REPORT/PHOTOS: Causeway/Ballyduff Prevail At U21 County Final

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Mike O’Halloran watched a great game at the  Acorn Life U21 Hurling Championship in Lerrig on Saturday…

Causeway/Ballyduff 2-17

Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue 3-8

The final of The Acorn Life U21 Hurling Championship resulted in a win for the Causeway/Ballyduff outfit when they overcame Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue in Lerrig on Sunday.

This was a great competitive game of hurling played in great spirit inside the white lines.

Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue had the perfect start as within a minute they were a goal up from the stick of Thomas Casey. Three minutes later, he had stuck another.  In between those scores Brandon Barrett stroked over a point for Causeway/Ballyduff.

Continued below…

Causeway Ballyduff U21 Champs

The Causeway Ballyduff team who were crowned U21 Champs yesterday. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

A point from Tommy Casey and three beautiful points from Paul McGrath made it 0-5 to 2-0 before Jack Goulding drew Causeway/Ballyduff level on nine minutes.

Two minutes later Sean Leahy eased over a beauty to put Causeway/Ballyduff in the lead, a lead they held to the end. That lead was extended by Paul McGrath when he goaled on eleven minutes.

McGrath added a further goal and three points before the end of the first half. Daniel Carroll who was having a fine game around the middle winning a lot of possession also put the ball between the posts.

Paul McGrath

Paul McGrath about to take a free. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Philip Lucid had two points for Abbbeydorney/Ballyheigue and Paudie Carroll had one, to leave the halftime score Causeway/Ballyduff 2-11 Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue 2-3.

Causeway/Ballyduff had played with a strong wind in the first half and were in charge in most quarters. They were more skilful and were managing the ball  to the scoring area much better than Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue.

I felt at halftime that the seven point lead was going to be enough and so it was.

Even against the wind, Causeway/Ballyduff had the first two scores from Paul McGrath before Philip Lucid added three in a row for Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue.

Those three points and one from Micheal O’Leary was Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue’s best period in the game and it was game on. A revival was on the cards, especially when Philip Lucid drove a penalty to the net to leave the score on 39 minutes, Causeway/Ballyduff 2-14 Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue 3-7.

Philip Lucids penalty

Philip Lucid about to drive his penalty to the net. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Paul McGrath added two further points and Sean Leahy one, Michael O’Leary also added one for Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue but it was not enough to prevent Causeway/Ballyduff grabbing the trophy.

This was a very impressive win for Causeway/Ballyduff who lined out without Keith Carmody the Christy Ring award winner. Apparently his trophy was not allowed travel with him from Dublin it is reported.

I am not sure if I am giving the winners their proper title – as on the programme the team is named as An Tochar – but it did include five Ballyduff starters Jack and David Goulding, Daniel Carroll, Cathal Kearney with Eoin Ross replacing Mike Lynch from the start.

Causeway/Ballyduff Team

Stephen Murphy, Billy Lyons, Cathal Kearney, David Goulding, Jack Goulding (1pt), Jason Diggins, Eoin Ross, Tommy Casey (1pt), Darren Leahy, Daniel Carroll (1pt), Jamie McGrath, Brandon Barrett, Paul McGrath (2gls 12 pts) Sean Leahy, (2 pts), Joseph Diggins.

Abbeydorney/Ballyheigue Team

Brendan Dunne, Colm McCarthy, Steven Egan, Owen Lucid, Alex O Mahony, Brendan O Leary Cpt, Ronan O’Donovan, Stevie O Sullivan, Paudie Carroll (1 pt), Michael Leane, Michael O Leary (2pts), Philip Lucid (1gl 5 pts), Adrian Flahive, Thomas Casey (2gls) Conor Galwey (David Egan)

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