Extra-time joy for Young Irelands in Under-21 B final

Young Irelands (Gowran) won the JJ Kavanagh under-21 Roinn B hurling championship for a third time, following an extra time victory over St Martin’s, in a high-quality final at Ballyragget on Saturday.

Before a large crowd, the game ebbed and flowed throughout, but the Young Irelands boys just about deserved to emerge victorious.

Martin’s were first off the mark with a Joe Reid point from midfield, before Young Irelands settled, and by the 10th minute, Tommy Phelan, a highly effective free taker, recorded three unanswered points (0-3 to 0-1).

Jack Farrell (SM) and Killian Carey (YI) exchanged scores before Farrell reduced the lead to one with a pointed free. The only goal of the game arrived on the 19th minute. The St Martin’s keeper was dispossessed close to his goal, and Paddy Brennan pounced to raise the green flag for Young Ireland’s, 1-4 to 0-3.

St Martin’s responded well to this setback, with points from Sean Hunt and Tristan Roche, both distance scorers from the midfield area. Diarmuid Langton pointed for the Gowran men to make it 1-5 to 0-5 in the 23rd minute.

Martin’s had a purple patch between this and the interval, with points from Joe Reid, goalkeeper Oisin Kelly from a penalty that went skywards, and Sean Hunt from 60 metres. The penalty decision was awarded when St Martin’s best forward, Jamie Morrissey being unceremoniously upended, following a defence splitting solo run.

Padraig Naddy was one of Gowran’s strongest performers throughout, and he opened the new half with a fine point.

St Martin’s responded however by going two points clear by the 35th minute, with a duo of points from Jamie Morrissey, and a distance free from Sean Hunt (0-11 to 1-6).

The second half continued with both sides having periods of dominance on the scoreboard, and the next four points were all by Young Irelands, three from Tommy Phelan and the other by Jimmy Lennon, following a fine team attack (1-10 to 0-11).

St Martin’s levelled matters by the 47th minute with points by James O’Neill and Jamie Morrissey.

The exchanges were hugely competitive from here to the end of normal time, with both sides adding two further points. A Phelan free put Gowran ahead, with Jack Farrell (free) replying in the 53rd minute. St Martin’s missed a couple of frees before Paddy Brennan gave Young Irelands a point lead in the 59th minute. It looked like this could prove the winner, but three minutes into added time, Ciaran Nolan pulled out an equaliser from 70 metres, to take the game to extra-time.

Three minutes into extra-time James O’Neill got St Martin’s a lead point, but in the remaining 20 minutes of hurling time, they failed to raise a further white flag.

On the other hand, by the 10-minute interval, Young Irelands recorded a Tommy Phelan (free), a Padraig Naddy score when he emerged with possession from a ruck and a Michael Keating point, to lead 1-15 to 0-16.

Four further points by Tommy Phelan, two each from frees and open play, saw the title go to Gowran.

Teams and Scorers

Young Irelands - Tommy Phelan (0-12, 0-10 frees), Paddy Brennan (1-1), Padraig Naddy (0-2), Diarmuid Langton, Tim Brennan (penalty), Jimmy Lennon, Michael Keating (0-1 each).

St Martin’s - Jamie Morrissey (0-4), Jack Farrell (0-3, frees), Sean Hunt (0-3, 0-1 free), Joe Reid, James O’Neill (0-2 each), Tristan Roche, Ciaran Nolan (0-1 each).

Young Irelands - Tim Brennan, Jake Byrne, Bobbie Brennan, Charlie Fitzgerald, Ben Phelan, Padraig Naddy, Gavin Manning (jc), Killian Carey, Jimmy Lennon, Patrick Langton, Tommy Phelan, Paddy Brennan (jc), Diarmuid Langton, Conor Fitzpatrick, Cian Phelan.

Subs - Michael Keating for Fitzpatrick, Jake Byrne for Carey (extra time).

St Martin’s - Oisin Kelly, Cathal Keegan, Ciaran Nolan, Billy Dowling, Matthews Bolger, Tristan Roche, Matthews Shortall, Tadhg Gill, Michael Keane, Jack Farrell (captain), Joe Reid, Russell Kealy, James O’Neill, Sean Hunt, Jamie Morrissey.

Subs - Aaron Farrell for Kealy.

Referee - Owen Beehan (Fenians).