Kilkenny GAA- Tullogher Rosbercon on top in thrilling Aylward final

Tullogher Rosbercon won the 2025 Aylward Cup final after a highly competitive decider against St Lachtain’s (Freshford) in Danesfort recently.

It took 70 minutes of intense battle before a winner appeared in a clash that followed a Junior F league final between the same clubs.

At the end of the first half the Southern team led 2-7 to 1-8 thanks to goals from Simon Kennedy (21 minutes) and Danny Glennon (28 minutes).

St Lachtain’s had answered the first Tullogher Rosbercon goal with a green flag of their own from Cian Dawson.

The second half partly turned out to be a battle of free-takers, Cathal O’Leary of Freshford and Andrew Murphy of Tullogher Rosbercon.

In this half Tullogher Rosbercon had a third goal from Andrew Murphy (27 minutes). Earlier in the half Shane Donnelly finished to the net to put St Lachtain’s 2- 9 to 2-7 ahead, and the other goal was scored by Cathal O’Leary (28 minutes). 

In injury time Cathal O’Leary took the game to extra time with late scores making 3-15 each, but really a serious of bad shooting from both frees and placed balls had cost the Southern side a normal time victory.

After the first period of extra time, it was still all square, tied at 3-19 each.

Points from Walter Walsh (2) and an Andrew Murphy free was enough to clinch the Tullogher Rosbercon men a single point victory, the clinching score from the former inter county man Walter Walsh.

This was Tullogher Rosbercon’s first ever Aylward Cup success and If this game is a sign of what lies ahead for the 2025 club season in Kilkenny some great entertainment lies ahead.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher-Rosbercon - Andrew Murphy (1-13, 0-9 frees), Walter Walsh (0-6, 0-1 free), Danny Glennon (1-2), Simon Kennedy (1-0), Michael Handrick (0-1).

St Lachtain’s - Cathal O’Leary (1-14, 0-14 frees), Shane Donnelly (1-1), Cian Dawson (1-0), Paddy Killeen (0-2), Alan Rafter (0-2), Brian Kennedy (0-1), Jerry Bergin (0-1).

Tullogher-Rosbercon - Davy Walsh, Niall Mooney, Richie Gill, JJ Ryan, Cathal Mooney Lar Murphy (C) Tarek O’Connor, Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan, Michael Handrick, Walter Walsh, Anthony O’Connor, Danny Glennon, Simon Kennedy Andrew Murphy.

Substitutes: Kevin Hennessy, Johnny Murphy, David Kennedy, Shane Lyng, Conor Ryan,

Fergal O’Shea, Niall O’Shea.

Management: Leigh O’Brien, Eoin Mullally, Brendan Lawlor, Ger Mullally.

St Lachtain’s - Jordan Burke, Jerry Bergin Criomhthann Bergin (C), Simon Rafter, Padraig Donnelly, Brian Kennedy, Cathal Hickey, Brendan Quinn, Alan Rafter, Alexander Rafter, Paddy Killeen, Cathal Power, Shane Donnelly, Cian Dawson, Cathal O’Leary.

Substitutes: John Fitzpatrick, John Bowden, Philip Campion, Conor Dalton, Cian Donnelly, Lachtain Kennedy, Darragh Maher, Paul White. 

Management: Steven Farrell, Bill Beckett, Robbie Dowling, JJ Grace.

Referee - Owen Beehan (Fenians).