Junior 'B' Hurling Championship 2025
September 19, Gorey District Final: Naomh Éanna 1-13, Ferns St. Aidans 0-14
A THIRD-MINUTE Paddy Dwyer goal ultimately helped the Naomh Éanna third-string to complete the hat-trick of Gorey District Junior 'B' hurling championship titles with Friday's final victory over their counterparts from Ferns St. Aidan's at the Halo Tiles Centre of Excellence.
William Cullen's trustworthy placed-ball shooting was essential also for Ed 'Shiner' Sheehan's charges as they became the first side since Tara Rocks (1995-'97) and only the third-ever to achieve the three-peat in this competition, with Ferns having been the first (1979-81).
Ferns St. Aidan's won the last to-date of their eight Gorey hurling titles in 1993, but they still have a chance to transform their season as they now enter the county quarter-finals.
They will be reminded that Askamore rebounded from last year's District final loss to Naomh Éanna on penalties to ultimately capture the county title at the expense of Gorey.
Naomh Éanna now face Enniscorthy District runners-up Oulart-The Ballagh in the last-eight at the Centre of Excellence on Saturday (1.30 p.m.), while Ferns meet Rathnure there on Sunday (12 p.m.).
Ferns were hurt when being off-cue with a handful of early frees. But James Kinsella certainly got his bearings right thereafter to deliver a sharpshooting display eclipsed only by the excellence of Cullen as Naomh Éanna won the District for the 13th time.
Kinsella did shoot Ferns in front from a free earned by Byron Jordan before Dwyer struck for the Gorey goal.
Ferns opted to play a two-man full-forward line, but this only fed into the Naomh Éanna defence having a significant say in how the first-half evolved.
And corner-back Tiernan Meyler certainly thrived in the extra space, with his long delivery finding Theo Doyle, who tipped the ball on for Dwyer to sweep home a ground shot (1-0 to 0-1).
The sides shared four points before Dwyer forced a superb save by Ferns goalie Anthony 'Scoby' Dwyer, a forward of some renown but entrusted to excel as the number one.
William Cullen (three frees) and James McGraynor struck Naomh Éanna clear by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time as James Kinsella kept Ferns in contention with his third from play and second free.
Ferns certainly were never out of the running for a rare outright success in this rarest of appearances by them in this final.
Naomh Éanna did regain a four-point lead four times during the second-half, but Ferns had it down to the minimum three minutes into added-time (1-12 to 0-14) as Kinsella sent over three frees, including a pair earned by Shane Breen.
Crucially Naomh Éanna seized upon the puck-out arising from Ferns' last score for Oisín Hobbs to earn a free from which Cullen reliably helped the defending champions over the line, and to re-focus upon making amends for last year's county final frustration by annexing outright glory for the first time since 2017.
Ferns St. Aidan's: Anthony Dwyer; John Kennedy (capt.), Brian O'Neill (Clone), George Warren; John Roche, Barry Murphy, Johnny Murphy; Pádraig Kinsella, Brian O'Neill (St. Aidan's); Lukas Kinsella, James Kinsella (0-14, 10 frees), Byron Jordan; Shane Breen, Andy Cash, William Kavanagh. Subs. - Barry O'Toole for Kavanagh (HT), Paul Lancaster for Warren, inj. (33), Kevin Stafford for J. Murphy (58), also Stephen Corrigan, Mylie Cash.
Naomh Éanna: Ciarán O'Brien; Brian Sunderland (capt.), Joseph Naughton, Tiernan Meyler; George Kavanagh, Shane Stokes, Mikey Dunne; Oisín Hobbs, Jack Molloy; James McGraynor (0-1), Mikey Cushe (0-1), Theo Doyle; William Cullen (0-11 frees), Paddy Dwyer (1-0), Ciarán Byrne. Subs. - Nathan Byrne for C. Byrne (HT), Peter Travers for Dwyer (36), Scott Murphy for Molloy (40), Angus Byrne for Cushe (52), Aaron Byrne for Doyle (55).
Referee: James Owens (Askamore).
September 28, County quarter-final: Rathnure 3-25, Ferns St. Aidans 3-5
The Blackstairs side were full of confidence ahead of a clash with Ferns St. Aidans in the Halo Tiles Centre of Excellence on Sunday but were given a stern test early on.
Indeed, with goals from Andy Cash, Lukas Kinsella and Barry O'Toole, Ferns held a 3-4 to 1-8 lead after 20 minutes.
Yet Rathnure finished the period on the front foot, as majors from Brendan O'Leary and Seán O'Neill ensured they led by 2-10 to 3-4 at the interval.
The second-half was a bit of a procession, with Rathnure winning the period by 1-15 to 0-1. Nigel Higgins added the third goal for his side as they motored to a 3-25 to 3-5 success.
