County Under 13 Hurling Finals Reports

By Liam Hogan in Dundrum

‘A’ FINAL

Cashel King Cormacs 0-10 Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-5

Kilruane MacDonagh’s dreams of retaining the County Under 13 ‘A’ Hurling title were dashed after they were defeated by a well-drilled Cashel King Cormacs side in a well contested encounter on Sunday afternoon.

It was a momentous win for Cashel King Cormacs who bridged a forty year gap since the famed West club last won an ‘A’ juvenile title. No stone was left unturned as they had all their match-ups precise as Brian O’Dwyer and Joshua Mulcahy were to the fore in defence while Rory Dunne mastered the half back area with Adam Hayde, Scott Ryan and Ben Fitzgerald led the attack.

Kilruane never gave up, but they must thank goalkeeper Shane O’Meara who excelled way above what is expected at under 13 level as he produced a string of great saves and but for him, Cashel would have been home and hosed well before they took command in the last ten minutes. Tadgh Teefey was very good at full back with Mark Cleary, Michael Hutchinson and Jack O’Meara catching the eye

Shane O’Meara was called on in the second minute to make a great save when he denied Scott Ryan at the expense of a 65. Robbie Dunne’s opening point in the third minute had Cashel in front before both defences began to take charge and we had to wait until the 16th minute before Cashel doubled their lead with Scott Ryan on target. Three minutes later, Senan O’Leary had Kilruane’s opening score from a free but Cashel replied when and Scott Ryan’s free had them two clear once again.

The North champions needed scores to stay in the game, and with play entering added time they secured two valuable points through Jack O’Meara and Michael Hutchinson to make scores level at 0-3 each at half time.

Kilruane began the second half in full stride somewhat similar to their North final performance and were rewarded with a Michael Hutchinson point after forty seconds. However, Adam Hayde levelled a minute later before Kilruane went in front again with a Seanan O’Leary free.

That, however, was Kilruane’s last score and Cashel began to build momentum with Scott Ryan edging them in front when a goal looked a possibility from close range. There was more to come but Shane O’Meara produced a point blank save from MJ Kennedy.

After a foul on Adam Hayde, another Scott Ryan free had Cashel in front and they doubled their lead with an Adam Hyde point in the 15th minute of the second half.

Indeed, Cashel might had a greater lead but their accuracy let them down in front of goal but they went two in front with Scott Ryan scoring twice inside thirty seconds. Leading by four, Cashel looked safe but they were coming for more with Cathal Bonnar forcing Shane O’Meara to make another save.

Entering additional time, Kilruane fought gamely for a goal but the Cashel defence held firm and at the other end Robert Kelly put the seal on the title with the final score of the game.

Cashel King Cormacs: Kacper Marshall; Joshua Mulcahy, Brian O’Riordan; Will Riordan, Robert Dunne (Capt, 0-1), Ronan Devitt; Robert Kelly (0-1), Ben Fitzgerald; Adam Hayde (0-2), Scott Ryan (0-6, 2f), MJ Kennedy; Cathal Bonnar, Cormac O’Donoghue.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Shane O’Meara; Ben Williams, Ben Teefey; Cian O’Looney, Mark Cleary, Dylan Hussey Sheahan; Tiernan Casey, Jack O’Meara (0-1); Lukah Williams, Tarla Dorris, Michael Hutchinson (0-2); Paul Williams, Senan O’Leary (0-2f).

Subs: Colm Gaynor for Hussey Sheahan (20th second half); Tommy Ryan for L Williams (20th second half).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams).

‘B’ FINAL

Fethard 3-11 Moycarkey/Borris 4-6

South champions Fethard were winners of an exciting Under 13 ‘B’ Championship final with a two point win over Moycarkey/Borris on Sunday.

‘C’ Final

Templederry Kenyons v Ballingarry

Templederry Kenyons were hugely impressive winners of the County Under 13 ‘C’ Hurling title in Dundrum on Sunday. With three goals scored by Daithi Kennedy after just seven minutes the destination of the silverware was never in doubt.

