kenny, Eoin Reid, DJ Knox, and Robbie Culleton.
SCORERS:
Kilmacow:
Shane Gaule (0-13, 0-8 frees), Conor Dowling (1-0), Shay Dempsey (0-2), Jack O’Neill, Sean Blanchfield, Fionn Blanch (0-1 each).
Piltown:
John Kenny (2-8, 2-0 frees, 0-1 “65”), DJ Knox (0-2), Cormac Cummins, Robbie Culleton, Sam Garbutt (0-1 each).
TEAMS:
Kilmacow:
Kieran Dowling, Calum Regan, Lorcan Suffin, Ryan McKenna, Kevin McNamara, Eoin Murray, Darragh Kelly, Sean Blanchfield, (VC), Tom Reddy, Shane Gaule, Oisin O’Dwyer, Brian O’Mara, Jack O’Neill, Conor Dowling (C), Shay Dempsey.
Substitutes: –
Used – Fionn Blanche
Rest of Panel – Paddy O’Keeffe, Oisin Conway, Jack Power, Jonathan Nally, Jack Murphy, Willie O’Toole, Eden Gillespie, Aaron Cass, MJ Murphy, Martin Maloney, Nojus Davidonis, Caoilin Kelly.
Piltown:
Pauric Wall. Shane Walsh, Joe Cooney, Michael O’Dwyer, Gavin Flynn, Tom Kenny, Eoin Reid (C), Neil Moriarty, Henri Culleton, DJ Knox, Aidan Friend, Cormac Cummins, Robbie Culleton, Kevin Brophy, John Kenny.
Substitutes:
Used – Sean O’Neill, Sam Garbutt
Rest of Panel – James Norris, James Kirby, Fionn Gleeson, Kieran Kinsella, Ben Moriarty, Tom Reid, Emmet Flynn, Ben O’Callaghan, Eoin Morgan, Conor McGowan, Evan Flynn, Kieran Doyle, Oisin Reid, Harry Flynn, Luke Falconer, Eddie Brennan, John Kenny.
Referee: Anthony Barcoe (Blacks and Whites).
Photo: Willie Dempsey
Photo: Willie Dempsey
