Cromane prove too strong for dogged Ballyphehane in Munster junior B decider

Having dug in resolutely against the wind in the first half the Mid Kerry side were in a very positive position at half-time

Adam O'Donoghue of Ballyphehane under pressure from Darragh McKeefry. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Munster JBFC final: Cromane 2-11 Ballyphehane 2-8

Kerry continued their dominance of the Munster junior ‘B’ football championship, lifting the title for the 14th time in its’ 20-year history, with Cromane proving just too strong for a dogged Ballyphehane in an entertaining decider at the Knockaderry GAA grounds.

Having dug in resolutely against the wind in the first half, with Jack McGrath cancelling out Alex Cummins’ goal at the other end, the Mid Kerry side were in a very positive position at half-time, only trailing by the bare minimum (1-5 to 1-4).

Just two minutes into the changeover came the contest’s critical moment, with Tony Duffy and Mikey Houlihan all involved in the build-up before Cromane captain Darragh McKeefry rocketed a stunning right-foot drive into the top corner of Luke Towler’s net.

With McKeefry (from play), and Darren Houlihan (with a magnificent 60 metre free), raising orange flags in an unanswered six-point burst, Cromane were seven to the good, 2-10 to 1-6, and seemingly home and dry entering the last ten minutes.

O’Neill, Duffy, midfielders Liam Walsh and Shane O’Neill, Houlihan, man-of-the-match McKeefry, and top scorer McGrath, had all been key figures in the turnaround but, to give due credit to the Cork city outfit, they refused to throw in the towel.

A melee breaks out during the contest. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Full-back Jamie Geasley was an absolute rock at the back, and with Danny Moore, Troy O’Sullivan, Ethon Varian, Aaron West and Adam O’Donoghue all influential figures, Ballyphehane got renewed hope when Cromane centre-back Brice Dourieu was sin-binned.

With Cummins creating their second goal for Varian two minutes into injury-time, and the deficit reduced to just two points, Cromane were teetering, but some great defending by the likes of Cian Lyons and Darren Houlihan allowed McGrath to loft over the insurance point at the death.

Scorers for Cromane: J McGrath 1-4 (0-3fs), D McKeefry 1-2 (1tp), D Houlihan 0-2 (tpf), J O’Connor, L O’Neill, T Duffy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballyphehane: A O’Donoghue 0-4 (1tp, 0-2fs), E Varian 1-1, A Cummins 1-0, C Murphy 0-2(fs), A West 0-1.

CROMANE: S Teahan; C Lyons, L O’Neill, E Healy; T Duffy, B Dourieu, E Griffin; L Walsh, S O’Neill; D Houlihan, M Houlihan, D McKeefry; J McGrath, J O’Connor, S Ahern.

Subs: D Shea for McGrath, inj (temp 52-57), Shea for Ahern (60), B Sugrue for Griffin (60+4).

BALLYPHEHANE: L Towler; D Holland, J Geasley, T Walsh; C O’Brien, D Moore, S Keating; T O’Sullivan, E Varian; J Thompson, A O’Donoghue, A West; C Murphy, A Cummins, B O’Leary.

Subs: R Wyse for Varian, inj (temp 12-14), Wyse for Keating (ht), J O’Brien for O’Brien (42), S Fielding for O’Leary (49), D Kiely for Thompson (55).

Referee: K Guina (Limerick).