Conahy hold off Graignamanagh to win Kilkenny junior hurling title

Conahy Shamrocks are back in the intermediate ranks after battling to a two point success over Graignamanagh in this afternoon’s JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling Championship Final.

The victory was Conahy’s first title at this grade since 2020 as they bounced back from relegation two years ago with a polished second half display seeing them over the line.

The junior decider was played in the midst of a storm and made conditions extremely difficult for both sets of players and credit must go to the clubs for putting up such an exciting encounter.

A goal after a mere three minutes via Jack Ryan gave Graig a dream start to the final as their huge support in attendance began to dream of a first junior success in over 50 years.

Conahy soon got going though and on the back of successive scores from James Bergin, Tom Phelan and Eoin Cahill they led 0-5 to 1-1 after some 10 minutes of play.

Points from Jack Ryan and Steven Kinsella kept Graig tapping away at the scoreboard but with the ace free-taking of Edmond Delaney and efforts from play by Bergin, Phelan and Thomas Rice, it was Conahy that led 0-11 to 1-5 at the interval.

Despite trailing by three, Graignamanagh were still in a decent position as they played with the aid of a strong wind in the second period and within five minutes of the resumption, the gap was back to the minimum on the back of scores by Richard Foley and Steven Kinsella.

Crucially Conahay were able to keep their noses in front with further points from Delaney and Thomas Rice ensuring the Shamrocks still held the initiative.

Graig had made a habit of coming back in games so they were never likely to go away easily and points from Kinsella and sub Terry Dreeelan levelled up matters but Conahy still finished on a high.

The winners extra experience really told with Edmond Delaney converting a pair of frees as Conahy survived a late Graig onslaught to win out on a final 0-16 to 1-11 scoreline.

Teams and Scorers

Conahy Shamrocks: Edmond Delaney (0-6, 6fs); James Bergin (0-3, 1f); Thomas Rice, Tom Phelan (0-2 each); Mark Gunner, Eoin Cahill, Karl Downey (0-1 each)

Graignamanagh: Steven Kinsella (0-6, 6fs); Jack Ryan (1-1); Richrd Foley (0-1, 1f); Michael Bolger, Terry Dreelan, Nicky Ryan (0-1 each)

Conahy Shamrocks: Padraic Delaney; Padraig Gunner, Philip Cass, Darragh Horgan; Ciaran Rice, Darragh Hennessy, Liam Cass; Jack Rhatigan, Edmond Delaney; Patrick Kennedy, Tom Phelan, Thomas Rice; Eoin Cahill, James Bergin, Mark Gunner.

Subs: Darren Cuddihy for Horgan, 42 mins; Karl Downey for M.Gunner, 54 mins.

Graignamanagh: Colin Bolger; Owen O’Brien, Ivan Bolger, Dylan Cahill; Joe Dowling, Richard Foley, James Meaney; Sean Walsh, Cian O’Shea; Pierce Blanchfield, Jack Ryan, Steven Kinsella; Seamus Kavanagh, Ted Dunne, Michael Bolger.

Subs: Terry Dreelan for Kavanagh, 44 mins; Jack Browne for Dowling, 46 mins; Sean Hamilton for M.Bolger, 55 mins; Tomas Ryan for Cahill, 55 mins; Nicky Ryan for Blanchfield, 57 mins.

Referee: Brian Fox (O’Loughlin Gaels)