Strong first half performance helps Ballyduff Lower to County Title

A dominant first half performance by Ballyduff Lower while playing with the aid of a strong wind at their backs, helped then secure a first County Junior Hurling Championship in 19 years at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon last against a battling Saint Mary’s side.

Saint Mary’s went into this game without Kevin Sheehan in their side after he was dismissed late on in their Western Final win over Tourin two weeks earlier and his loss was a huge one for the Touraneena side but the common consensus was that while he was a loss, on the day his inclusion would still have resulted in the same outcome, but maybe with the final score much closer.

Former Waterford hurler Jack Kennedy on the day produced a man of the match performance and caused the Saint Mary’s defence all sorts of problems operating at centre forward.

However as the game went on his influence began to drop as Saint Mary’s dropped a player back to play in front of him and in doing so help cut the amount of ball that went his way.

It was the Touraneena side that opened the scoring inside a minute of the game starting with a point from an Eoin Kearns free.

The newly crowned Eastern Champions however soon got into their stride and Colman Power quickly levelled matters and once Declan Cheasty pointed after three minutes the side in red and white never looked back.

Brian Power followed up a pointed free before Jack Kennedy gave Eoin Cummins a perfect pass for his sides first goal on eight minutes.

Bryan Power put Ballyduff Lower six points up after 11 minutes and it was starting to look even at this stage that it was not going to be Saint Mary’s day for the second year running.

Jack Kennedy hit two points in quick succession for his side to stretch their lead and then went from score getter to score provider as Jack Lyons split the posts on 19 minutes.

Jack Kennedy had a shot for goal come crashing off the crossbar and waved wide by the umpires, an attempt from the press box looked as if it had gone over the crossbar.

Jack Lyons again pointed on 25 minutes to stretch Ballyduff Lower’s lead. The winners had their run of successive scores broken soon afterwards when Jack Power pointed from play for Saint Mary’s on 26 minutes.

Ballyduff Lower however would go on to increase the lead they had at the break (1-10 to 0-2) when Brian Power and Declan Cheasty pointed.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Saint Mary’s came out all guns blazing and hit an early point from Eoin Kearns.

Brian Power cancelled that score out with another pointed free. After this Saint Mary’s enjoyed their best period, but it was goals that Saint Mary’s needed and they never really looked like coming their way.

Eoin Kearns put over a hat-trick of scores and younger brother Mike hit one to leave seven between the sides after 39 minutes.

Cormac Dunphy broke Saint Mary’s run of scores on 44 minutes and a minute later his side all but secured the win as Eoin Cummins found Jack Lyons who gave John Patrick Fitzpatrick no chance from close range.

Saint Mary’s in the time that remained refused to throw in the towel and Eoin Kearns put over four more points.

Ballyduff Lower: Michael Atkins; Martin De Paor, John O’Leary, Marcus Millea; Paul Kennedy, Calum Lyons, Bryan Power; Colman Power, Brian Power; Jack Lyons, Jack Kennedy, Cormac Dunphy; Dylan Reade, Declan Cheasty, Eoin Cummins. Sub: Ross O’Shea for Dylan Reade.

Scorers: Jack Lyons 1-2, Brian Power 0-4 (4f), Eoin Cummins 1-0, Declan Cheasty, Cormac Dunphy, Jack Kennedy 0-2 each, Colman Power, Bryan Power 0-1 each.

Saint Mary’s: J.P. Fitzpatrick; Tom Tobin, Sean Fitzpatrick, Conor Tobin; Dermot Tobin, Denis Coffey, Johnny Ahearne; Owen Barron, Stephen Coffey; Eoin Kearns, Brendan McGourty, Jack Power; Aidan Fitzpatrick, Mike Kearns, Jason Sheehan. Subs: Kieran Barron for Stephen Coffey (25), JJ Coffey for Jason Sheehan (HT), Jack Skehan for Jack Power (38), Dean Cliffe for Kieran Barron (53).

Scorers: Eoin Kearns 0-9 (9f), Jack Power, Mike Kearns 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane.