Wins for Fourmilewater & Ballygunner in Under 21 County Finals.

The County under 21 hurling finals were played at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon last, with a mixed fair thrown up in both finals.

The ‘B’ final was the first to be played between Fourmilewater and Passage and in truth for the neutral at the ground, this was a better game than the ‘A’ final between Ballygunner and Saint Carthage’s which followed. Maybe this was because this was a case that we were expecting too much of the two sides that played in the ‘A’ Final.

The early minutes of the ‘B’ final suggested that a run away victory was going to be on the cards for Fourmilewater as with Jamie Barron once again showing his potential, the West Waterford side raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after nine minutes with Jamie Barron accounting for four of his sides scores.

Passage however were determined to make a game of it and on ten minutes they came storming back into the game when John Whitty hit the games first goal, giving David Ryan in the Fourmilewater goal no chance.

Points from Jamie Barron and Seamus Barron followed in the following minutes after which Diarmuid Murphy, Seamus Barry and Josh Cunningham followed up with points for their respective sides to leave just one between the sides with twenty-three minutes played.

A few days previous to this game, the sporting world spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s fourth goal in Sweden’s 4-2 win over England. At Fraher Field on Saturday evening those present were talking about Thomas Whitty’s goal.

Three minutes from the end of normal time in the first half, David Ryan took a free outside his goal mouth which he sent down his left wing. The ball dropped approximately half way out the field where Thomas Whitty collected the ball out near the sideline and having noticed that the Fourmilewater net minder was not back on his line, he sent in a speculative shot which dropped into the Fourmilewater net for a goal that we are unlikely to see repeated at Fraher Field or any other venue for some time.

Passage despite a poor start, were now in front and when Seamus Barry followed with a point from a free the signs were looking good for Passage.

However, Fourmilewater came roaring back before the break and on twenty eight minutes Jamie Barron sent a twenty metre free which was to the left of the uprights wising to the Passage net and he followed it up with a point from a free on thirty minutes which gave his side a 1-8 to 2-4 advantage at the switch of ends.

Fourmilewater came out all guns blazing in the second half and within seconds of the restart had hit both the posts and the crossbar in quick succession.

Points from Jamie Barron and Seamus Barry ensured that seven minutes after the restart there was still just a point between the sides. However the sides would end the third quarter all square after Jamie Barron and then Liam Flynn, John Whitty, Seamus Barry and Jamie Barron again were all registered.

On forty-six minutes Fourmilewater were in hard luck not to have gone in front with a little to spare but Bryan Flynn in the Passage goal made a very good save to deny Jamie Barron a second goal. Jamie Barron did manage to edge Fourmilewater in front with ten minutes to play. Seamus Barry cancelled out the score seconds later but Jamie Barron from a free wasted no time in regaining the lead for Fourmilewater once more with a converted free on fifty-two minutes.

Six minutes from time Fourmilewater went four points in front after they hit their second goal of the game. Jamie Barron did well to pick out Brendan Lawlor but his shot was saved by Bryan Flynn in the Passage goal, however Kenneth Brazil was in the right place at the right time to hit the rebound to the net for one of the most crucial scores he is ever likely to hit.

A pointed free from Jamie Barron five minutes from time gave Fourmilewater a 2-14 to 2-9 lead and they looked good to win with some ease. However Passage had different ideas.

A brace of Seamus Barry points cut Fourmilewater’s lead to three. Diarmuid Murphy however put four between the sides with less than a minute to play and from the resulting puck out Passage attacked the Fourmilewater goal and with a good ground stroke, something we don’t see enough of in the modern game Richard Hurley bellowed the Fourmilewater net to leave just one between the sides.

However, it was Fourmilewater that finished the stronger of the two sides and Jamie Barron two minutes into stoppage time slotted over a free to ensure victory for Fourmilewater.   

Fourmilewater: David Ryan; Sean Ryan, Paudie Cooney, Philip McCarthy; Johnny Hannigan, Aidan Condon, Dermot Ryan; Shane Ryan, Diarmuid Murphy; Lonan Carroll, Thomas Cooney, Brendan Lawlor; Keith Guiry, Jamie Barron, Kenneth Brazil. Subs: Conal Mulcahy for Lonan Carroll, Patrick Horkan for Kenneth Brazil.

Scorers: J. Barron 1-13 (1-9f, 1 65’), K. Brazil 1-0, D. Murphy 0-2, S. Ryan 0-1.

