O’Halloran goals fire Ballygarvan to first U21A hurling title

Ballygarvan 3-17

Ballymartle 0-12

HOWARD CROWDY REPORTS

THREE second-half goals from super sub Piaras O’Halloran handed Ballygarvan their very first South East U21 A hurling championship title.

The new champions defeated neighbours Ballymartle 3-17 to 0-12 in the final played in brilliant sunshine at Minane Bridge recently.

Ballygarvan’s Sean Brady opened the scoring with additional points coming from Cormac Dowd (2) and Niall Dowd. Ballymartle responded with scores from Donnacha Desmond and a brace from Luke O’Callaghan as Ballygarvan headed into the first water break one point ahead, 0-4 to 0-3.

It was tit for tat after the break, Ballygarvan stretching their lead to two before Ballymartle pulled back to level. The teams were level three times before Ballygarvan’s Stephen Fenton pointed just before the break to leave his team one point ahead, 0-8 to 0-7, at half time.

The sides were level twice again by the 35th minute, but the introduction of Piaras O’Halloran proved to be pivotal for Ballygarvan. He rattled the back of the net in the 40th minute after storming through the centre to leave four points between the sides as the gap was beginning to widen.

The Ballygarvan team won the South East U21A hurling championship title. (Photo: Howard Crowdy)

Ballygarvan extended their lead to five by the second water break, but in the 46th minute that had widened to eight when O’Halloran scored his second goal from close range. He added a third to his name three minutes later as Ballygarvan now had a comfortable 11-point advantage.

Ballymartle only managed just one point in the final 15 minutes as they were shell-shocked by the quick goals and successive points; Ballygarvan outscored them 3-9 to 0-5 in the second half.

Ballymartle did have chances in the closing stages to bridge the gap, only for goalkeeper Daniel Mackey to keep out Luke O’Callaghan’s and Jason Murphy’s attempts from close range.

The trophy was presented to Ballygarvan captain Evan Forrest O’Brien by newly-elected Carrigdhoun GAA Board Chairman Kevin O’Donovan. Declan O’Neill, of Declan O’Neill Fitted Furniture, presented the man-of-the-match award to Ballygarvan’s Cormac Dowd.

Scorers –  Ballygarvan: Piaras O’Halloran 3-0; Cormac Dowd 0-9 (1 65, 4f); Stephen Fenton 0-2; Paddy Ryan, Conor Mackey, Niall Dowd, Evan O’Connor 0-1 each. Ballymartle: Luke O’Callaghan 0-4 (1f); Donnacha Desmond 0-3; Matthew Higgins 0-2; Padraig Dorney 0-1 (1f); Oisin White, Eoghan Cummins 0-1 each.

Ballygarvan: Daniel Mackey; Paddy Ryan, Evan Forrest O’Brien, Eoin Mackey; Cillian Murphy, Kevin Lyons, Ciarán McIntyre; Sean Brady, Sean O’Donovan; Cormac Dowd, Stephen Fenton, Conor Mackey; Niall Dowd; Morgan Sheehan, Evan O’Connor.Subs: Conor Hurley for C Mackey (30), Piaras O’Halloran for N Dowd (30), Conor Fitzgerald for E O’Connor (45).

Ballymartle: Liam Healy, Darragh Murphy, Faelan Stewart, Nathan Good, Cillian Lordan, Padraig Dorney, Riordan Stewart, Jack Deasy, Simon Dorney, Fionn Desmond, Cian Barry, Conor Kelleher, Eoghan Cummins; Evin O’Leary, Luke O’Callaghan. Subs: Oisin White for E Cummins (30), Jason Murphy for C Kelleher (55).

Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).