U-13 'B' hurling decider between Ballyfin and Rosenallis ends all square

Ballyfin and Rosenallis faced off in the U-13 ‘B’ hurling championship final on Saturday morning. However, both teams will be forced to rematch after they finished level following an extra-time battle.

Ballyfin 1-7

Rosenallis 0-10

Brian Kelly was brilliant for Rosenallis throughout here, as he opened the scoring for his team. Kelly added Rosenallis’ second point as well a few minutes later after Ballyfin left him with too much space. Then Kelly turned provider, as he set up Cillian Dunne for Rosenallis’ third score.

It took twenty minutes, but Ballyfin did manage to register their opening score of the day. Fionnan Gilligan fired over a point from a free to get them up and running.

Ballyfin doubled their tally moments later. Matthew Lynch managed to land a fine score from play to leave them just one behind now.

Rosenallis struck the final score of the first half though. Brian Kelly caught a long ball in from wing-back James Cullinan and Kelly stroked over.

Rosenallis led 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time and would have the wind behind them for the second-half. Fionnan Gilligan and Kelly swapped points to start proceedings for the second-half.

Then Ballyfin struck for a crucial goal. Tadgh Heffernan, who hit the post in the first half, made no mistake this time around to fire into the net.

Rosenallis levelled through Kelly but Ballyfin landed the next two scores through Fionnan Gilligan (free) and Ben Heffernan.

Their opponents had a response late on though. Cillian Dunne held his nerve to drop over two points from placed balls to send this contest to extra-time.

The pair couldn’t be separated in extra-time either. Kelly added two more points to his name for Rosenallis but Gilligan replied for Ballyfin, as these two will be forced to meet again.