Belgooly in clinical form in South East Junior A Hurling final against Kinsale

Belgooly 1-24 Kinsale 1-17

Belgooly bridged a two-year gap as they defeated near neighbours Kinsale to regain the Ross Oil South East Junior A Hurling Championship title, before a sizeable attendance at Carrigaline.

Belgooly will play Muskerry champions Ballinora in the County Championship.

This game was dictated by the wind as Belgooly made the most of the elements in the opening half. Belgooly played an open game, while Kinsale were dependent on scores from frees by Michael Murphy.

Ryan Long got the game’s opening score for Belgooly within two minutes of the throw-in. Michael Murphy opened Kinsale’s account with a pointed free in the fifth minute. before Belgooly seized the initiative as Conor O’Donovan tagged on two points. 

Gearoid O’Riordan, Jamie Dwyer and Eoin O’Donovan each added further points. Barry Dwyer also converted Belgooly’s first free, to give his side a lead of 0-7 to 0-1. James Murphy responded with Kinsale’s first point from play.

Belgooly’s Eddie Corkery exchanged points with Kinsale’s Conor McCarthy. Ryan Long extended Belgooly’s lead before persistent fouling was proving to be costly. Michael Murphy converted three frees for Kinsale, to reduce the deficit to three points. Barry Dwyer replied with two points including a free for Belgooly. Mark Kenny added a further point to leave Belgooly leading 0-12 to 0-6.

Kinsale outscored Belgooly by four points to three, with two, including a free from Michael Murphy. James Murphy and Timmy Broderick also added one each. Eoin O’Donovan Jamie Dwyer and Conor O’Donovan replied with points for Belgooly. Tom O’Donovan was credited with a long-range goal, following a puck-out, for Belgooly on the stroke of half-time.

This left Belgooly leading 1-15 to 0-10 at the interval.

The second half was more evenly contested. Michael Murphy slotted over three points including a free for Kinsale, while Belgooly responded with two from O’Riordan and a further point by Jamie Dwyer. James Murphy exchanged points with Eoin O’Donovan approaching the final quarter.

Michael Murphy tagged on three points, including two frees for Kinsale, while Barry Dwyer slotted over two frees for Belgooly.

With time almost up, Eric Lynch and Conor O’Donovan added points for Belgooly. Belgooly were leading by 10 points when Michael Murphy got Kinsale's goal from a 20-metre free with the last puck of the game, deep into stoppage time.

The final whistle was greeted by scenes of jubilation from the excited Belgooly supporters.

Scorers for Belgooly: B Dwyer 0-5 (0-4 f), C O’Sullivan 0-4, G O’Riordan, J Dwyer, E O’Donovan 0-3 each, T O’Donovan 1-0, R Long 0-2, E Corkery, M Kenny, E Lynch, K Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Kinsale: M Murphy 1-12 (1-8 f), J Murphy 0-3, C McCarthy, T Broderick 0-1 each.

BELGOOLY: R Dwyer; J O’Sullivan, T O’Donovan, N O’Sullivan; R Reynolds, G O’Riordan, C O’Sullivan; S Kiely, C O’Donovan; E Corkery, E O’Donovan, B Dwyer; R Long, M Kenny, J Dwyer.

Subs: K Fitzgerald for Kenny (39), E Lynch for Corkery (51), Corkery for B Dwyer (60).

KINSALE: T O’Callaghan; S Aherne, N McCarthy, B Coughlan; K O’Rourke, K O’Callaghan, D Nolan; D O’Leary, J Murphy; C McCarthy, B O’Neill, G Kearney; N Ryan, M Murphy, T Broderick.

Subs: C Fitzpatrick for Broderick (46), C Fitzpatrick for Coughlan (48), D Coughlan for Ryan (53, inj), H Sheehan for Nolan (58, inj).

Referee: Brian Sweeney (Shamrocks).