Junior A hurling championship keenly contested
THE Avondhu JAHC was a keenly contested championship in 2017. Harbour Rovers were going in search of three in-a-row North Cork JAHC titles a feat that had never been achieved before.
It did not happen in 2017 as the Rovers were defeated by Dromina in a very close game. The final in Buttevant was a thriller with Dromina with a late goal overcoming Ballyhooly by 3-7 to 1-12.
In a change from previous years both finalists progressed to the County championship meaning an extra game for all. Ballyhooly won their first game in the County JAHC against Clonakilty by 1-17 to 0-14 (aet).
Dromina were also winners when they easily accounted for Kilmichael by 2-20 to 0- 9. Both Avondhu sides made their exit from the championship at the quarter final stages.
Dromina were heavily defeated by Brian Dillons in Mallow by 1-19 to 0- 9 while Ballyhooly had to give best to Nemo Rangers who came with a late flurry to win by 0-17 to 0-14. Brian Dillons led Dromina by 1-7 to 0- 5 at half time.
The Dromina team was as follows : Kevin O’Callaghan, Michael Finn, Brian Bowles, Billy Naughton, Paddy Burke, Ger Hayes 0-1, Jonathan Jordan, Kevin Hayes, Brian Buckley 0-1 Diarmuid Buckley, David Jones 0-7 (0-4f.0-1 ‘65) Pat Hayes, Michael Naughton, Donal O’Shaughnessy, Richard Morrissey. Subs : John O’Connor for Brian Bowles, John Delee for Donal O’Shaughnessy, Jason Finn for Pat Hayes, Ronan O’Keeffe for Michael Naughton, Cathal Finn for Kevin Hayes.
Ballyhooly faced Nemo Rangers in Rathcormac. It was close all through with Nemo ahead at the break 0-7 to 0- 6. They were level 0-10 each before James Roche seemed to have set Ballyhooly on their way to a win.
However a later rally by Nemo saw them tag on some well taken points mainly by Brian Twomey that secured a three point win 0-17 to 0-14.
Ballyhooly team: Patrick O’Connor, Cathal O’Keeffe, David O’Brien, Fintan Linehan, Fraech McGrath, Sean Linehan 0-1, Peter Aherne, James Roche 0-11 (0-7f. 0-1 ‘65) Darragh O’Reilly, Diarmuid Linehan 0-1, Fergal O’Connell 0-1 Denis Kiely, Seamus Roche, Shane Murphy, Jake Mehigan. Subs : Emmet O’Riordan for Fergal O’Connell, Joe Dowling for Shane Murphy.
In the County IHC just two teams from Avondhu were involved. Kildorrery and Milford. Kildorrery lost their preliminary round game to Éire Óg, but came back strong in Round 2 B to defeat St Finbarr’s by 2-13 to 0-17.
Milford had a very tough first round they faced Midleton with the latter having some senior players available as they had not played the County SHC. Milford were a shade unlucky to lose out by a single point 2-10 to 1-12 in Kilworth.
Milford won their Round 2B game against Ballymartle. Both Avondhu sides met in Round 3 with Kildorrery coming out on top by 1-13 to 0-10. Kildorrery then met Aghada in Round 4.
This was one of the best games in the County IHC. Kildorrery were reduced to 14 players midway through the second and were unlucky to lose out by 3-21 to 3-18 with Aghada going on to claim County honours.