Late rally helps Gowran grab the spoils in Junior E Hurling Final

Young Irelands (Gowran), the Junior F champions of 2024, became this year’s Junior E winners, securing back-to-back success with a dramatic win in UPMC Nowlan Park.

All the excitement in this contest was provided in the closing stages. Following an eight-minute scoreless spell, Sean Kehoe put Young Irelands 1-11 to 0-11 ahead with a fine point from the new stand side with 51 minutes on the clock.

Bill McCormack (Dunnamaggin) and Sean Kehoe (YI) traded points from frees in the following two minutes. McCormack then hit another free, before a goal after a solo through the Gowran defence by Dunna’ centre-forward Dylan Carroll had the South Kilkenny side a point in front (1-13 to 1-12) on 58 minutes.

Ciaran Byrne pointed to equalise for Gowran on the 60th minute.

Then came almost five added minutes of mayhem. Cathal Buckley got a lovely Dunnamaggin point from midfield, followed by a Bill McCormack score. With the allotted injury-time up, Dunna were now two points ahead (1-15 to 1-13) - but Young Irelands weren’t finished. Incredibly Paul Kehoe blasted to the Dunnamaggin net and victory went to the Gowran men, 2-13 to 1-15.

What went before had been honest fare. Young Irelands led 1-6 to 0-7 at the interval, their goal scored also by Paul Kehoe midway through the half. A free by the same player had ’Irelands four points clear on 22 minutes but three late Dunna’ first half points from Bill McCormack (2) and Cathal Buckley edged Dunnamaggin closer before Kehoe (YI) closed out the first half scoring from a free.

The second half sequence began with three unanswered Young Ireland points in the opening seven minutes, a Paul Kehoe score from midfield, Ciaran Byrne from play, and a Sean Kehoe free (1-9 to 0-7).

While the crowds were not at the level of the 1997 and 2002 Kilkenny senior hurling finals between the same opponents, the participants and supporters of both sides gave as much in those closing minutes as any contest.

For the winners Paul Kehoe with those goals sealed the contest. Others to impress were David Langton, Robin Carey, Sean Kehoe, David Holland, and Ciaran Byrne.

Dunnamaggin died with their boots on. Mark Dowling, Colin Herity, Billy McCormack, Tommy Maher, Cathal Buckley, and Dylan Carroll were amongst their strongest warriors.

Note: The Junior Board had two American lady guests watching their first ever hurling game in the Ard Chomhairle seating area. The final stages will have given them a lasting memory to take home.

Teams and Scorers

Young Irelands - Paul Kehoe (2-1), Sean Kehoe (0-6, 0-5 frees), David Holland (0-3, 0-1 line ball), Ciaran Byrne (0-2), Shane Simpson (0-1).

Dunnamaggin - Bill McCormack (0-8, 0-4 frees), Dylan Carroll (1-1), Tommy Maher (0-3, 0-1 free), Cathal Buckley (0-2), Paddy Delaney (0-1).

Young Irelands - Niall Walsh; Martin Carter, Tom Drennan, Michael Lennon; Jack Kennedy Byrne David Langton, Shane Simpson; Paul Kinsella, Robin Carey; Sean Kehoe (captain), Johnny Dunphy, Chris Nolan; Ciaran Byrne, Paul Kehoe, David Holland.

Sub: Luke Phelan.

Dunnamaggin - Canice Hickey; Conor Long, Mark Dowling, Michael Costello; David Moore, Colin Herity, Darren Coffey; Paddy Delaney, Cathal Buckley; Tommy Maher, Dylan Carroll, Darragh Walsh; Bill McCormack, John Staunton, Sean O'Neill.

Subs: Conor Aylward, Dan O’Neill, Sean Rossiter, John Hayes, Roy Cullen.

Referee - Gavin Quilty (Slieverue).