Holders Whitechurch retain Seandún Junior A Hurling title for the third successive year after beating Na Piarsaigh in a great game of hurling
Whitechurch AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Champions 2026
Holders Whitechurch have won the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling title for the third successive year, as they defeated last year’s beaten finalists Na Piarsaigh, in a nail-biting decider before a good-sized attendance at Ballinlough.
With the sides deadlocked at 2-16 apiece, Jamie Hegarty slotted over his tenth pointed free in stoppage time, to settle the tie.
Na Piarsaigh, who were looking to bridge a 29-year gap, held a four point lead at the break, with two goals to their credit. Whitechurch got their first goal within seconds of the resumption, which brought them back into contention as this game went down to the wire.
Hegarty pointed a free within two minutes of the throw-in. Craig O’Sullivan responded with two unanswered frees for Na Piarsaigh.
Na Piarsaigh began to have Whitechurch pinned back as Jack Scanlon set up Luke Hurley for the game’s opening goal in the seventh minute.
Sean Paul Cooke got Na Piarsaigh’s first point from play, which stretched the margin to 1-3 to 0-1. Ruaraí O’Connell responded with Whitechurch’s first point from play.
Na Piarsaigh’s Alan Keating swapped points with Whitechurch’s Darragh O’Connell. Whitechurch began to turn the screw as Hegarty and Sean Keane each added points, to reduce the deficit to 1-4 to 0-5.
Na Piarsaigh replied with points from Hurley and O’Sullivan, before Na Piarsaigh found themselves pinned back. Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for Na Piarsaigh, as Hegarty converted three unanswered frees.
O’Sullivan tagged on his second point from play for Na Piarsaigh, while Hegarty pointed his fifth free.
Entering stoppage time at the end of the opening half, Gordon Joyce set up Shane Galgey for Na Piarsaigh’s second goal. This left Na Piarsaigh leading 2-7 to 0-9 at the break.
Whitechurch upped the ante after the interval. Within a minute of the restart, Daniel Kelleher set up Ronan Murphy for Whitechurch’s first goal.
Daniel Kelleher tagged on a point for Whitechurch and Hegarty got three, including two frees. Na Piarsaigh responded with points from Dayne Lee, Keating and Galgey. O’Sullivan also pointed two frees. This left Na Piarsaigh leading by two points.
Entering the second quarter, Mark Callanan embarked on a solo run, to set up Cillian Egan for Whitechurch’s second goal, which gave them a single point lead.
Na Piarsaigh scored four points from play to Hegarty’s three frees, which tied the scores and set the scene for a dramatic finish.
J Hegarty 0-13 (0-10f, 0-1 65); R Murphy, C Egan 1-0 each; R O’Connell, D O’Connell, S Keane, D Kelleher 0-1 each.
C O’Sullivan 0-8 (0-4f); L Hurley, S Galgey 1-1 each; A Keating 0-3; D Lee 0-2; SP Cooke 0-1.
Jack Kelleher; J Dennehy, K Ryan, A Murphy; John Kelleher, M Callanan, R O’Connell; S O’Reilly, R Blake; D O’Connell, J Hegarty, D Kelleher; R Murphy, S Keane, C Egan.
A Kelleher for R Murphy, K McIntyre for Keane (both 49), D O’Sullivan for Blake (57).
J Lonergan; J Scanlon, G Joyce, K Power; P Lehane, C Joyce, P Cunningham; SP Cooke, D Lee; A Keating, E Sheehan, S Galgey; DJ Coffey, L Hurley, C O’Sullivan.
J Morrissey Power (temp, 10-12), for Cooke (h/t); M Sheehan for Coffey (43), E Cronin for Power, I McDonnell for Hurley (both 57).
Pat Lyons (Bishopstown).
App?
