Action from the game. Photo: Steve BakerMike O’Halloran reports on the Under 21 County Hurling Championship Final at Austin Stack Park on Saturday night…
The Kerry Under 21 Hurling Champions are St. Brendan’s Hurling Club after overcoming a huge challenge from a young Ballyheigue GAA on a score line of St Brendan’s 2-16 Ballyheigue 1-13.
Ballyheigue started the game very well and it looked like they might upset the red hot favourites when they raced into a four point lead with points from Felim O’Sullivan, Matthew O’Sullivan and Padraig Kenny.
On five minutes, Tuan Shorten brought off a great save. The next three points were for St Brendan’s, one from the my man of the match Gary O’Riordan and one each from Eoin Flaherty and Tiernan O’Sullivan.
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Tiernan went for goal but Tuan Shorten deflected the ball over the bar another brilliant save.
Donacha Horgan had a point for Ballyheigue before Billy Doyle and Fionan Egan had points for St Brendan’s to draw them level.
Photo by Steve Baker.Ballyheigue had three unanswered points before Egan pointed a free. Felim O’Sullivan replied with a point, Fionan Egan hit a shot low across the keeper, the ball hit the post and ended up in the net to level matters 1-06 to -09 on 23 minutes. Ballyheigue led at halftime 0-11 to 1-07.
St Brendan’s had the first three points of the second half one a pointed free from down town by Liam Og O’Connor.
Felim O’Sullivan pointed for Ballyheigue, but Fionan Egan had his second goal when he latched on to another great save from Tuan Shorten.
Photo by Steve Baker.By the 55th minute, St Brendan’s led 2-15 to 0-13, Ballyheigue did get a goal late on when a long ball from Felim O’Sullivan was touched into the net. Eoin Flaherty had the final score of the game.
A gallant effort from a very young Ballyheigue team but they were up against a more seasoned St Brendan’s outfit.
