St Finbarr’s need extra time to beat Brian Dillon’s and claim the Seandún Junior B Hurling title

St Finbarr’s 1-20

Brian Dillon’s 2-17 AET (3-2 pens)

St Finbarr’s needed extra time, followed by penalties to see off last year’s beaten finalists Brian Dillon’s and claim the AOS Security Seandún Junior B Hurling title from the decider, at Ballinlough on Saturday.

Brain Dillon’s made the better start as their two first half goals gave them a four-point interval lead. 

Persistent fouling was to prove costly for Brian Dillon’s in the second half, as St. Finbarr’s scored 1-4 from placed balls. 

In extra time, St. Finbarr’s were leading 1-20 to 2-16, when an equalising point by Brian Dillon’s Kevin Coughlan sent the game to penalties.

Within a minute of the throw-in, Brian Dillon’s Danny McCormack set up Cillian Brosnan for the game’s opening goal. 

St. Finbarr’s replied with points by Faolán Linnane and David Scannell. Ross Murphy pointed the game’s first free for Brian Dillon’s.

St. Finbarr’s Adam Phillips and Cian Buckley each scored points. Glenn O’Connor converted a free, to put St. Finbarr’s ahead for the first time.

Brian Dillon’s regained the lead as Brosnan scored their second goal from the rebound of Ross Murphy’s penalty miss.

Dave Cremin got a point for Brian Dillon’s. Brosnan also got on the scoresheet with three points, including a free. 

Cian Buckley and Matthew Nason replied with points for St. Finbarr’s. This left Brian Dillon’s leading 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time.

Ross Murphy scored a point for Brian Dillon’s, before the tide turned in St. Finbarr’s favour.

Five unanswered points brought St. Finbarr’s level. Brian Dillon’s scored six points in the final quarter, including three by Ross Murphy. O’Connor converted three frees for St. Finbarr’s.

A minute into stoppage time, St. Finbarr’s were awarded a penalty. O’Connor drilled the ball to the back of the net. 

Brian Dillon’s responded with a point by Brosnan, to force extra time.

In the first period of extra time, Gould exchanged points with Brian Dillon’s Oisín Vallely. St. Finbarr’s added two without reply. 

This left St Finbarr’s leading 1-19 to 2-14 at the break.

Phillips pointed a free for St. Finbarr’s, before Brian Dillon’s replied with three unanswered points, to send the game to penalties.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: G O’Connor 1-8 (0-5f); J Gould 0-3; A Phillips 0-2 (0-1f); Cian Buckley 0-2, L Twomey, D McGuirk, M Nason, D Scannell, F Linnane 0-1 each.

Brian Dillon’s : C Brosnan 2-3; R Murphy 0-7 (0-2f, 0-1 65); O Vallely, K Coughlan 0-2 each; D Cremin, K McCormack, W O’Halloran 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: D McSweeney; E Barrett, R McCarthy, B Healy; L Twomey, D McGuirk, E O’Regan; F Linnane, M Nason; D Scannell, A Phillips, L O’Shea; Corey Buckely, G O’Connor, Cian Buckley.

Subs: J Gould for O’Shea, J Martin for Corey Buckely, J Goggin for Healy (all h/t), R O’Mahony for Linnane (45), C Kelleher for Scannell (55), C Herlihy for Nason (66), R Fitzpatrick for McCarthy (72).

Brian Dillon’s: D Rodgers; D Malone, D Murphy, M White; D McCormack, D McGrath, J Noonan; N Lowry, K McCormack; D Cremin, R Murphy, W O’Halloran; J Murphy, C Brosnan, K Hegarty.

Subs: J Varian for Lowry (h/t), E Lane for Murphy (inj, 38), K Coughlan for Malone (44), O Vallely for Hegarty, A Cotter for J Murphy (both 51) D Coughlan for White (73, inj), Hegarty for Cotter (70), Malone for K McCormack (79).

Referee: Trevor Lyons (Douglas).