Ballyheighue just lose out to Kilkenny side Dunnamaggin in Shield decider

BALLYHIEGUE

BHÍ ard-deireadh seachtaine ag Baile Uí Thaidhg ag Féile 2017.

Ballyheigue Under 14 Hurling team had a very enjoyable weekend at Féile 2017. They were given a fantastic welcome by their hosts, Dunnamaggin upon their arrival in Kilkenny on Friday.

Their first two games were in Glenmore against the home team and against Fingallians of Dublin. Unfortunately, they had to give way to stronger opposition. On Saturday morning, they faced their hosts and despite hurling well, they went down to the Kilkenny boys.

It was then onto Muine Bheag / Bagenalstown in Carlow where they faced Our Lady’s Island / St. Fintan’s of Wexford in the Shield quarter-final. This was a tense affair and it went right down to the wire. Our boys held out for a two-point victory, 1-8 to 2-3.

On Sunday morning, they headed to Danesfort, the home of Richie and Paddy Hogan and Paul Murphy, where Ballyheigue faced Moorefield of Kildare in the Shield semi-final.

Our boys held a one point lead at the short whistle, 0-3 to 0-2. While Ballyhiegue stretched that lead to four points, the Kildare boys never gave up and their efforts were rewarded when they found the Ballyheigue net. However, a resolute finish by Ballyheigue ensured a win by the narrowest of margins on a score line of 1-4 to 1-3.

O’Loughlins Gaels across from the famous Nowlan Park was our final port of call as Buachaillí Bhaile Uí Thaidhg faced their hosts Dunnamaggin in the Shield Final. One of the spectators there was former Irish Rugby great, Mick Galway who is now domiciled in Kilkenny.

Despite Dunnamaggin’s win in the preliminary round, it was clear that this was a Ballyheigue team growing in confidence as they took the game to their hosts in the first half.

Dunnamaggin held a one point lead at half time and we were in for an exciting second half. Ballyheigue threw everything they had at the Kilkenny boys, but it was not to be their day as Dunnamaggin held on to win by four points, 0-7 to 0-3.