Mooncoin 1-21; Young Irelands 1-14.
John Power at UPMC Nowlan Park
Mooncoin made amends for their disappointment in the 2025 Junior D County Final when they emerged victorious in this year’s decider against Young Irelands of Gowran at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday last. In a keenly contested final, which remained in the balance for the majority of the evening, Mooncoin produced a strong finish to eventually secure a seven-point victory and bring the Junior D county title back to the Suir side club.
There was a sense of unfinished business for Mooncoin following their defeat in last year’s county final, and they showed great character to ensure there would be no repeat this time around. Young Irelands, meanwhile, had plenty of reason for confidence. They had won the D championship in 2024 before claiming the E title in 2025, and their progression through the grades continued with their appearance in this year’s final. However, the latest step up proved just a little too demanding.
Young Irelands could hardly have wished for a better start and took the lead with a second-minute goal from David Holland. Mooncoin responded positively and quickly settled into their rhythm, with Billy Delahunty, Ethan Ryan and JP Purcell all finding the target as the sides were level by the seventh minute.
From there, the opening half developed into a fascinating contest, with neither side able to establish any real dominance. The teams were level on six occasions during the first half, with both defences being tested and both sets of forwards showing an ability to punish any lapses.
Moon coin enjoyed periods of pressure, but Young Irelands were equally determined and continued to find scores when opportunities arose. As half-time approached, there was little to separate the sides, and the Gowran outfit eventually took a slender advantage into the interval. The half-time score read Young Irelands 1-9, Moon coin 0-11, leaving the destination of the title very much undecided.
Moon coin made an excellent start to the second half, with two Ethan Ryan frees putting the Suirsiders in front for the first time. Young Irelands refused to panic, however, and Ciaran Byrne soon restored parity with a well-taken point. Ryan added another free for Mooncoin, before Paul Kinsella responded for Young Irelands. The tension was evident as the sides continued to trade scores and, as the final quarter approached, they remained locked together at 1-11 to 0-14.
It was at this stage that Mooncoin began to gain the upper hand. Four of the next five points went to the Suirsiders, with Kieran Fagan, Ethan Ryan, who contributed two, and Mikey Ryan all finding the target. Paul Kehoe’s free was Young Irelands’ only response during this spell, leaving Mooncoin three points clear at 0-18 to 1-12.
Kehoe kept the Gowran side in touch with another free in the 55th minute, but the next four minutes proved decisive.
Ethan Ryan and Mikey Ryan both added important points for Mooncoin before the game’s crucial moment arrived. Mooncoin were awarded a penalty, and Ethan Ryan showed his composure to dispatch the ball to the Young Irelands net.
That goal effectively put the result beyond doubt and gave Mooncoin the breathing space they had been searching for throughout the contest. Both sides added a point before the final whistle, but Mooncoin had done enough and celebrated a thoroughly deserved seven-point victory. Their younger team showed impressive composure during the closing stages, particularly when the pressure was at its greatest. Young Irelands deserve great credit for their performance and for remaining competitive for so long, but Mooncoin’s stronger finish ultimately proved decisive.
After the disappointment of 2025, Mooncoin can now celebrate county final success, while Young Irelands can look back with pride on another significant step in the club’s progression through the grades.
SCORERS
MOONCOIN: Ethan Ryan (1-11, 0-9 frees, 1-0 pen), Billy Delahunty (0-3), Stephen Brennan (0-3), Mikey Ryan (0-2), JP Purcell, Kieran Fagan (0-1 each).
YOUNG IRELANDS: Paul Kehoe (0-5, 0-4 frees), David Holland (1-2), Ciaran Byrne (0-2), Johnny Dunphy (0-2), Tommy Carroll, Paul Kinsella, Eoin Phelan (0-1 each).
TEAMS
MOONCOIN
Niall O’Hanlon, Zack Power, Niall Blanchfield, Lee Freyne, Jackie Ryan, Darragh Murphy, Eoin McGrath, Robbie Finn, Kieran Fagan (C), Mikey Ryan, Ethan Ryan, Stephen Brennan, JP Purcell, Billy Delahunty, Danny Purcell. Substitutes, Ciaran Dillon for JP Purcell, Patrick Kinsella for Danny Purcell, Ray Wall for Billy Delahunty
YOUNG IRELANDS
Peter Hutchinson, Martin Carter (C) Thomas Drennan, Michael Lennon, Eoin O’Neill, Cathal Darcy, Jack Kennedy Byrne, Paul Kinsella, Tim Brennan, David Holland, Tommy Carroll, Paul Kehoe, Chris Nolan, Johnny Dunphy, Ciaran Byrne. Substitutes, Ben Drennan for Chris Nolan, Philip Middleton for Johnny Dunphy, Eoin Phelan for Tommy Carroll.
Referee: Jack Miller (Piltown).
