Nine-goal Ballyphehane power to an historic Junior B football crown following a huge win over Araglen

Ballyphehane: 9-6 (9-0-6) 

Araglen: 3-7 (3-0-7) 

Ballyphehane are history-makers after winning their first McCarthy Insurance Group Confined Junior B Football Championship trophy after defeating Araglen at a packed-Mallow on Sunday evening.

After so much heartbreak over the last number of years losing the last two finals, the southside club have finally climbed the mountain with brilliant scenes of celebrations after the game.

Ballyphehane were outstanding in this contest scoring nine goals. They led by eight points at the interval and pushed on after the break in what was a goal fest. 

The winners had many impressive performers but special mention must go to Alex Cummins who finished with four goals.

Araglen played their part in a cracking game of football.

In front of a huge vocal crowd from Ballyphehane, their team got the first score through Aaron West a minute in.

The men from the southside showed composure to raise a green flag when Cummins finished expertly to the back of the net, 1-1 to 0-0 after seven minutes.

Ballyphehane were in the groove, with past disappointments a key driving force. Adam O’Donoghue pointed before Colm Barry’s side added a second goal after 13 minutes when former Cork City player Ethon Varian finished to the net from close range. Despite the setback, Araglen settled with points from Aaron Hegarty (free) and Ben Carey.

Both sides swapped white flags in what was a breathless opening 23 minutes.

Craig Murphy clipped over his second effort to give Ballyphehane a seven-point lead, 2-4 to 0-3, but Araglen will rue an incredible six missed goal chances in the first half.

A pair of Aaron Hegarty points, one from a free, did keep the Avondhu side in touch, but Ballyphehane were clinical in front of goal.

Their third opportunity for a green flag resulted in a third goal after 29 minutes when Cummins scored his second after great work by Varian in the build-up, 3-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Cummins got his hat-trick a minute into the new half with a tidy finish. Ballyphehane in dream land.

To Araglen’s credit, they weren’t truly out of it given the way they were playing and 1-1 in two minutes did give them hope. Aaron Hegarty with a free while Seán Hegarty billowed the back of the net, 4-4 to 1-6 after 34 minutes.

But, Ballyphehane were getting closer to breaking the glass ceiling as the aforementioned Cummins netted his fourth goal with 22 minutes remaining.

They were then awarded a penalty after 41 minutes which Troy O’Sullivan dispatched to the net, 6-4 to 1-6.

It was raining goals. Eoghan Leddy finished to the net for his side before West did likewise for Ballyphehane. 7-4 to 2-6 with 11 minutes to go. 

The green flags didn’t look like drying up either, Timmy Walsh got Ballyphehane’s eight followed by a Seán Fielding penalty to get his team’s ninth goal late on.

Sub Danny Kiely pointed from a free for the winners followed by a Shane Keating effort. Araglen did finish with 1-1 with Conor Twomey getting the goal in added time.

It was Ballyphehane’s day. History-makers.

Scorers for Ballyphehane: A Cummins 4-0, A West 1-1, T O’Sullivan (pen), T Walsh, S Fielding (pen), E Varian 1-0 each, C Murphy 0-2, D Kiely (f), S Keating, A O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Araglen: A Hegarty 0-4 (0-3 f), E Leddy, C Twomey, S Hegarty 1-0 each, B Carey, D Browne, K O’Gorman 0-1 each.

BALLYPHEHANE: B O’Leary; T Walsh, D Moore, D Holland; J Geasley, C O’Brien (c), R Wyse; T O’Sullivan, M Barry; A West, E Varian, A O’Donoghue; C Murphy, A Cummins, S Fielding.

Subs: E Hill for M Barry (h-t), S Keating for C Murphy (47), D Kiely for A Cummins (49), J O’Brien for J Geasley, P Mullins for S Fielding (both 54).

ARAGLEN: S Óg O’Doherty; D Allen, F Hickey, S Keane; O Hogan, J Kearney, S Motherway; B Carey, P Hynes; S Hegarty, E Leddy (c), P Finn; C Twomey, K O’Gorman, A Hegarty.

Subs: K Watts for P Finn (h-t), J Hynes for S Keane (34), E Finn for D Allen (49), P Drislane for J Kearney, D Browne for A Hegarty (both 55). 

Referee: B Barrett (Shamrocks).