JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling B League Final 2026
James Stephens 2-17; Danesfort 1-13.
James Stephens won the JJ Kavanagh Junior B Hurling league with a merited seven point victory over home side Danesfort on Wednesday evening last.
This was the City sides second Junior B league win in four seasons having won the same competition in 2023.
On a sweltering evening with badly needed water breaks included, the Village boys led 1-11 to 1-8 at the interval. They stretched out the lead to six points at the end of the third quarter, and controlled the contest from there to the finish.
James Stephens took an early lead with a Ronan Delahunty point, but scores in reply from Jonathon Kennedy, Mark Fitzpatrick and Ciaran Mullen left Danesfort 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.
David Walton scored the first of his nine points from frees for James Stephens, before Danesfort got the games opening goal in the ninth minute. A speedy break forward by Eanna O’Casaide was finished to the net by Coleman Dunne (1-3 to 0-2).
By the first water breaks Danesfort were three ahead, 1-5 to 0-5.
James Stephens came out like men on a mission at the commencement of the second quarter with a goal from a ground shot by Allen Corr Larkin, followed by points from Connor Millea and a David Walton free.
Danesfort’s Matthews Cowley pointed from a free and an O’ Casaide also converted to leave things all square at 1-7 each.
James Stephens led by three points at the half time break, 1-11 to 1-8.
A further flying start to the third quarter by the Village, with 1-1 from a David Walton free and a Zac Scanlon goal left the visitors seven points clear, 2-12 to 1-8.
The margin was then at six points at the final water break, 2-14 to 1-11.
Danesfort started the fibal quarter with points from a free by O’Casaide and Jonathon Kennedy score, but the final three points all came from the Village, thanks to two Walton frees sandwiching a Conor Millea point.
A win for Danesfort, and the same two teams will again do battle at the same Danesfort venue in the first round of the juniorvB Championship next month.
SCORERS
JAMES STEPHENS
David Walton (0-9 frees), Allen Corr Larkin (1-1), Zac Scanlon (1-1),Conor Millea (0-3). Ronan Delahunty, Bill Whelan, Daniek Ring (0-1 each).
DANESFORT
Eanna O’Casaide (0-6, 0-3 frees), Coleman Dunne (1-0), Jonathon Kennedy (0-2), Mark Fitzpatrick, Ciaran Mullen, Peter Donoghue, Matthew Cowley (free), Stephen McKenna (0-1 each).
TEAMS
JAMES STEPHENS
Padraig Joyce, James Tyrell, Luke Hickey, Billy Wall Young,Bill Whelan,Adam Butler, Stephen Power- Keller, Conor Millea, Daniel Ring, Ronan Delahunty , David Walton, Zac Scanlon, Liam Rafter,,Allen Corr Larkin
Rest of Panel – James Walton, Darragh Power, Paul Ryan, Rory Glynn , Cathal Mulhall, Matthew McWey, James Bergin, Ross Whelan, Larry Whelan, Ronan Leahy, Jamie Peters
DANESFORT
Patrick Sinnott, Cathal Norton, Steven Doheny, Mark Reddy, Cillian Norton
Conal Doyle, Callum Murphy, Mark Fitzpatrick , Ciaran Mullen, Jonathon Kennedy,Matthew Cowley, Padraic Mullen, Eanna O’Casaide, Peter Donohue, Coleman Dunne.
Rest of Panel – Joe Cowhig, Bill Smith, Jack Doyle, Padraic Barragry, Philip Cooney, Tom Sheehan, Stephen McKenna, James Cunningham , Timmy Corr,,Conor Dillon, Ronan O’Mahony, Fergal Brennan, Aidan McGree.
Referee: John O’Gorman.
Iverk Produce Junior Hurling C League Final 2026
St Martins 2-12; Emeralds 1-14.
St Martins capped a great weekend for the club by achieving a second league title for the club, grasping victory from the depths of defeat in Jenkinstown. When Liam Grant polished a penalty with aplomb for Emeralds on 24 minutes that side were four points clear, 1-14 to 2-7.
St Martins adapted a never say die attitude, and a sequence of five unanswered points, the last controversially in the 35th miniue, gave St Martins victory.
The start of the comeback was a 120 metre monster score by Tony Farrell on 25 minutes. Then a Michael Keane free (27 mins), a Ross Downing point (29 minute) and another Keane free (32 minutes), against the run of play it was now all square.
