2023 County Junior B Hurling Final

FBD Insurance Junior B Hurling Championship Final

Cappawhite: 2-7 (13)

Drom/Inch: 2-16 (22)

By Michael McCarthy

Drom & Inch came out on top in a keenly contested County Junior B Hurling Final on Saturday last, but the scoreline probably doesn’t do the contest justice as both sides tried their hearts out in soft underfoot conditions at the excellent Dillon Quirke GAA Grounds in Clonoulty.

Drom & Inch started the quickest and had two points on the board within 40 seconds. Both scored from the left-hand touchline as you look towards the roadside goals. Joe Lupton with the 1st after 12 seconds and joint captain Kevin Butler off the resulting puckout.

Disaster struck for Cappawhite seconds later when full-back Thomas Costello slipped in front of goal and had to retire with what looked like a hamstring injury after just 90 seconds.

The game resumed with Patrick Horan replacing Costello in a re-jigged full back line. Cappa’ settled a bit now and a ball into the full forward line was won by the Drom full-back, Andy Mullen, but he was turned over by Anthony Barry who flashed over for his and Cappawhite’s first score.

Paul Kennedy followed this up with his first from a free following a foul in front of the goals. A sort of stalemate ensued with both teams very competitive around the middle third.

Cappawhite had a good goal chance in this period when a long free into Drom’s goalmouth fell to Anthony Barry whose shot hit a Drom defender and then the post and out for a 65.

The resulting ’65 was missed but Cappawhite would get their second point seconds later when they overturned the puckout and Anthony Barry got his second off his left side.

Scores were hard to come by and after an eventful first 20 minutes, the score stood at Drom & Inch 0-3 to Cappawhites 0-2. As the wind picked up the next ten minutes belonged to Drom & Inch and in particular dangerman Paul Kennedy who scored six points in the period, two from frees and four from play.

Kevin Butler also managed to get a goal on 28 minutes, a long free into the full-back line fell to Butler and he pulled on the ground from about 10 metres passed the Cappawhite goalie. It was a period of dominance which set Drom up well.

Anthony Barry managed to pilfer a goal as half-time approached managing to squeeze the sliotar through the Drom goalkeeper and centre-back Enda Walsh. It was an important score for Cappawhite and kept the deficit at seven points with the wind in their favour in the second half.

Cappawhite needed the quick start and got it through Eoghan Ryan and then a James Quinlan free inside the first 90 seconds and the lead was down to five. Liam Harty responded for Drom & Inch with a good score but another period of stalemate ensued. Cappawhite were dominant for the next 10 minutes but couldn’t convert and had four wides in the period before James Quinlan resumed the scoring on 14 minutes from a long-range free which was followed up by two quick Paul Kennedy frees, both of which resulted from goalkeeper error.

The lead was out to seven again and then the major score of the game came when Cappawhite full-back Michael O’Neill was dispossessed in front of goal, illegally it seemed but no whistle came, and Joe Lupton found himself bearing down on goal and made no mistake finishing past Timmy Cranley for a commanding lead for the mid men.

Paul Kennedy turned over the resulting puckout and split the posts. These scores seemed to rock Cappawhite into life again and for the final 15 minutes would do all the hurling. Anthony Barry pointed a free and then had two 21-yard frees saved by the Drom defence as Cappawhite threw everything at them.

Paul Kennedy would cut over a sublime sideline from the stand side to stem the Cappawhite tide. Cappawhite worked the ball up the field and Neil Clancy was bearing down on goal and was hauled down inside the box for a penalty which Anthony Barry duly dispatched.

Cappawhite had three more wides which seemed to suck the life out of their comeback attempt. Cappawhite were going for goals and Drom keeper David Kinnane really came into his own bringing off a series of saves and kept the lead for the mid-men.

Jimmy Mullen had a settling score again for Drom before a Ciarán Doody point when a goal was on rounded out Cappawhite’s scoring. The impressive Paul Kennedy had the game’s last score from a free and Drom/Inch had nine points to spare at the final whistle.

Drom & Inch were good value for their win and had impressive performances from talisman Paul Kennedy who had five points from play. The platform for their attack was the half-back line who were on top all day, Enda Walsh, wearing 27, was imperious at centre-back and was ably assisted by Martin McGrath and former county minor Diarmuid Brennan. Jack Johnson and Liam Harty were industrious in a very competitive middle third. David Kinnane kept Drom’s lead intact with some great saves towards the end of the game.

For Cappawhite the loss of Thomas Costello after 90 seconds was a big blow and they were already without Jack Armshaw from the start. Ross Dunne and Michael O’Neill battled admirably in the full-back line while Ciarán Ryan was one of their better performers at centre-back.

The ageless Paddy Julian never gave up in midfield. Anthony Barry was the main scoring threat and was a handful at full forward while Corner Forward Sean Cleary worked very well for the west men especially around the middle of the field in the first half.

Drom & Inch: David Kinnane; Cathal Flynn, Andy Mullen, Jamie Ryan; Martin McGrath, Enda Walsh, Diarmuid Brennan; Liam Harty (0-1), Jack Johnson; Joe Lupton (1-1), Joey Maher (0-1), Paul Kennedy (0-11, 0-5f, 0-1 sl-cut); Kevin Butler (1-1), Michael Butler, Jimmy Mullen (0-1).

Subs used: Daniel McAllister; Rory O’Dwyer; Michael Costello; Pat Lupton.

Cappawhite: Michael R Buckley; Ross Dunne, Thomas Costello, Michael O’Neill; Michael P Buckley, Ciarán Ryan (P), James Quinlan (0-2f); Paddy Julian, Tommy Coughlan; Ciarán Doody (0-1), Eoghan Ryan (0-1), Fionn Brady; Neil Clancy, Anthony Barry (2-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-1f), Sean Cleary.

Subs used: Patrick Horan; Caoimhin Doody; James Bradshaw; Timmy Cranley.

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)

Click below to watch the full game which was live streamed by Robert Healy AV & IT Solutions. Thanks to Colm O’ Neill in O’ Neill’s Bar, Toem for sponsoring the stream.

2023 County Junior B Final – Full Game

(Back L-R): Caoimhín Doody, James Bradshaw, Ciarán Doody, Neil Clancy, Patrick Horan, Thomas Costello, Michael (R) Buckley, Michael O’ Neill, Michael (P) Buckley, Eoghan Ryan, Seán Cleary. (Front L-R): Timmy Cranley, Fionn Brady, Ross Dunne, Paddy Julian, Anthony Barry, Tommy Coughlan (Captain), James Quinlan, Ciarán Ryan (P).