Ballingarry goalkeeper Harry Carroll made an excellent save in the 19th minute by which time it was 3-3 to 0-2 with the North champions well in charge. Kean Burke had the two Ballingarry replies from frees but by half time the lead had stretched to sixteen points 5-3 to 0-2 after Donnacha Browne and Sean Ryan also claimed green flags. The one-way traffic continued in the second half with substitute Odhran O’Kelly adding to his North final exploits with three more goals while team captain Joe Fahy also found the net. It was a great team performance for Templederry who out-fought a very young Ballingarry side who will be back for more next year. They had a few stars in the making with Niall Kelly, Michael Dunne, JJ Harding, Sean Cahill, Kean Burke prominent in front of a brave goalkeeper in Harry Carroll who produced a number of fine saves throughout.

This latest victory for Templederry was their first since winning the U12 ‘C’ in 2014. Victories coming Kenyon’s way have been scarce in recent times. Lack of numbers, similar to a lot of clubs, has been a problem and girls have made up the team at U12 level before the grade was changed to thirteen. This year was an exception and as good as the team was they had only fourteen listed on the programme.

The standard of U13 ‘C’ in North Tipp was high in 2023 with little more than a puck of the ball between the victors along with Ballinahinch, Nenagh Eire Og ‘B’ and Newport ‘B’. This gave to a gulf in standards between the divisions, but it was more the exception than the norm.

Templederry Kenyons: Tadgh Murphy; Scott Powell, Jack McLoughney; Sean O’Kelly, Joe Fahy (Capt 1-0); Donnacha Browne (2-0), Jack Gilmartin; Benjamin Browne, Daithi Kennedy (4-2, 0-1f); Donnacha Madden, Sean Ryan (1-2).

Subs: Odhran O’Kelly (3-0) for Madden (6th second half); Tom Ryan for O’Kelly (11th second half).

Ballingarry: Harry Carroll; Nathan Rice, Charlie Long; Niall Kelly, Enda Croke (capt); Michael Dunne, JJ Harding; Sean Cahill, Shane Mullaly; Jack Carroll, Kean Burke (0-2f).

Subs: Natan Nudnik for Long (15 Second half); Sean Lyons for Cahill, James Doheny for Mullaly, Eamon Quigley for Rice (all 17th second half), Rory Morris for Dunne (21st second half).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)

‘D’ FINAL

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-7 Rockwell Rovers 0-1

Kilruane MacDonaghs retained the County Under 13 ‘D’ Hurling title thanks to twelve point win over Rockwell Rovers on Saturday morning.

The 10.30am throw-in failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Kilruane boys who were 2-3 to nil in front after fifteen minutes. Ciaran Foote and Shane Carroll were the goal-scorers with Foote adding two points (one from a free), Rory McLoughney and Jack Ryan adding a point each. They holders led 2-4 to nil by half time and added three more points in the second half including one from Colin Gaynor.

Rockwell Rovers did come more into the game in the second half and tried for goals, but the Kilruane defence had their number. Kilruane had done enough and as the game came to an end both sides introduced their full quantity of subs.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Mark Gaynor; Odhran Goulding (Capt), Rian Harte; Robert Cleary, Colin Gaynor (0-1); Shane Carroll (1-0), Sean Whelan; Issac Hussey Sheahan, Jack Ryan (0-1); Rory McLoughney (0-1), Ciaran Foote 1-4 (0-2f), Riain Harte.

Subs: Harry Gannon, Liam Dollery, Aidan Fahey, Daniel O’Brien, James Last, Liam Killackey, Ben Shields, Luke Flannery, Tom Hannan, Cathal McLoughney, Sam Harding.

Rockwell Rovers: Jack Donnolly (Capt); Cian White, Tom Doherty; Conor Moloney, Daniel O’Brien; Harry Stafford, Rory Shanahan; Luke Fitzgerald, Oisin McGivern; Ollie Hennessey, Patrick Reilly.

Subs: Cormac Durkan, Adam Ryan, Richard Fitzgerald, John Ed O’Connor, Fionn O’Dwyer and Lorcan Kelly.

Referee: Donie Horan (St Patrick’s).