Brian Kennedy outstanding as St Lachtain’s take title home
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship Final
St Lachtain’s 1-18 Russell Rovers 0-16
Croke Park, Referee: Peter Owens (An Dún)
St Lachtain’s, Freshford, Kilkenny, AIB All-Ireland Club Junior Hurling Champions 2024! That has a lovely ring to it and I’d imagine that the last few days have been thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in the Parish. Steven Farrell and his backroom team masterminded his side’s resurgence over the last couple of seasons, and both management and players got their just rewards in Croke Park, last Sunday when they emerged deserved 5-point winners over Russell Rovers.
Shane Donnelly’s brilliantly taken goal in the 22nd minute gave his side, both the breathing space and the platform to quell the Cork team’s challenge in the Capital and deliver the 12th title at this grade for Kilkenny clubs. St Lachtain’s showed the greater desire and hunger, especially after the interval and had impressive performances all over the pitch, but Brian Kennedy, Alexander Rafter and Darren Brennan deserve notable mentions.
The Leesiders got the scoreboard moving in the opening minute, when referee Peter Owens set his stall out early on and awarded Rovers a free, when Simon Rafter was adjudged to have over-carried. Josh Beausang duly converted the chance and notched what would be the first of his eight-point haul at the Jones’ Road venue. Freshford looked nervous and had struck three wide’s, before Alexander Rafter fired over a fine score in the fifth minute to get the Leinster champions up and running. Dave Dorgan’s outfit regained the lead shortly after, when that man Beausang tagged on a second placed ball, before some direct play involving Darren Brennan and Paddy Killeen saw the ball moved to midfielder, Brendan Quinn who split the posts from distance to tie things up again.
Josh Beausang added another placed ball to his tally only to see Liam Hickey then strike over a booming effort from halfway after some good work from Paddy Killeen and Cathal Hickey. Killeen who had been covering plenty of ground in the first quarter then hit a cracking point, tight to the sideline, having taken a pass from hard working midfielder Brendan Quinn. St Lachtain’s then got a little fortunate when Down whistler Owens flashed a card of the colour yellow at Brian Kennedy, when the Cork contingent were baying for black, after the influential centre back pulled down the advancing Brian Hartnett. Cathal O’Leary became the latest beneficiary of Paddy Killeen’s work when he sent over a classy point to edge the Noresiders two points ahead after 21 minutes at headquarters.
Then came one of the most crucial scores of the final. Brian Kennedy sent a searching ball into the heart of the Russell Rovers defence. Liam Hickey rose with his marker, and had the presence of mind to flick the ball in the direction of the on running Shane Donnelly who then shortened his grip before blasting the sliotar past Ross Walsh in the opposition goal to increase the Marble City men’s lead to five points. Rovers’ response to the Freshford major was to reel off the next three points, with efforts from captain Ciaran Sheehan, Josh Beausang and a lovely one from defender, James Kennefick to reduce the Freshford lead to just two points. Farrell’s charges closed out the opening period strongly, with two fine scores from Mark Donnelly and the experienced James Maher. The men from the Rebel County registered the final score of the first half a sweet point from Fintan Murray to leave the Kilkenny champions three points up at the interval.
The second half started brightly for both sides, Brian Kennedy firing over from the middle of the park while Josh Beausang converted a ‘65 after St Lachtain’s captain Criomthann Bergin managed to get is hurl on the end of Luke Duggan Murray ‘s goal bound shot. Jack McGrath then raised a white flag, after good work from Sheehan and Hartnett before the lively Alexander Rafter split the Rovers posts with a fine effort under the Cusack Stand. A rare misplaced pass from James Maher was punished by Kevin Moynihan from about ‘65 out as the Freshford lead was back to two points. The Noresiders then gained some control in the game and were rewarded on the scoreboard with a few good scores, the pick of the bunch, a stunning point from Stephen Donnelly, off his left side close to the sideline, unreal. Talking of sidelines, Liam Hickey showed his skill with a sublime cut, again, unreal.
A key moment in the second period followed. Russell Rovers, now 6-points down were searching for a major of their own. As an attack developed, Brian Hartnett wriggled clear of the St Lachtain’s defence and despite losing his hurl, improvised wonderfully by trying to kick the sliotar passed Darren Brennan, who saved superbly to deny ‘Bud’. Like good teams do, Freshford went straight down the pitch and James Maher pointed to turn the screw a little more on their Cork opponents. From the next attack the same player almost goaled, but was denied by an alert Ross Walsh. It had been more than ten minutes since the Dónal Óg Cusack trained side had scored and Mark O’Dwyer ended this baron spell for the Munster men to reduce the deficit to six again.
A Josh Beausang free was cancelled out by another top effort from Alexander Rafter while Cathal Hickey sent over a lovely point from out on the left having been set up by Cathal O’Leary. Steven Farrell then made a double change with Darragh Maher and John Fitzpatrick replacing Cathal O’Leary and James Maher with about seven minutes remaining in the decider. Luke Duggan Murray who had a mixed bag with his shooting, then sent over a brace of identical scores to leave St Lachtain’s lead at 5-points. The tight-marking Shane Dawson was then shown a yellow for a strong challenge and Josh Beausang converted the resulting free. Another placed ball followed for Rovers top scorer. Two minutes of additional time were announced, Freshford held a 3-point lead. Possession was crucial and Cathal Hickey’s desire to pressurise Luke Duggan Murray forced the Rovers man into the mistake which saw Darragh Maher collect the ball before creating the space to rifle over from distance. It was now a two-score game. As a ruck developed, Cathal Hickey emerged from the pack and drove out of defence, but was halted illegally by the Russell Rovers players. Free to St Lachtain’s, step forward netminder Darren Brennan. The county panelist composed himself before splitting his opposite number’s posts from deep inside his own half. Brennan smiled and retreated to his zone. Peter Owens then sounded the long whistle. Five-point winners on a scoreline of 1-18 to 0-16. One more time… St Lachtain’s, Freshford, Kilkenny, AIB All-Ireland Club Junior Hurling Champions 2024!
Scorers St Lachtain’s: S Donnelly (1-1), L Hickey (0-1 free, 0-1 sl) and A Rafter (0-3 each), C Hickey and J Maher (0-2 each), B Kennedy, B Quinn, M Donnelly, P Killeen, D Brennan (free), D Maher and C O’Leary (0-1 each).
Scorers Russell Rovers: J Beausang (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), L Duggan Murray (0-2), J Kennefick, F Murray, K Moynihan, C Sheehan, J McGrath and M O’Dwyer (0-1 each).
ST LACHTAIN’S: D Brennan; S Rafter, C Bergin (Capt), S Dawson; P Donnelly, B Kennedy, C Hickey; B Quinn, M Donnelly; A Rafter, P Killeen, C O’Leary; S Donnelly, J Maher, L Hickey.
Subs: D Maher for C O’Leary (51), J Fitzpatrick for J Maher (52), C Dawson for S Donnelly (57), J Bergin for A Rafter (62).
RUSSELL ROVERS: R Walsh; E O’Sullivan, P Cummins, K Tattan; F Murray, P Lane, J Kennefick; K Walsh, R Cummins; L Duggan Murray, K Moynihan, D Ruddy; B Hartnett, C Sheehan (Capt), J Beausang.
Subs: M O’Dwyer for P Lane (28), J McGrath for D Ruddy (half-time), K O’Brien for K Moynihan (57).
Referee: Peter Owens (Down)