A THIRD-MINUTE Paddy Dwyer goal ultimately helped the Naomh Éanna third-string to complete the hat-trick of Gorey District Junior 'B' hurling championship titles with Friday's final victory over their counterparts from Ferns St. Aidan's at the Halo Tiles Centre of Excellence.
William Cullen's trustworthy placed-ball shooting was essential also for Ed 'Shiner' Sheehan's charges as they became the first side since Tara Rocks (1995-'97) and only the third-ever to achieve the three-peat in this competition, with Ferns having been the first (1979-81).
Ferns St. Aidan's won the last to-date of their eight Gorey hurling titles in 1993, but they still have a chance to transform their season as they now enter the county quarter-finals.
They will be reminded that Askamore rebounded from last year's District final loss to Naomh Éanna on penalties to ultimately capture the county title at the expense of Gorey.
Naomh Éanna now face Enniscorthy District runners-up Oulart-The Ballagh in the last-eight at the Centre of Excellence on Saturday (1.30 p.m.), while Ferns meet Rathnure there on Sunday (12 p.m.).
Ferns were hurt when being off-cue with a handful of early frees. But James Kinsella certainly got his bearings right thereafter to deliver a sharpshooting display eclipsed only by the excellence of Cullen as Naomh Éanna won the District for the 13th time.
Kinsella did shoot Ferns in front from a free earned by Byron Jordan before Dwyer struck for the Gorey goal.
Ferns opted to play a two-man full-forward line, but this only fed into the Naomh Éanna defence having a significant say in how the first-half evolved.
And corner-back Tiernan Meyler certainly thrived in the extra space, with his long delivery finding Theo Doyle, who tipped the ball on for Dwyer to sweep home a ground shot (1-0 to 0-1).
The sides shared four points before Dwyer forced a superb save by Ferns goalie Anthony 'Scoby' Dwyer, a forward of some renown but entrusted to excel as the number one.
William Cullen (three frees) and James McGraynor struck Naomh Éanna clear by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time as James Kinsella kept Ferns in contention with his third from play and second free.
Ferns certainly were never out of the running for a rare outright success in this rarest of appearances by them in this final.
Naomh Éanna did regain a four-point lead four times during the second-half, but Ferns had it down to the minimum three minutes into added-time (1-12 to 0-14) as Kinsella sent over three frees, including a pair earned by Shane Breen.
Crucially Naomh Éanna seized upon the puck-out arising from Ferns' last score for Oisín Hobbs to earn a free from which Cullen reliably helped the defending champions over the line, and to re-focus upon making amends for last year's county final frustration by annexing outright glory for the first time since 2017.
Ferns St. Aidan's: Anthony Dwyer; John Kennedy (capt.), Brian O'Neill (Clone), George Warren; John Roche, Barry Murphy, Johnny Murphy; Pádraig Kinsella, Brian O'Neill (St. Aidan's); Lukas Kinsella, James Kinsella (0-14, 10 frees), Byron Jordan; Shane Breen, Andy Cash, William Kavanagh. Subs. - Barry O'Toole for Kavanagh (HT), Paul Lancaster for Warren, inj. (33), Kevin Stafford for J. Murphy (58), also Stephen Corrigan, Mylie Cash.
Naomh Éanna: Ciarán O'Brien; Brian Sunderland (capt.), Joseph Naughton, Tiernan Meyler; George Kavanagh, Shane Stokes, Mikey Dunne; Oisín Hobbs, Jack Molloy; James McGraynor (0-1), Mikey Cushe (0-1), Theo Doyle; William Cullen (0-11 frees), Paddy Dwyer (1-0), Ciarán Byrne. Subs. - Nathan Byrne for C. Byrne (HT), Peter Travers for Dwyer (36), Scott Murphy for Molloy (40), Angus Byrne for Cushe (52), Aaron Byrne for Doyle (55).
Referee: James Owens (Askamore).
September 28, County quarter-final: Rathnure 3-25, Ferns St. Aidans 3-5
The Blackstairs side were full of confidence ahead of a clash with Ferns St. Aidans in the Halo Tiles Centre of Excellence on Sunday but were given a stern test early on.
Indeed, with goals from Andy Cash, Lukas Kinsella and Barry O'Toole, Ferns held a 3-4 to 1-8 lead after 20 minutes.
Yet Rathnure finished the period on the front foot, as majors from Brendan O'Leary and Seán O'Neill ensured they led by 2-10 to 3-4 at the interval.
The second-half was a bit of a procession, with Rathnure winning the period by 1-15 to 0-1. Nigel Higgins added the third goal for his side as they motored to a 3-25 to 3-5 success.
