Youghal leave it late to see off Ballinora and capture U21 B HC title
Youghal players celebrate after defeating Ballinora in the Co-Op Superstores U21 B HC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoumh 4G. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The celebrations at the end of it all were bittersweet for Youghal.
Joy and relief – two overriding emotions for this group of players to get over the line and win an U21 county for the first time, under the floodlights in Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G.
But also, grief and sadness – for the loss of former chairman Jerry Russell who passed away suddenly on Friday, December 20.
A minute’s silence was observed prior to the game, but the loss of Jerry was petrol to a flame for Youghal, who were already determined to get over the line and win the U21 B Hurling Championship title.
Their determination was clear when James Murray landed his fourth point from play in the 46th minute to put Youghal in front for the first time since the opening quarter, giving the east Cork side a 0-11 to 0-10 advantage. His celebrations after landing the point were telling.
While Ben Mayer drew level for Ballinora five minutes later, Youghal hit straight back.
They went searching for the goal that continued to elude both teams – and while Oisin Hill had two chances in the space of a minute, the first went over the bar and the second went out for a 65.
Devon O’Donoghue converted that 65 with seven minutes to go, but when Andrew O’Sullivan worked the space to shoot, his point restored Ballinora’s deficit to the minimum, 0-13 to 0-12.
Youghal still couldn’t raise a green flag, as Brian Lynch was brilliantly denied by Donnacha Murphy – but Murray was there again to send it between the posts heading into added time.
Two-point game.
Ballinora looked for a way back, but Youghal wouldn’t be stopped.
A couple of frees from Murray gave the east Cork side the safety net they needed, even if Liam Lyons was able to reduce the lead to three with a late free of the game.
Partnering Midleton and Castlemartyr, Youghal’s county success now ensures a clean sweep for the Imokilly division in U21 hurling, though they were made work for it by a Ballinora side without their star man – All-Ireland U20 winner Shane Kingston, who was sidelined with injury.
The mid-Cork side were much more efficient in the first half playing with the wind, their three-point lead reflective of that at the break.
After falling two points behind early on, Ballinora had drawn level a second time by the 16th minute at 0-4 each, and they took control in the second quarter.
They outscored the east Cork side 0-5 to 0-2 for the remainder of the half, with Mayer’s two scores from play the pick of the efforts.
Youghal were struggling with wides but on the resumption upped the ante. In the space of three minutes, they cut the deficit to the minimum. First as Murray pointed, before a brace from Casey landed either side of a Mayer free for Ballinora, which left it 0-10 to 0-9.
Both Enda Cronin and Senan O’Brien made their presence known in defence for Youghal, particularly the former as he thundered forward for an excellent socre to level it for the third time heading into the final quarter.
Murray would go on to nudge Youghal in front – and while there was still a lot more work to do, there was a sense that was the turning point.
With Jerry as the 16th man, they got over the line.
J Murray 0-7 (0-2 f), D O’Donoghue 0-4 (0-3 f 0-1 65), J Casey 0-2, F Hill, O Hill, E Cronin 0-1 each.
B Mayer 0-6 (0-3 f), L Lyons 0-3 (0-1 f), M Quirke 0-2, A O’Sullivan, R Quirke 0-1 each.
O Walsh; S O’Brien, B Nicholson, M Desmond; E Cronin, C Geary, R O’Brien; O Hill (c), M Breathnach; F Hill, J Casey, D O’Donoghue; C Galvin, C Savage, J Murray.
J Lenane for Savage (35), B Lynch for Galvin (51), O Terry Foley for O’Donoghue (57).
D Murphy; A Laverty, D Byrne, C Woulfe; C O’Flynn, J Byrne, I Quirke; B Carbery, M Quirke (c); S Lyons, R Quirke, L Lyons; C O’Donoghue, B Mayer, A O’Sullivan.
Dave Twomey (Shanballymore)
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