Lisdowney win Junior F Hurling title with win over Mullinavat

Lisdowney recorded a three-point victory over Mullinavat in the last of the 2026 Junior finals at UPMC Nowlan Park last week.

For Lisdowney it was their first win in these grades since a junior D success in 2023.

It was the same old story for Mullinavat in Junior F Finals. The Vegas lads now have the unwanted record of five successive Junior F County Final losses. The Southerners have lost to Conahy Shamrocks (2022), Windgap (2023), Young Irelands (2024), Tullogher Rosbercon (2025) and they can now add Lisdowney (2026). 

There was another scoreboard issue in Kilkenny GAA as well, something that has happened recently in a couple of counties, although here the result was not decisive.

With the game in the closing ten minutes a two-point addition to Mullinavat’s total on the referees advise, moved the dial from 1-17 to 1- 12 to a three-point game, 1-17 to 1-15. Confusion reigned!

Whatever about the scoreboard however, Lisdowney were the better team on the day and fully deserved this victory.

Lisdowney opened with two points from Eoin Delahunty and free taker Peter O’Sullivan. Stephen Law got Mullinavat’s first score from a free after 3 minutes.

Peter O’Sullivan with another free and Jack Power of Mullinavat traded points as did Ray Fitzpatrick (L) with Stephen Law (M) by the 11th minute (0-4 to 0-3).

Paddy Bowden put Lisdowney two points clear before Stephen Law got a Vegas goal in the 12th minute. Lisdowney replied with two points from Peter O’Sullivan, the first a distance score from 100 metres, the other a free.

Billy Delahunty and Jack Power got Mullinavat points by the 22nd minute to restore their lead.

Billy Grogan of Lisdowney and Stephen Law from a free, exchanged points, before Lisdowney got a vital goal from Paddy Bowden to take the lead by the 26th minute, 1-8 to 1-6.

Jack Power had a good score for Mullinavat, but Lisdowney finished the half with further pointed scores from Ray Fitzpatrick and three pointed frees by their excellent sharpshooter Peter O’Sullivan.

Half time: Lisdowney 1-12; Mullinavat 1-7.

Lisdowney started the second period with points from another O’Sullivan free and Ray Fitzpatrick from play. 

Mullinavat recorded three points between the 44th and 46th minutes from Cormac McEvoy, Jack Power, and Stephen Law (free) to leave four points between them, 1-10 to 1-14,

Lisdowney stretched it out to seven points again with scores from Robert McEvoy, Jamie Bergin, and a Peter O’Sullivan (free).

The two added Mullinavat points caused confusion to teams and spectators alike and when Vegas added three points from Stephen Law, two frees and one from play, there was just two points between them, 1-15 to 1-17.

Both sides were unsure of how to target the final part of the game as a result of the scoreboard alteration.

Lisdowney added a point by Eddie Hickey before the final whistle, so it finished a 1-18 to 1-15 victory for the North Kilkenny side.

In the GAA, the referee’s match report is the ultimate, official record of the final scoreline.

Lisdowney fully deserved their victory, a great achievement for the fourth team in a rural parish.

You would have to feel sorry for Mullinavat with several players having taken part in all five final losses.

Teams and Scorers

Lisdowney: Peter O’Sullivan (0-9, O-7 frees), Paddy Bowden (1-1), Ray Fitzpatrick (0-3), Eoin Delahunty, Billy Grogan, Robert McEvoy, Jamie Bergin, Eddie Hickey (0-1).

Mullinavat: Stephen Law (1-7, 0-5 frees, Jack Power (0-4), Billy Delahunty, Cormac McEvoy (0-1 each), AN Other (0-2).

Lisdowney: Niall Grogan, Jimmy Lennon, Brian Campion (Captain), Paddy Kennedy, Peter O’Sullivan, Eddie Connery, Anthony O’Hara , Conor O’Gorman, Charlie Kennedy, Jamie Bergin, Ray Fitzpatrick, Billy Grogan, James Leahy   Eoin Delahunty, Paddy Bowden.

Subs: Eddie Hickey for James Leahy, for Conor O’Gorman, Sean Stapleton for Billy Grogan, Jimmy Delaney for Peter O’Sullivan, Padraig Bergin for Eoin Delahunty.

Mullinavat; Declan Duggan (Captain), Jamie Walshe, James Dalton, Jamie Dempsey, Louis Madigan, Daniel Walsh, Killian Dungan, Luke Byrne Doyle, John Reade, Jack Whelton, Pat Mulhearn, Billy Delahunty, Jack Power, Cormac McEvoy, Stephen Law 

Subs: Michael Johnston for Daniel Walsh, Jamie Dungan for Billy Delahunty, Darragh Tynan for Cormac McEvoy, Billy Delahunty for Pat Mulhearne.

Referee: Gay Rafter (Threecastles)