The 2 Johnnies left speechless after losing to Silvermines in the Junior B county semi-final

FBD Insurance Junior B Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Silvermines 1-19

Cahir 2-9

It was a case of a step too far for the 2 Johnnies, despite two goals from Johnny B in this FBD Insurance Junior B Hurling Championship Semi-Final with Silvermines coming out on top after dominating the second half to book their place in this year's final at the expense of Cahir in Drombane on Saturday afternoon.

Two first-half goals from Johnny O'Brien had Cahir in a decent position at half-time as they smothered and outfought Silvermines in the first period. Playing with the wind, the South champions made good use of it to take a 2-4 to 0-8 lead at the break, with the O'Brien goals coming within two minutes of each other in the 20th and 22nd minutes.

However, Silvermines came out a different team in the second period and completely took over the game, looking far fitter and sharper as the game wore on, and after Brian Leamy goaled in the 35th minute, they never looked back as they outscored their opponents 1-11 to 0-5 as Cahir relied heavily on placed balls from Tom Delaney for scores in that time.

Both sides had changes to the starting teams named in the official match programme and Cahir's start made the changes worthwhile for the South champions with the sides hitting three points apiece in the first quarter before Johnny O'Brien showed real fleet-footedness to round the Sean Ryan Prenderville after a long ball and finish brilliantly to the net.

It was richly deserved for Cahir after doing most of the hurling in the first 20 minutes - of not fully translating it onto the scoreboard - and when O'Brien bagged his second goal in the 22nd minute after pouncing on a dropping ball from a Tom Delaney delivery to bat home, it was Cahir in control by 2-3 to 0-4.

Silvermines were not at the races and they were very reliant on Ronan Cunneen (six) for scores from frees in the first half, scoring just two of their eight points from play in the opening period. But they hit four of those in the final ten minutes to bring the game back to two points by half-time at 2-4 to 0-8.

There wasn't exactly a game-defining breeze in Drombane on the day but whatever elements were their favoured Silvermines in the second half and it aided their dominance in that time.

Brian Leamy's goal in the 35th minute kicked the North champions into gear, the young inside forward burning Thomas Nolan for pace inside the 21 before finishing deftly past Conor Kirwan. A key score.

From here, it was all Silvermines as they took over in all sectors, and despite Cahir's Oisin Maher linking up well with Tom Delaney in the 36th minute to send over a lovely score and level the game again, the game turned completely. 

In the final 20 minutes, Silvermines smothered the Cahir effort and just looked far fitter in the exchanges with points from Ronan Cunneen (four frees), Brian Leamy, Sean Spillane (two), and a first from David Keogh paved the way for Silvermines to book their date in this year's Junior B Hurling decider.

Silvermines: David Shanahan; William Murphy, Sean Ryan Prenderville, Ben Claffey; Cathal McGrath, Eoin Seymour, Sean McGrath; Cynan Bailey (0-1), Conor McGrath; Brian Leamy (1-1), Niall Curran, David Keogh (0-1); Ronan Cunneen (0-12, 0-11f), John Ryan, Sean Spillane (0-3).

Subs used: Paudie Fogarty (0-1) for J Ryan (HT); Diarmuid Brennan for S McGrath (48); Willie Keogh for C McGrath (48).

Cahir: Conor Kirwan; Keelan Looby, Kieran O'Dwyer, Thomas Nolan; Liam Meehan, Ger Hally, Mark Casey; Daniel Moloney, Eoghan Kelly; Sean O'Connor, Niall McKenna (0-1), Conor Casey; Tom Delaney (0-6, 0-5f, 0-1 65), Johnny O'Brien (2-0), Evin O'Regan (0-1).

Subs used: Oisin Maher (0-1) for Kelly (HT); Brian Enright for O'Regan (40); Jake O'Gorman for Nolan (46); Tom O'Gorman for O'Connor (48); Dara Heffernan for Casey (51).

Referee: Johnny Butler (Upperchurch Drombane)