Emeralds went on the attack, a stalemate ensued, before referee Owen Beehan gave St Martins a free out. Emeralds disputed the decision and as per the new rules, the referee moved the sliotair forward 30 metres for discent. Now this became a scoreable free. Michael Keane kept calm and pointed from beyond midfield. From the puck out Emeralds had one last scoring chance, an attack from which nothing came, and the Coon Ballyfoyle club emerged victorious.
This was a highly competitive Roinn C League Final, fought in a tough but fair manner, in the testing 24 degree summer sunshine before a sizeable crowd.
Liam Grant opened the scoring with an Emeralds free, equalised a minute later by Michael Keane.
Keane from a free, and the excellent Adam Barnaville gave Emerals a two point lead, before Padraig Buggy got a St Martins goal on 11 minutes, when he ran on to a breaking ballin the square. Keane added a free a minute later to leave St Martins 1-2 to 0-3 ahead.
Emeralds dominated the scoring in the next five minutes with a Liam Grant free, two points from Adam Barnacle and a Darragh Hickey score, to go 0-7 to 1-2 ahead on 19 minutes.
A 21st minute free from Michael Keane reduced the lead to one point, before Ross Dowling got a second St Martins goal in the 23rd minute when he caught an incoming high ball and scored.
Two further Emeralds frees by Liam Grant levelled matters 0-9 to 2-3 at the interval.
Liam Grant for Emeralds (free) and Michael Keane (SM) exchanged scores in the opening minutes of the second half .
Emeralds went two points clear from Adam Barnaville and a Grant free by the 13th minute, scores replied to by a Keane free and a Ross Dowling point on the quarter hour.
Emeralds got two of the games next three points, before the penalty success left them 1-14 to 2-7 clear.
Ultimately this was a tough loss to take for the Urlingford club. They will be disappointed for letting the game slip, while on the other hand in three days St Martins had recorded a C and E league double.
SCORERS
ST MARTINS
Michael Keane (0-9, 0-8 frees), Ross Dowling 1-2, Padraig Buggy 1-0, Michael Ruane 0-1.
EMERALDS
Liam Grant (1-8, 0-8 frees, 1-0 penalty), Adam Barnaville (0-5), Darragh Hickey (0-1).
TEAMS
ST MARTINS
Niall Shore, Paddy Nolan (capt),, Ollie Walsh, Bill Dowling, Jack Farrell, Michael Ruane, Matthew Shortall, Michael Keane Adam Morrissey, Jamie Morrissey, Cormac Quirke, Ross Dowling, Patrick Coughlan, Padraig Buggy, Aaron Farrell.
Substitutes:
Used – John Mulhall for Adam Morrissey, Brian Byrne for Ross Dowling.
Res o Pnl – Ciaran Brennan, Damien Tynan, Darragh Quinlan, Michael Keane, Ronan Shore, Colm Kealy , Geoff Dooley, Tadhg Gill, Tadhg Power, Tom Shore, Adrian Farrell,, Jack Nolan, David Walsh, Hugh Quirke, Chris Kealy, Ciaran FitzpatricK, Tommy Quirke, Noel Darcy, Russell Kealy, Darragh Purcell, Ted Healy.
EMERALDS
Brendan Cleere, Jack Kavanagh, Niall O’Gorman, Tomas Cussen, , Simon Zhang, Tony Farrell, Darragh Hickey, Killian Rafter Adam Barnaville (C), Jimmy Cleere, Liam Grant (VC),Johnny Doyle, Daniel Tobin, Cathal Walsh, Oisin Quinlan
Substitutes:
Used – Cian Hickey for Jimmy Cleere, JJ McLoughlin for Cathal Walsh, Craig Barnaville for Oisin Quinlan
Rest of Panel – Ollie Kenny,, Nathan Barnaville, Kieran Norton, Cormac Burke, Ciaran Phelan, luke Phelan, Calvin Ryan, Conor Gibbons, Rory Hyde, Gavin Moriarty (Injured).
Referee: Owen Beehan.
B Final Captains pictured left to right:-
Anthony Barcoe (linesman), Matthews McWey (James Stephens captain), John O’Gorman (referee), Padraic Mullen (Danesfort captain) and Jack Miller (linesman) before the Junior B League Final.
C Final Captains pictured:-
St Martins captain Paddy Nolan and Emeralds captain Adam Barnaville with referee Owen Beehan before the Junior C League Final.
By John Power Thu 25th Jun
