Five in a row for Ballinora as they beat Grenagh to retain the Muskerry JAHC title
Ballinora celebrate their win. 2025 Muskerry Junior A Hurling Championship Final, Ballinora V's Grenagh, at Coachford, Co. Cork.
Ballinora 0-22
Grenagh 1-11
It was a historic occasion for Ballinora as they secured a fifth Muskerry Junior A Hurling Championship title in a row after deservedly defeating Grenagh in Coachford on Sunday afternoon.
This controlled performance saw Ballinora illustrate why they have been the kingpins of Mid Cork hurling in recent years.
Ben Mayer was in inspirational form for Ballinora, getting a total of 0-15.
Despite the best Grenagh efforts, Ballinora had the greater cutting edge and were more clinical when it mattered most.
Ballinora now progress into the County JAHC quarter final, where they will face the Carrigdhoun champions.
Ballinora settled into this contest the quicker, with a lovely Liam Lyons point opening the scoring, with Ben Mayer slotting over a succession of clinically taken frees.
A Dan Twomey point opened the scoring account for Grenagh. But Ballinora continued to see the better of the exchanges, leading by 0-9 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.
Darragh Corkery and Sean Lyons also chipped in with Ballinora points, with their side firmly setting their stall out during the opening half an hour of play.
At the half time break Ballinora were in a very commanding position at 0-12 to 0-3.
Grenagh did their best to mount a fightback on the resumption, as they got scores through Sean Joyce and Twomey.
Ballinora were always doing enough to keep their opponents well at bay.
Mayer continued to produce an exhibition of sublime score taking, with a Holmes point seeing Ballinora lead 0-18 to 0-7 after 48 minutes.
On 50 minutes Grenagh were awarded a penalty. Dan Twomey stepped up to take, but his effort was saved impressively by Ballinora goalkeeper Barry Crowley.
Grenagh did find the back of the net a few minutes later, as Brian Walsh finished neatly to the bottom corner.
Sean Joyce added with further points for Grenagh as they game edged towards stoppage time.
But ultimately despite an improved second half display, they could have few complaints about the eventual final outcome at full time.
A sensational score from distance by Mayer capped off what was a fantastic individual display, as Ballinora secured a convincing and fully merited victory.
These are exciting times for Ballinora, with a Cork Intermediate A Football final also on the agenda in a few weeks time against Ilen Rovers at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
B Mayer 0-15 (0-13f), D Holmes, D Corkery, S Lyons (0-1 s/l) 0-2 each, L Lyons 0-1.
D Twomey 0-5f, B Walsh 1-0, S Joyce 0-4, K Cummins, R Coleman 0-1 each.
B Crowley; T Forde, N Lordan, J Byrne; M O’Brien, S Kingston, C O’Flynn; L Lyons, T Burns; D Holmes, D Dineen, S Lyons; B Mayer, D Corkery, A O’Shea.
C Quirke for O’Shea (42), J Keohane for Corkery (45), M Quirke for Lyons (51), R Quirke for Holmes (53), P Fitton for O’Brien (57).
J Walsh; K O’Neill, P Barry Murphy, A Kiely; J O’Keeffe, K Cummins, D Warren; J Twomey, S Joyce; J Lehane, M White, D Kenny; S Morley, R Coleman, D Twomey,
P Ahern for O’Keeffe (HT), D O’Shea for White (42), B Walsh for Kenny (44), N Coleman for Lehane (52).
Brendan Barry-Murphy(Aghabullogue).
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