GAA, Sport

REPORT/PHOTOS: Kerry Make It Five-In-A-Row Minor B All-Ireland Titles

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Mike O’Halloran witnessed the Kerry minor hurlers make history on Saturday in Semple Stadium,  Thurles by winning the All-Ireland Minor B Hurling title for the fifth time in a row… 

Kerry 4-17

Meath 3-11

Kerry minor hurlers Barry O'Mahony and Philip Maunsell No 4
Kerry minor hurlers Barry O’Mahony and Philip Maunsell in action. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Kilkenny could not manage to win five All Irelands in a row, but the Kerry Minor hurlers have done it.

They defeated Meath in an exciting encounter, that was in the balance until the last ten minutes. Semple Stadium Thurles, was the field of dreams for this team, who battled their way to five titles in a row.

It was a ding-dong battle from the start.  They were level 1-5 apiece midway through the first half, but Meath went ahead 1-7 to 1-5, just before half time.

Then Eric Leen goaled on the halftime whistle, to leave the score 2-6 to 1-8 at the break.

Continued below…

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Barry O’Mahony pointed on the resumption of play and Kerry were ahead at one stage 2-13 to 1-11 and looked to be cruising, only for Meath to strike back with a goal.

Kerry minor hurlers Philip Maunsell clears
Philip Maunsell clears during Saturday’s game. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Shane Conway replied immediately, but Meath were not done and they drew level 3-11 to 2-14, the goal coming from Will Flynn. Kerry responded by scoring two goals and three points in the last ten minutes, without reply.

The goals came from Padraigh O’Mahony and Geroid O’Mahony.

This a serious hurling outfit, full of beautiful hurling skills and steely determination. At least eleven of them will display their skills next Sunday in Austin Stack Park, when Crotta O’Neills take on Lixnaw, in the curtain raiser to the senior game.

This minor final should be a cracker, so get to Austin Stacks Park early to support these young hurlers.

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The Kerry match day squad. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Kerry scorers: S Conway (1-8), E Leen (1-2) P O’Mahony (1-2), B O’Mahony (0-3), C Sheehy (0-2) Gearoid O’Mahony (1-0)

Kerry minor hurlers Shane Conway Captain
Shane Conway accepts the trophy. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Kerry: Adam O’Sullivan, Bryan McAuliffe, Liam Mullins, Philip Maunsell, Evan Murphy, Conor O’Keeffe, Gearoid Fennessy (Gearoid O’Mahony) Tomas O’Connor, Eric Leen (Conor Galwey), Colin Sheehy (Thomas Quinlan), Barry O’Mahony, Niall O’Mahony, Maurice O’Connor (Micheal McCarthy), Shane Conway, Padraigh O’Mahony (Darragh Goulding

Kerry minor hurlers Lixnaw supporters
Lixnaw people at the game on Saturday. Photo by Mike O’Halloran