Ballynastragh turn on power
Gaels in seventh heaven en route to Under-15 crown
U15HCR2 final in St. Pat’s Park BALLYNASTRAGH GAELS 7-13 BANNOW-BALLYMITTY 1-12
A POWERFUL Ballynastragh Gaels performance proved too hot for Bannow-Ballymitty to handle as they claimed the Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Roinn 2 championship crown in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday.
The Gorey District side had weapons all over the park and it proved difficult for their opponents to blunt them all.
Bannow-Ballymitty battled gamely and played a considerable part in what was one of the more entertaining under-age finals this season, but there was no denying the better team won.
It’s tough to pick out a few stars from this Gaels team as they all performed to an impressive level.
Cian Hughes was probably the one that Bannow-Ballymitty wouldn’t have been able to control, no matter who was marking him, but otherwise everyone played their part.
As if to emphasise their strength-indepth, the substitutes did an impressive job too, with Jack Gethings nabbing one of the better goals of the game after his introduction.
Playing against the breeze hampered the eventual winners in the opening half but made for a fantastic game of hurling.
Eoin Roche was in supreme form for the New Ross District club and scored eight of his points in the first 23 minutes, with Joe Devlin also on target.
At that stage Ballynastragh led by 1-9 to 0-9, as Cian Hughes had the goal while Seán Hughes and Daniel Bolger also chipped in with scores.
Josh White flighted over a classy point against the breeze but, after making several superb saves in the first-half, Patrick Quigley could do nothing about Cian Hughes’ second goal in the 30th minute that gave the Gaels a 2-10 to 0-9 interval lead.
In truth, that major was a back-breaker and gave Bannow-Ballymitty little wiggle room for the second period.
They struggled to break down a confident Ballynastragh defence after the change of ends, and the impressive Cathal Murphy went on a goalscoring spree, notching a hat-trick in 16 minutes.
Seán Hughes also found the net with a thumping shot to the top corner as the lead swelled to 6-12 to 0-9.
Bannow-Ballymitty battled away and
Tom Moran pulled home a consolation goal, but substitute Gethings had the final say as Ballynastragh set themselves up for a potential double with the Premier football final to come against Fethard on Saturday morning.
Ballynastragh Gaels: Dylan Nash; Pádraig Jones, Craig Grannell, Ultan O’Donovan; Tim Ivers, Andrew Smith, Micheál McGonigle, Cian Hughes (2-2), Brendan Bolger; Lee Polglaze, Seán Hughes (1-6, 0-3 frees), Josh White (0-1); Daniel Bolger (0-3), Cathal Murphy (3-0), J.J. Hartnett (capt., 0-1 free). Subs. (rolling) - Adam Fadian, Paddy Higgins, Eoin Hughes, Jack Gethings (1-0), Vincent Higgins, Mikey Hughes, Darragh Gethings, also Ben Rothwell, Oisín Byrne, George Tully.
Bannow-Ballymitty: Patrick Quigley; Cian Rossiter, Seán Fleming, Wal Cullen; Aaron Hogan, Luke Waters, Joel McDonald; Eoin Roche (0-11, 7 frees), Cormac McGee; Alex Power, Joe Devlin (0-1), Shane Carroll; Harry Murphy, Alec Moran, Tom Moran (1-0). Subs. (rolling) - Luke French, Kyle Cleary, Dan Sinnott, Jack Cleary.
Referee: Matty Kinnaird (Rapparees).