Junior Hurling Championship  (B)   Final

Sat. Oct. 18th 2025

Blackrock 2 – 10 V 1 – 12 Brian Dillons @ Ballinlough

Report: Roger Ryan

Our Junior B Hurlers completed the second leg of the double at rain-soaked Ballinlough on Saturday when they defeated Brian Dillons in the final of the Junior B Championship. On June 29th they defeated Ballyphehane in the final of the League on a score of Rockies 5 – 10 to 2 – 16 for Ballyphehane. And so, after a long absence, the Junior Hurling Championship title has returned to The Rockies. The weather conditions were far from ideal for a hurling game but both teams coped admirably and served an exciting game before a large crowd.

Playing a starring role at centre-back Andrew Murphy got us off to an early start with a mighty long-range point. When Brian Dillons levelled with a point, Riain O'Riordán, Brian O'Leary and Emmett Sheehan replied with a point each to push us ahead by 3 points, 0 – 04 to 0 – 01. Dillons second point was quickly followed by another long-range point from Andrew Murphy to restore our 3 point advantage. Brian O'Leary then extended that lead to 4 points. Brian Dillons closed out the first half with 3 unanswered points to leave just the minimum between us as the Ref blew for half-time with the score at 0 – 06 to 0 – 05.

In the second half Dillons converted a 65 to draw level before Alex Geary cut through for a point. Brian O'Leary put us 2 ahead and Alex Geary crashed home our first goal to extend our lead to 5 points, 1 – 08 to 0 – 06. Dillons with 2 points on the trot reduced the lead to 3 points before Riain Ó Riordáin sent over a 65 for a great point to put us ahead by 4 again. 

Dillons replied with 3 points before Alex Geary was once more on target with a point. The score now stood at Rockies 1 – 10, Brian Dillons 0 – 11. Dillons reduced our lead to the minimum with the next point and surged ahead with a goal to lead by 2 points with full time approaching. Our next score, a goal, was disallowed, but undeterred, our boys surged forward like a tidal wave that swept all before it and ended with Alex Geary rattling the Dillons net to push us ahead once more, 2 – 10 to 1 – 12. The excitement had reached fever pitch at this stage and we had been advised that if it ended in a draw it would go to a replay. We were now in injury time and when Dillons pressed for the equaliser, we were awarded a free out and the Ref blew full-time leaving us winners by a single point much to the delight of all concerned. This was an outstanding performance in difficult conditions and just reward for a team that put in some sterling performances throughout the championship. 

Scorers: Alex Geary 1 – 02, Ronan Lydon 1 – 00. Brian O'Leary 0 – 03(3f), Andrew Murphy 0 – 02, Riain Ó Riordáin 0 - 02(65s), Emmett Sheehan 0 – 01.

Team; Brian Ahern, Conor Long, Joe Golden, Peter Ó Mullane, Aenghus Ó Drisceoil C, Andrew Murphy, Riain Ó Riordain, Rory Harrington, Emmett Sheehan, Conor Sweeney, Rory O Shaughnessy, Lorcan De Búrca, Ronan Lydon, Barry Grainger, Brian Ó Leary

Subs Used; Alex Geary, Oscar Mc Carthy, Adam O'Callaghan, Hugh Espey.

Referee; Canice Walsh, Nemo Rangers.