 Passage: Bryan Flynn; Daniel O’Sullivan, Mark Wyse, Paul Donnellan; Eddie Lynch, Jason Roche, Dylan Power; Dylan Carey, John Whitty; Thomas Whitty, Liam Flynn, Richard Hurley; Josh Cunningham, Seamus Barry, Peter Molloy. Subs: Owen Power for Peter Molloy.

Scorers: S. Barry 0-8 (7f), J. Whitty 1-1, R. Hurley, T. Whitty 1-0 each, L. Flynn, J. Cunningham 0-1 each.

Referee: Pat Casey (Cappoquin).

 The ‘A’ Final between Ballygunner and group side Saint Carthage’s promised so much, but expectations were not fulfilled.

Ballygunner went into the game as the favourites, but had to fight hard to ensure that they would retain a trophy that they now have won four years running.

Saint Carthage’s however can feel very aggrieved with the full time result. They lead for much of the game, and on the hour mark they were two points in front. However, Ballygunner’s never say die attitude paid off and deep in added time they struck the games only goal which proved to be the winning score. From the stand, it did appear that more than one Ballygunner players were in the small square before the goal was scored, whether they were in it before the ball was hit into it was no as clear. The Saint Carthage’s players felt they were and immediately remonstrated with match officials, but their pleas fell on deaf years and for their troubles they finished the game with fourteen players.

It was Ballygunner that started the game the brighter of the two sides as Pauric Mahony and Conor Power hit early points to give them a two point advantage with five minutes played.

However Saint Carthage’s came storming back with points from Kieran and Shane Bennett, Jordan Shanahan and Ray Barry to give them an 0-4 to 0-2 lead after just ten minutes.

Pauric Mahony had an excellent return from his shooting from placed balls over the course of the afternoon, hit his second of the game on eleven minutes to leave one between the sides, but points from Shane Bennett, Paudie Colman, John Prendergast and Stephen Bennett followed to give Saint Carthage’s an 0-8 to 0-3 lead after sixteen minutes.

Three Pauric Mahony points in a row cut Saint Carthage’s lead to two with seven minutes of the opening half to play, but Stephen Bennett with a ’65 put some daylight between the sides with five minutes of the opening half to play.

Ballygunner however went to the dressing rooms only trailing by two (0-9 to 0-7) after Pauric Mahony put over another free in the closing minute of the regulatory thirty minutes.

The sides came out for the second half exchanging early scores. Pauric Mahony was first to raise a white flag followed by Ray Barry and then Pauric Mahony again to leave one between the sides with four minutes of the second half played.

A brace of Pauric Mahony frees and a point from play off the stick of Johnny McCarthy meant that Ballygunner were in front after thirty nine minutes, but their lead was to be short lived as three points from Shane Bennett and one from Brian Bennett gave Saint Carthage’s a 0-14 to 0-12 lead after fifty five minutes.

Pauric Mahony and Kieran Bennett traded scores to keep two between the sides with sixty minutes played but as we all know, a game is never over till we hear the final whistle.

Ballygunner refused to throw in the towel and two minutes into stoppage time they attacked down the bank side of the field and when substitute Billy O’Keeffe crossed the ball in front of the Saint Carthage’s goal, Pauric Mahony was able to get enough of a flick on the ball to take it past Seanie Barry in the Saint Carthage’s goal, a score that had a degree of controversy about it.

The score stood however and shortly after Saint Carthage’s had restarted the game, the full time whistle was blown to the relief of the Ballygunner support that was present at the game.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Jack Ruddle, Stephen O’Keeffe; Philip Duggan, Philip Mahony, Tommy Power; Thomas Mullally, Harley Barnes; Johnny McCarthy, Barry O’Sullivan, Aaron Kavanagh; David Walsh, Pauric Mahony, Conor Power. Subs: Billy O’Keeffe for David Walsh, Paul Coughlan for Tommy Power, Conor Sheehan for Aaron Kavanagh.

Scorers: P. Mahony 1-11 (10f), C. Power, J. McCarthy 0-1 each

Saint Carthage’s: Seanie Barry; Shane Heaphy, Michael Fitzgerald, Pat Hennessy; Stevie Barry, Paudie Prendergast, Darren Meagher; Kieran Bennett, Ray Barry; Jordan Shanahan, Peter O’Keeffe, Paudie Colman; Stephen Bennett, John Prendergast, Brian Bennett.

Scorers: S. Bennett 0-7 (5f, 1 65’), K. Bennett, R. Barry 0-2 each, J. Shanahan, P. Coleman, B. Bennett, J. Prendergast 0-1 each.

Referee: John Condon (An Rinn).