Round-Up of Go-Ahead Ireland Junior Hurling Finals

A feast of Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Junior Hurling Championship finals took place last Sunday with Kevins claiming the ‘A’ title following their 0-19 to 0-15 victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s at O’Toole Park.  

The foundation for their victory lay at the back through their influential centre-back Joey Mowlds, who swept up superbly in addition to adding two points from play.

Goalkeeper Brian Óg Flannery made two vital interventions as St Enda’s sought out goals in the closing stages while Shane Codd was a solid presence throughout from full-back. 

David Reid top scored for Kevins with six points, five coming from placed balls, and with Karl Walsh adding three frees, they built up a winning tally through two points apiece from Dean O’Loughlin, Conor Walsh and the lively Declan Power. 

For Ballyboden, it proved a struggle to score from open play as the evergreen David Curtin accounted for eleven of their points from placed balls. 

Conal Keaney scored twice after the break but his brace and points from David O’Connor and Seán O’Shea failed to deny Kevins a deserved and welcome victory.

At Somerton Park, Castleknock turned on the style in the second-half to defeat Cuala by 1-17 to 2-8 on their way to claiming the ‘B’ crown. 

The sides were deadlocked at 0-5 apiece at the interval but the hosts bounced back from the concession of two goals in the third quarter to seize control of matters. 

Cillian Downey played a major part in their resurgence as he converted ten frees and with Sean Boyle netting, Castleknock pushed for home with two points apiece by the influential Conor Chawke and Ciaran Murphy augmented by further scores by Colm Breslin, Conor Prunty and Luke Whelan. 

There was another home success in St Anne’s Park as Clontarf impressed from the outset when defeating Naomh Barróg by 1-20 to 1-12 in the ‘C’ decider. 

The experience of Ronan McDyer was a major factor in Clontarf’s win as he rolled back the years with a match-winning tally of 1-11. 

Matthew McMahon and Luke Crowley excelled in a defensive capacity for the hosts and with Cillian Hayes and Killian Keogh working tirelessly at midfield, they maintained their control through the scoring of Fionn Magner, Oisín Creighton and substitute Martin Kane. 

In Chanel, Pobal Parnell raced from the blocks when comfortably getting the better of Faughs by 2-21 to 1-8 in the ‘D’ final in Chanel. 

Early goals by Daryl Curley and Aaron Jameson saw the hosts ease their way to a 2-7 to 0-1 advantage by the end of the first quarter and they never looked likely to relinquish their dominance despite an improved Faughs showing after the break. 

John Sammon kept the home scoreboard ticking over through placed balls with the experience of Graeme George and Philip Reilly setting the tone in a disciplined Pobal defence. 

Elsewhere, St Vincent’s edged St Anne’s by 2-20 to 3-16 in the ‘E’ final while Lucan Sarsfields completed a positive weekend for the club when beating St James’ Gaels/An Caisleán by 0-16 to 0-13 to claim the ‘F’ crown.    

JHC ‘A’ final: Kevins 0-19 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-15. 

JHC ‘B’ final: Castleknock 1-17 Cuala 2-8.

JHC ‘C’ final: Clontarf 1-20 Naomh Barróg 1-12.

JHC ‘D’ final: Pobal Parnell 2-21 Faughs 1-8. 

JHC ‘E’ final: St Vincent’s 2-20 St Anne’s 3-16 AET. 

JHC ‘F’ final: St James’ Gaels/An Caisleán 0-13 Lucan Sarsfields 0-16.