St Joseph’s National School, Ballybrown capture Limerick Leader Cup

St Joseph’s National School, Ballybrown have claimed the 2024 Limerick Leader Cup after a fantastic battle against Scoil Mocheallóg of Kilmallock in the final at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale during the week. St Joseph's ran out 2-4 to 0-4 winners in the end with a great display of hurling coming from both sides. 

The Ballybrown National School has a resounding 4-11 to 1-4 win over Monagea NS in their semi-final of the Leader Cup with Scoil Mocheallóg of Kilmallock beating the east champions Crecora National School 5-5 to 2-8 to claim their place in the 2024 final.

Captain for St Joseph's Harry Smith lead from the front for his side scoring 2-1 (0-1 free) throughout the final. It was his goal within the first few seconds of the game that set up Ballybrown nicely.

After the shock of the goal Kilmallock battled hard in the rucks keeping Ballybrown quiet for a large portion of time in the opening half, but struggled to turn their possession into scores. 

Ballybrown looked to have won the physical battle letting the sliothar into their full forward line on many occasions. Their shot selection wasn’t great putting 3/4 shots wide in the first-half. 

Both Harry Smith and Donnacha Woods worked well together for the Ballybrown NS with Smith hitting another shot into the back of the net in the last minute of the first-half keeping them in the lead at the break, Ballybrown 2-1 Kilmallock 0-3. 

Kilmallock got the first score of the second-half with a fabulous long range effort from Patrick Noonan. A disallowed goal for Kilmallock after seven minutes could have change the course of the game but Ballybrowns Donnacha Woods answered back with a point.

St Joseph's were the deserving winners of the Leader Cup, winning the title back for the first time since 2022. 

ST JOSEPH'S, BALLYBROWN SCORERS: Harry Smith 2-1 (0-1 free), Donnacha Woods 0-2, Gavin Mc Donnell 0-1 

SCOIL MOCHEALLÓG, KILMALLOCK SCORERS:  Patrick Noonan 0-3 (0-1 free), William Brandao 0-1, Pauric Connery 0-1

ST JOSEPH'S, BALLYBROWN: Sam Doolan, Fionn Conway, Conall Leenane, Alex Coughlan, Cormac Harty, Conor Foley, Darragh Coughlan, Gavin Mc Donnell, Micheál Nolan, Ryan Twomey, Harry Smith, Donnacha Woods, Gearoid Putt, Conor Kelly,  Conor MacNamara, Cathal Sheehan, Conor Kelly, Finn Walsh, Gearoid Putt, Thomas O’Donnell, Conor MacNamara, Ronan Behan, Tommy Blake, Harry Carroll, Alex Clancy, Billy Colelman, Tommy Hayes, Cathal Hennessy, Charlie Neri, Ronan O’Connell, Cian O’Donoghue, J.T. O’Mahony, Thomas Lyons, Dale Holland, Jayden Esol, Gearóid Healy, Kevin McCarthy, Conor Nolan, Adam O’Leary

SCOIL MOCHEALLÓG, KILMALLOCK: Rian Manning, Kyle Pearse, Ronan Halvey, Ryan Kearney Keogh, Ryan Pinto Carey, Dara Walsh, Benny Burke, Patrick Noonan, Gavin O Connell, Cal O Connor, Nathan Hannon, William Brandao, Danny Hedderman, Pauric Connery, Sean Dwyer, Aaron McInirey, Alfie Donegan, Subhan Amin, Nathan Hennessy, Josh Kasperski, James Frazer Moloney, Mark Meade, Wesley Brandao, William Brandao, Shane Murphy

CRECORA NATIONAL SCHOOL: Thomas Lynch (Capt), Conor Hickey, Will Shea, JC Mc Dermott, Lewis O’Mahony, Fionn Kennedy, Aidan Hartnett, Niall Mulqueen, Conor Browne, Shane Holmes, Fionn Darcy, Conor Keane, Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Connolly, Mark Travers, Ethan Murphy, Harry Griffin, Tadhg Madden, Ben Lyons, Lee Lyons, Milo Glynn, James O’ Kelly

MONAGEA NATIONAL SCHOOL: Luke Beirne, Adam Broderick, