J.H.L.-3 Final   

June 29th, 2025

Blackrock 5 – 10 V 2 – 16 Ballyphehane @ Ballinlough 

Report By Roger Ryan:

In a high scoring game at Ballinlough on Sunday morning our Junior 3 team emerged victorious by 3 points in the final of the AOS Junior Hurling League.

The final score of Rockies 5 – 10 to Ballyphehane's 2 – 16 bears out the fact that goals win games. Our ability to score goals as against their accuracy from placed balls (they scored 0 – 09 from frees, 0 – 01frum a 65 and 1 – 00 from a penalty) was a main factor in our great win.

Ballyphehane got off to a dream start and had registered 1 – 03 before Darragh Murphy rattled the net with a goal from a close in free. This score certainly brought us back into the game and from there until the 29th minute it was nip and tuck all the way with us in the lead by no more than 2 points until Kyle Leahy diverted a free by Darragh Browne to the net for a goal on the stroke of half time. This was Kyle's second goal as he had already scored another goal on the 20 minute mark. Our scorers in this half were, Kyle Leahy 2 – 00, Darragh Murphy 1 – 01, Barry Grainger 0 – 02, Denis Moran 0 – 01. Ballyphehane replied with 1 – 05.

We turned to play with the wind in the second half with a cushion of a 5 points lead and after an exchange of points Eoin Browne tacked on our 4th goal to put us ahead by 7 points, 4 – 05 to 1 – 07. Ballyphehane with the next 3 points reduced our lead to 3. Kyle Leahy pushed us up to 4 with a point and then when we needed those insurance scores up stepped our goalie David O'Shea to convert a mighty free for an outstanding score. We wre now 5 ahead 4 – 07 to 1 – 11 but Ballyphehane replied with 2 points before David repeated his earlier feat with another long-range free. The score now stood at 4 – 08 to 1 – 13 and when Ballyphehane scored a point David once again sent over a mighty free to give us a 4 point lead, 4 – 09 to 1 – 14. Ballyphehane converted a 65 much to the delight of their followers but their joy was short-lived as Ronan Lyden rattled the net for our 5th goal. Our 6 points lead looked good as the Ref declared 4 minutes of injury time to be played but when scored from a free disaster struck as they were awarded a penalty. Their goalie stepped and duly dispatched the sliothar to the back of the net to reduce our lead to a dangerous 2 points, 5 – 09 to 2 – 16. With Ballyphehane pressing for that vital score we were awarded a free out and up stepped David O'Shea and duly obliged with a magnificent point to increase our lead to a reasonably safe 3 points, 5 – 10 to 2 – 16. 

This proved to be the final score much to the delight of players, mentors and supporters alike. Well done to our 5th team. Let's hope this is the forerunner of more victories to come for our club this year. 

Scorers in the second half were, David O'Shea 0 – 04, Eoin Browne 1 – 00, Ronan Lyden 1 – 00, Kyle Leahy 0 – 01, Scott O'Sullivan 0 – 01.

Total Scorers: Kyle Leahy 2 – 01, Darragh Murphy 1 – 01(F), David O'Shea 0 – 04(04f), Eoin Browne 1 – 00, Ronan Lyden 1 – 00, Barry Grainger 0 – 02, Denis Moran 0 – 01, Scott O'Sullivan 0 – 01.

Team; David O'Shea, Cormac Casey, Conor Long, Sean Cormack(C), Scott O'Sullivan, Cian Coughlan, Kevin Morgan, Lorcán De Búrca, Hugh Espey, Conor Sweeney, Barry Grainger, Eoin Browne, Denis Moran, Darragh Murphy, Tadhg Leahy.

Subs Used: Rory Harrington, Ronan Lyden, Darren Griffin, Peter Mullane, Darragh Hayes.

Referee: John Horgan.