J.H. Mac Curtain Cup Final

Sun. July 12th. 2026

Blackrock 3 – 15 V Na Piarsaigh 2 – 23.  @ Ballinlough

Report By Roger Ryan:

Our J.A. Hurlers failed in their bid to wrest the MacCurtain Cup trophy from the holders Na Piarsaigh at sun-drenched Ballinlough on Sunday morning before a large crowd of supporters. The final score was Rockies 3 – 15, Na Piarsaigh 2 – 23, giving them a winning margin of 5 points. This was anyone's game right up to the final quarter when Na Piarsaigh hit back with a vengeance and we went from leading by 2 points 3 – 13 to 1 – 17, to eventually losing by 5 points. Following our fine win over Glen Rovers in the semi-final, we had great wins of pulling this one off but despite the best efforts of our boys, it wasn't to be.

The opening score of a pointed free by Eoin Coughlan was quickly followed by a cracking goal from Fionn O'Keeffe who also tacked on a point to put us ahead 1 – 02 to 0 – 0. Na Piarsaigh's opening point was then answered with another goal by Rowan Moran to push us ahead by 7 points 2 – 02 to 0 01. Na Piarsaigh hit back with a goal and a point to leave just 3 between us but this was quickly pushed back up to 5 when Eoin Coughlan and Lee O'Sullivan tacked on a point each to push us ahead on double scores 2 – 04 to 1 – 02.

Na Piarsaigh with 2 reduced our lead to 3, Eoin O'Farrell pushed it back to 4 and Na Piarsaigh with the next 2 brought our lead back to 2 points with the break approaching. Kevin Long scored a point but Na Piarsaigh replied with a final point to leave us leading by just 2 points at the break, 2 – 06 to 1 – 07.

Na Piarsaigh opened the second half with a point to bring our lead back to the minimum and when Michael Quill put us ahead by 2 Na Piarsaigh countered with 3 on the trot to lead for the first tome by a point, 2 – 07 to 1 – 11. Shane O'Shaughnessy soon had us back to parity but Na Piarsaigh forged ahead with the next three scores on the trot, 2 – 08 to 1 – 14.

Eoin Coughlan with 2 points followed by 1 point by Michael Quill had things level once again 2 – 11 to 1 – 14. Na Piarsaigh pushed ahead by a point but this was quickly followed by a similar score by Eoin Coughlan and it was all square again2 – 12 to 1 – 15. Na Piarsaigh's next point was countered bu a point fro Fionn O'Keeffe and when Na Piarsaigh went one up Eoin Coughlan soon had us back on level terms again. Na Piarsaigh enjoyed a brief lead of a point before Eoin Coughlan burst through for our third goal to put us in the lead again by 2 points, 3 – 13 to 1 – 17. Na Piarsaigh seemed to get their second wind at this stage and with 1 goal and 3 points, forged ahead by 4 points, 3 – 013 to 2 – 20. Eoin Coughlan brought it back to 3, but Na Piarsaigh replied with the next 2 points. Michael Quill had the final point for us but Na Piarsaigh closed out the game with the final point to emerge winners by 5 points after an energy sapping and exciting game of hurling with the result in doubt up to the final quarter

Scorers: Eoin Coughlan 1 – 06(03f), Fionn O'Keeffe 1 – 02, Rowan Moran 1 – 00, Michael Quill 0 – 03, Lee O'Sullivan 0 – 01, Eoin O'Farrell 0 – 01, Kevin Long 0 – 01, Shane O'Shaughnessy 0 – 01.

Team; Paul O'Brien, Richie Laide, Eoin Smith, Dylan Norberg, Lee O'Sullivan, Gary Norberg, Cian Coughlan, Kevin Long, Eoin O'Farrell, Eoin Coughlan, Riain O'Riordan, Michael Quill (C)< Fionn O'Keeffe, Dean Mc Carthy, Rowan Moran.

Subs Used: Shane O'Shaughnessy. Adam Browne.

Referee: Cormac Dineen, Douglas.