U-14B title for stronger Ballyea

Ballyea 1-11
Inagh-Kilnamona  1-5

Ballyea were crowned U-14 B hurling champions at Cusack Park on Tuesday evening when they overcame Inagh-Kilnamona in the final.

Ronan Barry and Pearse Lillis gave the winners the upperhand at midfield and this proved decisive. They were the stronger side physically and this ensured dominance in vital areas.
They laid the foundations for victory in the opening half when they played with the aid of the wind and managed to be nine points clear going into the break, when the score was 1-7 to 0-1.
Corner-forward Cathal Breen was the goalscorer for the winners while midfielder Lillis added three points.
The winners’ lead at the midway point would have been greater but for the work of the Inagh-Kilnamona defence and particularly Jason McCarthy, who excelled.
The centre-back and captain was outstanding throughout the game and managed to contribute all of his side’s points.
With the aid of the breeze in the second half they fought hard in an effort to get back in contention. Substitute Aidan McCarthy scored their goal but their forwards failed to break down the strong Ballyea defence. Shortly after their goal, they had the ball in the net again but this was disallowed for a square infringement.

Ballyea: Oisín Hennessy; Roy Griffin, Robert Neylon, Ryan Jennings; Dean Minogue, Cillian Brennan, Mark C Rowe; Ronan Barry, Pearse Lillis; Conor Lynch, Gary Stephens, Malachy Lynch (captain); Cathal Breen, Rory McMahon, Mark Gavin.
Scorers: Ronan Barry (0-4); Cathal Breen (1-0); Pearse Lillis (0-3); Mark Gavin (0-2); Malachy Lynch (0-1) and Gary Stephens (0-1).
Subs: Daniel Cleary, Sean McInerney, Sean Meaney, Liam Naughton, Eric Griffin, Eoghan Corey, Peter Casey and Mike McCarthy.

Inagh-Kilnamona: Joseph Marrinan; Cian McInerney, Austin Kerin, David Mescall; Eoin Leyden, Jason McCarthy (capt) Caimin Clancy; Keith White, Dylan McGeer; Eoin Fitzgerald, Stephen Foudy, Eamonn Foudy; Ian Kerin, Darren Cullinan, Matthew Davenport.
Scorers: Jason McCarthy (0-5) and Aidan McCarthy (1-0).
Subs: Michael McCreamor, Colin Shannon, Thomas Hehir, Pádraig Keane, James O’Connor, Cian Shannon, Aidan McCarthy, Brian Mullins, Mark Barry, Barry Devitt, Evan Howley, Daniel Curtin, Gary Hyer.