Belville Gaels edge past Blackrock to claim Limerick U20 ‘B’ hurling title:
By Joel Slattery Limerick Leader Sport
BELVILLE Gaels held on after an intense finish to claim a 1-16 to 2-11 victory over Blackrock in the Limerick U20 ‘B’ hurling final, the last game of competitive hurling in the county for 2025.
The west Limerick amalgamation recorded a to point success in a hard fought decider.
Gaels, a combination of Feohanagh-Castlemahon and Feenagh-Kilmeedy, had Fionn Meehan and Ruairi O’Connor in fine form up front, keeping the scoreboard ticking despite wet and cold conditions.
It was a championship where amalgamations competed strongly with standalone clubs Newcastle West, Templeglantine and St Kieran’s all eliminated in the group stage.
However, Blackrock bucked this trend overcoming Ballybricken-Bohermore-Fedamore, Croom-Granagh-Ballingarry, and Glenquin Gaels (Killeedy, Monagea and Tournafulla) en route to this decider. However, this proved a step too far for the youngsters from Kilfinane and Ardpatrick.
A 20-minute delay to the scheduled start time didn’t hold the Rockies back – the impressive Shane Philpot opening the scoring after just 19 seconds.
Philpot did the bulk of the scoring for the south Limerick side – notching up an impressive 1-10 in the hour, his free-taking unerring in accuracy despite the late November conditions.
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It was an even opening with O’Connor, Meehan and Tomas Galvin all getting on the score-sheet in the first 10 minutes as the sides shared the first eight points of the afternoon.
As Gaels pushed ahead late in the half, they struck a crucial blow – Johnny Field netting the game’s first goal, finishing a move after a strong run from O’Connor.
However, just before the half-time interval, Philpot slotted home a penalty, after TJ Buckley was fouled close to goal. This, and a fine score from Sean Dwyer, meant there was just a point between the sides at the break.
Early second half scores from Meehan, Fields, and Galvin pushed this advantage to four, however, as Belville Gaels re-seized the initiative.
However, Blackrock did not give up.
A long-range Philpot free dropped short and Dwyer was quickest to react to net the Rockies’ second goal, levelling the game with 15 minutes to play.
With the title on the line, Gaels knocked over four of the next five points, a long rage effort from O’Connor the pick of the bunch.
This gave the west Limerick men a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as they ended the year with a deserved victory.
SCORERS: Belville Gaels: Fionn Meehan 0-7 (3 f, 2 ’65); Ruairi O’Connor 0-4; Johnny Field 1-1; Tomas Galvin, Patrick Cagney 0-2 each. Blackrock: Shane Phillpot 1-10 (1-0 pen, 8f, 1 ’65); Sean Dwyer 1-2 (1f)
BELVILLE GAELS: Sean Holmes; Eoin Roche, Ciarán Kenny, Gavin Fitzgibbon; Danny O’Doherty, Bobby Donegan, Oisín Carvill; Ben Murrihy, Patrick Cagney; Tomás Galvin, Ruairi O’Connor, Tomás Roche; Fionn Meshan, Johnny Field, Gary Donegan.
BLACKROCK: Evan Heffernan, Evan Lowe, James Philpot, Brian O’Leary; Jack Maloney, Blake O’Doherty, Conor Gilligan; Sean Flanagan, Niall Ryan; Jack Cronin, Shane Philpot, Sean Dywer; Jack Carroll, James English, TJ Buckley. Subs: Adrian Beqiri for James English (36 mins).
REFEREE: Liam Berkery (Ahane).