JJ Kavanagh Junior F League Final 2026
Mullinavat 1-23; Carrickshock 2-13 after extra time
John Power at Carrickshock GAA Grounds
Mullinavat won a first Junior Hurling League title in sixteen years with a hard-earned final victory over Southern neighbours Carrickshock at Hugginstown on Saturday.
Back in 2010 it was in the “B” grade, this time Roinn “F” but just as competitive.
This contest, which went to extra time, had everything, with no quarters asked or given. Both sides finished short players, each had a straight red card and to make matters worse for the home side, they also lost another player to a double yellow card offence.
Carrickshock led 2-5 to 0-8 at halftime, thanks to two goals in the opening eleven minutes, the first from Daniel Blanchfield after a delivery into the Mullinavat goal area, and the other by John Dalton after clever work from Luke Gaule.
Stephen Law was scorer in chief for “Vegas” in the first half with 0-6, five of which were frees.
Carrickshock added to their lead in the opening two minutes of the new half with points from John Dalton (free) and Darragh Dwyer.
Points from Luke Byrne Doyle and a Stephen Law free got Mullinavat back to three points (0-10 to 2-7).
A Patrick Mulcahy point and a distance free from John Dalton restored the Carrickshock five-point lead by the 40th minute.
Mullinavat points from a Stephen Law free and a Stephen O’Shea score left just three between them midway through the half.
It was at this stage that tempers started to raise, and referee Paul Cahill flashed those cards mentioned earlier.
When Darragh Dwyer pointed a free to put the ‘Shocks 2-10 to 0-12 clear with ten minutes to go, they looked like they might just hang on.
Mullinavat had a numerical advantage however, and a seies of scores from Stephen Law and a 64th minute point from Billy Delahunty took us to extra time.
There was a farcical start to the extra time with Carrickshock starting with fourteen men rather than thirteen, and a goal scored at once after the restart had to be disallowed for that reason.
At the end of the first extra time period Mullinavat led by four points, 0-21 to 2-11.
Carrickshock kept battling in the second period, tried desperately for a third goal but the Vegas boys held firm, and it was they who raised a green flag through Daragh Tynan in the games final minute.
This was a Southern derby enjoyed by the large crowd present and both sides should also be real contenders in the 2026 Juniir F championship which starts shortly.
SCORERS
MULLINAVAT
Stephen Law (0-12, 0-8 frees, 0-1 “65”), Darragh Tynan 1-0, Jack Byrne Doyle (0-3), Billy Delahunty (0-3), Luke Byrne Doyle (0-2), Cormac McEvoy (0-2, 0-1 frees), Stephen O’Shea (0-1).
CARRICKSHOCK
John Dalton (1-3, 0-3 frees), Daniel Blanchfield (1-1), Patrick Mulcahy (0-4, 0-2 frees),,Darragh Dwyer (0-2, 0-1 frees), Luke Gaule, Andrew Power, John Butler (0-1 each).
TEAMS
MULLINAVAT
Declan Duggan (C), Tommy Lanigan, Jamie Dempsey, Louis Madigan, Daniel Walsh, Stephen O’Shea, Jake Morrissey (VC), James Dalton, Jack Whelton, Luke Byrne Doyle, Stephen Law, Killian Dungan, Jack Power, Pat Mulhearn, John Reade.
Substitutes:
Used: Billy Delahunty for Jack Whelton, Michael Johnston for Jamie Walshe, Jack Byrne Doyle, Cormac McEvoy, Jamie Dungan for Jack Byrne Doyle (et), Jamie Walshe for Stephen Law (et), Darragh Tynan for Pat Mulhearne (et).
Rest of Panel: Conor Frisby, Ciarán Holden, Ben Cantwell, Tadhg Knox, Mossy Jones, Kevin Roche, Gavin Morrissey, George Culleton, Darragh Tynan, Richie Cunningham (Injured).
CARRICKSHOCK
Stephen Farrell, Seamus Millea (C), Kieran Holden, Andrew Fitzpatrick, James O’Shea, Chris Price, William Hoyne John Dalton, Shane Power, Dan Blanchfield, Luke Gaule, Andrew Power, Darragh Dwyer, Patrick Mulcahy, Pauric Barron.
Substitutes:
Used: Chris Grace, John Butler, David Millea, Conor Duggan.
Rest of Panel: Ger Murphy, Liam Walsh, John Tennyson, Pauric Barron, James Gaule, Robbie Power, Michael Hoyne, Darragh Doyle, Chris Grace, Owen Grace, John Butler, Richard Frisby, Stephen Carr, John Murphy, Joe Sinnott, Michael Kenneally, Richard Kenneally.
Referee: Paul Cahill (Dunnamaggin).
Presentation Picture shows John Power, Junior Board P.R.O. presenting the JJ Kavanagh Junior F trophy to Mullinavat Captain Declan Duggan.
