Kilkenny GAA: John Lockes and St Patrick's battle it out in under 21 county final

"Goals win games" is the old saying, and that is exactly what happened at Pairc Lachtain, Freshford on Saturday, as John Lockes of Callan won the JJ Kavanagh County Under 21 D title.

In the two games on the way to this final both sides had displayed huge goalscoring ability, fourteen for John Lockes and eleven for St Patrick’s. However, on this afternoon, only one side brought a goal threat, and that was the South Kilkenny side.

Three goals in the opening twenty minutes by the Callan side laid the foundations for what was only the club’s second victory of any sort in this grade. They had previously won an Under 21 B title fifteen years back in 2010. John Lockes opened the scoring with a goal in the first minute when corner forward Zak O’Halloran collected a delivery and shot past the Ballyraggett keeper from close range.

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Sean Brennan opened St Patrick’s account from a free, this replied to soon afterwards by Robbie Jackman.

Mark Doheny from a St Patrick’s free had a Ballyraggett point, replied to by Tomas Roche from a Callan free.

The pitch was in exceptionally good condition for the time of year, proven when Sean Brennan pointed a sideline cut, this answered by John Lockes Ollie O’Donovan (0-3 to 1-3).

St Patrick’s had their best spell of the match in the next six minutes as three Josh Dowling frees levelled up the game, 0-6 to 1-3.

The next ten minutes produced a match winning unanswered 2-3 from the John Lockes men.

Ollie O’ Donovan pointed, Zak O’Halloran got a second goal (18 minutes), and two minutes later a penalty was awarded by referee Jack Miller, converted by Tomas Roche. The same player added points from frees on 25 and 27 minutes. It was now 3-6 to 0-6.

Two St Patrick’s points by Josh Dowling and Shane Culleton from distance reduced the lead, before a Tomas Roche free for Callan ended the first half scoring (3-7 to 0-8 at half-time).

The opening three minutes of the new half was dominated by John Lockes with points from Conor Brett, and two Tomas Roche frees (3-10 to 0-8).

By the seventh minute Josh Dowling pointed two frees for St Patrick’s, but in a level second period, where both sides added seven points each, St Patrick’s never looked like closing the gap.

In fact, Josh Dowling got all his sides second period scores, with John Lockes happy to ensure goal chances were curtailed by conceding frees where necessary.

The final three scores the winners got were also pointed frees, these from their captain Tomas Roche, so as mentioned, those early green flags had sealed the contest in favour of John Lockes, Callan.

In his acceptance speech John Lockes captain Tomas Roche, who received the trophy from Junior Board secretary Rory Williams, said he now expected this group of players to push on to challenge in the Junior grade come 2026.

John Lockes - Tomas Roche (1-8, 0-8 frees, 1-0 penalty), Zak O'Hallaran (2-0), Ollie O’Donovan
(0-3), Conor Brett (0-2), Robert Jackman (0-1), Ryan Donovan Çooke (0-1).

St Patrick’s - Josh Dowling (0-12, 0-11 frees), Sean Brennan, Marl Doheny, Shane Culleton (0-
1 each).

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