The Avondhu

Ballygiblin are Munster JAHC kingpins

PADDY RYAN

Ballygiblin 2-14 Skeheenarinky 1-9

Ballygiblin added their name to the roll of honour of the AIB Munster Junior A Hurling Championship on Sunday when they emerged deserving winners over near neighbours Skeheenarinky in the final at Mallow.

The game attracted a huge gathering with start time being delayed by 15 minutes. Ballygiblin were forced to start without the injured Darragh Flynn. From the throw in Ballygiblin won a free and Joseph O’Sullivan sent over. Skeheen’ followed with a wide while Ballygiblin had four wides. Mark Keane made some good clearances. The South Tipperary side opened their account with a Tomas Vaughan pointed free after 6 minutes. Skeheen’ continued to be off target. A foul on Darragh Brennan led to a lead point by Tomas Vaughan in the 10th minute. Good play by Ryan Donegan led to a very good Sean O’Sullivan point. Dean Barry struck a very good point as Ballygiblin edged ahead. Fionn Herlihy cleared a good free by Fionan Ó Suilleabhain. In the 16th minute Joseph O’Sullivan with a free had the winners 0-4 to 0-2 clear at the first water break. Darragh Brennan had been doing well for Skeheen’ in this period.

A sideline cut by Barry Coffey was grabbed by Dean Barry who combined with Colin English as Barry took the return pass before being denied by Skeheen’ keeper Aidan Treacy. At that stage Skeheen’ had 7 wides while Ballygiblin had 4. Good play in the 2lst minute saw Sean O’Sullivan place Michael Walsh for a point. A minute later Noel Vaughan and Mikey Maher worked well for Adrian English who goaled and levelled. The lead was short lived as Christopher Noonan found Dillon Sheehan who placed Joseph O’Sullivan who worked well for Sean O’Sullivan to edge the winners ahead. Joseph O’Sullivan pointed a long range free. Conor Sweeney pointed for the Tipperary side with the same player being fouled and Tomas Vaughan levelled from the free. Skeheenarinky had come to terms with the dominance of the winners halfbacks for a period. Just before half-time Joseph O’Sullivan pointed a free as Ballygiblin led at the interval 0-8 to 1-4.

For the second half Ballygiblin introduced the injured Darragh Flynn. Skeheenarinky also brought on the injured Tommy Sweeney. Tomas Vaughan levelled from a free. Rian O’Callaghan, John O’Callaghan and Noel Vaughan were making inroads for Skeheen’. They were wide from a free which was their 10th to Ballygiblin’s 5th. Ryan Donegan did well for the winners who forced a free for a foul on Colin English. Joseph O’Sullivan made no mistake from the free. A Skeheenarinky free dropped short and was cleared by Mark Keane. A foul on Ryan Donegan followed and the free by Joseph O’Sullivan found Kieran Duggan who placed Sean O’Sullivan for a goal as they moved 1-9 to 1-5 clear after 36 minutes. Two rapid pointed frees by Tomas Vaughan had the lead down to two by the second water break.

Ballygiblin took control in the final quarter. Their defence cut off any threat from Skeheen’s attack and their midfielders were also impressive. Darragh Flynn forced a ‘65 off a Skeheen’ defender that O’Sullivan pointed. In the 49th minute Tomas Vaughan pointed a huge free from long range. However, Joseph O’Sullivan replied from another free after Dean Barry was fouled. The momentum was with Ballygiblin. Mark Keane placed Joseph O’Sullivan for a long range point as they edged four points clear for the second time. Ballygiblin were wide from frees in the 52nd and 55th minutes.

The all-important goal came in the 56th minute when Colin English worked well for Sean O’Sullivan who netted opening up a seven point lead 2-12 to 1-8. Further pressure saw the hard working Kieran Duggan solo through and point. Noel Vaughan pointed a free as the game entered injury time. Conor Sweeney was narrowly wide from a goal chance before Joseph O’Sullivan completed the scoring with a late free.

Best for Ballygiblin Michael Lewis, Fionn Herlihy, Barry Coffey, Mark Keane, Ryan Donegan, Joseph O’Sullivan, Dillon Sheehan, Colin English, Dean Barry and Sean O’Sullivan. For Skeheenarinky - Riain O’Callaghan, Oisin Brennan, John O’Callaghan, Darragh Brennan, Conor Sweeney, Adrian English and the Vaughan brothers tried very hard.

After the game Ger Ryan incoming Chairman Munster GAA Board presented the Rody Nealon Cup to the winning captain Fionn Herlihy. Sean O’Sullivan was named ‘man of the match’. Ballygiblin now add their name to the list of Avondhu winners of the Munster JAHC Kilworth 2006, Charleville 2011, Kildorrery 2012. Ballygiblin will now meet Fullen Gaels in the All-Ireland semi-final the week end 23rd January.

Scorers for Ballygiblin: Joseph O’Sullivan 0-9 (0-7f, 0-1 ‘65), Sean O’Sullivan 2-2, Michael Walsh 0-1, Dean Barry 0-1, Kieran Duggan 0-1. Skeheenarinky: Tomas Vaughan 0-6f, Adrian English 1-0, Darragh Brennan 0-1, Conor Sweeney, Noel Vaughan 0-1f.

Ballygiblin: Christopher Noonan, Brian O’Gorman, Fionn Herlihy (capt), Michael Lewis, Barry Coffey, Mark Keane, James Mullins, Ryan Donegan, Joseph O’Sullivan, Dillon Sheehan, Colin English, Michael Walsh, Kieran Duggan, Sean O’Sullivan, Dean Barry. Subs: Cathal O’Sullivan for Brian O’Gorman, Darragh Flynn for Cathal O’Sullivan, Cathal O’Sullivan for Kieran Duggan.

Skeheenarinky: Aidan Treacy, Seamus O’Callaghan, David Hyland, Eoin Morrissey, Fionan O’Suilleabhain (capt) Riain O’Callaghan, Oisin Brennan, John O’Callaghan, Darragh Brennan, Dean Finn, Mikey Maher, Conor Sweeney, Adrian English, Tomas Vaughan, Noel Vaughan. Subs: Tommy Sweeney for Mikey Maher, Harry English for Dean Finn, Christopher English for Adrian English. Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).

THE WEEK IN SPORT

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2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

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