Knockmealdown Gaels secure U15B title in defeat of Holycross Ballycahill

County U15B Hurling Championship Final

Knockmealdown Gaels 4-12  

Holycross Ballycahill 3-5

By John O’Shea 

The South combination of Ballylooby Castlegrace and Fr. Sheehys, under the banner of Knockmealdown Gaels, proved much too strong for Holycross Ballycahill in the Coiste na nOg U15B Hurling Final at a chilly Leahy Park Cashel on Saturday afternoon. 

From the throw-in in they dictated the game, had the better of the exchanges, and took their scores far easier. They had a greater spread of the scorers, six in total, while Holycross were reliant on their captain Zach O’Keeffe, who hit 3.4 of their total.

The game was evenly balanced for the opening ten minutes but two Knockmealdown green flags in 90 seconds coming up towards the end of the first quarter proved to be decisive. They led at the break by 11 points, 2-7 to 0-2, and consolidated that advantage for most of the second period. 

Holycross never gave up, especially Paul Ryan around midfield, Tadhg Bourke at centre-back, and Sean Butler in attack. 

They finished the game on a high with two Zach O'Keeffe goals in the last ten minutes, but overall the South combination were the stronger side both physically and in their hurling ability. 

They took their scores well, with their full forward line particularly impressive, hitting 2-10 of their total.

Knockmealdown started the livelier with Eoin Ryan and Jack Galvin getting in for two minors inside the opening two minutes. 

Four minutes into the game a run by Zach O’Keeffe found Edward Bannon, but his goal-bound shot was saved well by Harry Byrne. O’Keeffe opened his account on seven minutes with a converted placed ball following a foul on James O’Gara.

Tadhg Dunlea put two between the sides before a run up-field from corner-back Shane Hickey found Jack Galvin who shot low past Cormac Walshe for the opening goal of the game. 

The second came ninety seconds later when Tadhg Dunlea was first to react to a breaking ball following a save by Walshe from Eoin Ryan. Knockmealdown pushed on for the second quarter and led by 2-7 to 0-2 at the break.

Holycross started the better after the restart with Zach O’Keeffe and Sean Burler firing over a brace inside the first five minutes. 

However, the South champions regrouped and replied with four unanswered minors. Coming up to the end of the third quarter a high ball from Paul Ryan was fielded by O’Keeffe, who turned and beat Byrne with a rocket of a shot.

The final quarter certainly produced the goals with four in total. Shane O’Mahony and Liam Proven hit two for the South boys before Zach O’Keeffe replied on the double inside the final five minutes to leave the final score, Knockmealdown Gaels 4-13, Holycross Ballycahill 3-5

Scorers: Knockmealdown Gaels: Jack Galvin (1-7), Shane O’Mahony (1-1), Tadhg Dunlea (1-1), Eoin Ryan (0-3), Liam Proven (1-0), Donnacha Hurley (0-1).

Holycross Ballycahill: Zach O’Keeffe (3-4, 1-3f), Senan Butler (0-1).

Knockmealdown Gaels: Harry Byrne; Shane Hickey, Paudie French, Noah McCarthy; Eoghan Davey, Darragh Quinlan, Harry O’Grady; James Morrissey, Liam Proven; Donnacha Hurley, Shane O’Mahony, Jason Carey; Eoin Ryan, Tadhh Dunlea, Jack Galvin. 

Subs used: Luke O’Donnell for Shane Hickey (48); Jamie Lonergan for Jack Galvin (54); Liam Klonowski for Noah McCarthy (58); Danny O’Connor for Eoin Ryan (58).

Holycross Ballycahill: Cormac Walshe; Paudie O’Reilly, Ned Dillon, Brendan Judge; Mikey Carr, Tadhg Bourke, Cian Campion; Paul Ryan, Odhran Doyle; Sean Butler, Zach O’Keeffe, Christopher Mills; Edward Bannon, Nathan Ryan, James O’Gara. 

Subs used: Sean Ryan for James O’Gara (HT); Padraic Costello for Edward Bannon (55).

Referee: Declan Hickey (Skeheenarinky)