Holders Grangemockler/Ballyneale win south Tipperary Junior B football final after extra time

Grangemockler/Ballyneale 0-14 Carrick Davins 1-5

A virtuoso performance from club veteran Tom Kennedy helped Grangemockler/Ballyneale to a successful defence of their South Tipperary Junior B Football Championship title over Carrick Davins at Fethard Town Park.

In a game played under lights, Kennedy lit up the evening with ten of his side’s fourteen scores, seven from an immaculate display of free-taking.

Grangemockler/Ballyneale needed extra time to seal the deal but they were the dominant side in the additional twenty minutes, outscoring the Carrick side 0-6 to no score in that time.

Davins put in a typical battling performance, leading by two points, 1-4 to 0-5, early in the second half following a Mikey Ryan penalty.

However, they lacked firepower up front and failed to score again after an Adam Foran free in the 13th minute of the second half.

Grangemockler played all the second half with fourteen players following a straight red card for Tommy O’Hanlon in the closing stages of the first half, with referee Sean Lonergan taking swift action for remarks made by O’Hanlon.

However, being a man down didn’t impact their impressive performance and the numbers were levelled up for the final ten minutes of normal time following a black card for Davins’ Jamie Houlihan.

Tom Kennedy started as he intended to continue with two pointed frees in the first ten minutes giving the champions an early advantage. Alan Redmond got Davins off the mark in the twelfth minute, as Grangemockler struggled to clear their lines and two minutes later Conor O’Leary hit a great point to tie the scores.

A foul on another club stalwart, Paul Cahill, gave Kennedy the chance to regain the lead, but in an even contest at that stage, Mikey Ryan levelled again following an impressive build-up from the Carrick side.

Another Kennedy free edged his side ahead again but the sides turned around at half-time level at 0-4 each, with Conor O’Leary pointing a free with the last kick of the half.

Grangemockler owned the ball for the first forty seconds of the second half and following quality possession football, Tom Kennedy restored the lead with his first point from play.

But four minutes later Davins received a huge boost. Adam Foran won possession in midfield and sent a great ball to Mikey Ryan, whose progress on goal was illegally blocked and referee Lonergan pointed to the spot. Ryan took the penalty himself and was coolness personified in sending ‘keeper James Wallace the wrong way to make it 1-4 to 0-5.

Kennedy from a free, after he had been fouled himself, reduced the margin again, but Davins restored the two-point margin when Jamie Houlihan was fouled and Adam Foran pointed the free thirteen minutes into the half.

But remarkably, Davins failed to score again for the remaining 37 minutes.

A superb point from Alex Millea reduced the lead again to a single point, just before Houlihan’s black card, and Paul Cahill tied the scores with a great point following strong Grangemockler pressure.

Grangemockler had a final chance to win the game in normal time when a flowing move involving Millea and Kennedy resulted in a foul on Thomas Parle three minutes into added time.

But with his first poorly-hit free of the game, Kennedy dropped the ball short and the referee blew the final whistle.

However, Kennedy was to make amends in extra time when his side was restored to the full complement of fifteen players. Davins struggled to maintain their tempo, as a Kennedy free and a fine score from Paul Cahill had Grangemockler two up at the turnover.

The one-way traffic continued in the second period, Cahill opening the scoring from a free and Kennedy adding three without reply, two from play and one from a free.

It was a comprehensive win for Grangemockler in the end, and as the clock ticked towards 9.30pm, team captain Dean Madden accepted the cup from South Board chairman Seamie Mullins.

Prior to the game, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of two great Davins stalwarts who died recently, Billy Mackey and Liam O’Dwyer, both of whom had family members on the team.

Tom Kennedy was the outstanding player for Grangemockler, with big displays as well up front from Paul Cahill and Alex Millea, with Lorcan Magorrian, Robert Murphy and Darragh Lambe also impressing.

Missing on the night through holidays was Eimhin Hanrahan, who had been a key member of the team up to the final.

Davins were right in contention up to extra time, when they ran out of steam, but can look back on a brave bid for the title with fine displays from Willie O’Dwyer, Lee Mackey, Mikey Ryan, Conor O’Leary and Ray Cooke.

Grangemockler/Ballyneale: James Wallace, Darragh Lambe, Robert Murphy, Tommy Coady, Lorcan Magorrian, Enda Fogarty, Thomas Regan, JP Wallace, Tommy O’Hanlon, Thomas Parle, Tom Kennedy 0-10, 7 frees; Willie Wallace, Alex Millea 0-1; Paul Cahill 0-3, 1 free; Luke McGuire.

Subs: Dean Madden (captain), Sean Dunphy, Wayne McGrath, Brendan Walsh.

Carrick Davins: Stephen Cronin, Kevin Butler, Willie O’Dwyer, Conor O’Leary 0-2, 1 free; Aaron O’Halloran, Lee Mackey, Pa Harris, Michael Whelan, Adam Foran 0-1 free; Conor Mackey, Mikey Ryan 1-1, 1-0 penalty; Ray Cooke, Mark Roche, Jamie Houlihan, Alan Redmond 0-1.

Subs: Darragh Foley, Darragh Wells.

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).