Ballyphehane advance to the next round of the Munster Junior B football Championship

Ballyphehane 3-14 

Ballinacourty 0-6 

A quality and spirited team display carried Ballyphehane to a victory in the opening round quarter-final, of the Munster Junior B football Championship, having plenty to spare over Ballinacourty of Waterford on Sunday. 

This clash was played at the home of the Munster series, Knockaderry grounds in west Limerick.

Goals from Troy O’Sullivan, Alex Cummins and Aaron West did the major damage, as the fitness and quality for the Rebel outfit carried them well clear after a tight opening third of the contest.

Following a richly successful 2025, where Colm Barry’s men collected plenty of titles, their next target is provincial honours. 

A Seandún title, the Confined Junior B and the MacSwiney Cup are all on the sideboard as this club continues to put its best foot forward.

The fact that all six starting forwards got on the scoresheet will please the management. 

Midfielder O’Sullivan and sub Danny Kiely, also chipped in a comprehensive victory.

Powered forward by Ethon Varian from midfield, Ballyphehane dictated proceedings once they got their nose ahead thanks to that goal from O’Sullivan.

The early going was good for the Waterford side, who are not a first XV, with their flagship outfit playing at senior level. 

James O’Mahoney and Nicky Dee got them off the mark but finally Adam O’Donoghue settled the city side with their maiden point.

Cummins laid on another for the impressive Craig Murphy and the full-forward again opened up the Waterford defence when feeding O’Sullivan for the 11th minute goal.

By half-time, it was 1-5 to 0-4, with an important save from Luke Towler denying Dee, tipping the ball clear off the crossbar.

After the half-time recharge, Ballyphehane drove for home. 

A run of 1-7 without reply was highlighted by Cummins dancing his way to finding the net. 

Brian O’Leary and Murphy used their quality to widen the gap before Aaron West drilled home the third goal.

Despite conceding a couple of scores late on, the winning defence remained water-tight with Jamie Geasley and Dylan Holland ensuring a clean-sheet. 

There was time too, to empty the bench with Kiely lofting over for a point, as they continued to dominate in the middle third.

The reward for the victory is a meeting with Knockainey, on Sunday 15th February, at the same venue. 

They are Limerick Junior B champions, who hail from the south of the county. 

They won their title last November, for the second time in their history. They will be making their bow at provincial level.

Scorers for Ballyphehane: C Murphy 0-6 (1f); B O’Leary 0-4; A Cummins 1-1; T O’Sullivan, A West 1-0 each; A O’Donoghue, J Thompson, D Kiely 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballinacourty: N Dee 0-3 (1f); T Murray 0-2 (1f); J O’Mahoney 0-1.

Ballyphehane: L Towler; T Walsh, J Geasley, D Holland; S Keating, D Moore, C O’Brien (Capt); T O’Sullivan, E Varian; J Thompson, A O’Donoghue, A West; C Murphy, A Cummins, B O’Leary.

Subs: J O’Brien for Walsh (half-time); S Fielding for O’Leary (49); D Kiely for Cummins (55); M Barry for Varian (55); O Sweeney for Holland (57).

Ballinacourty: S Kiely; F Dwyer, E McInerney, J Ryan; F O’Murchu, M Power, S Crotty; D Hickey, R Sheehan; C Feeney, N Dee (C), J Dillon; S O’Donovan, J O’Mahoney, T Murray.

Subs: F Slevin for Crotty (34); O Power for Crotty (39); L Power for Ryan (49).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Limerick).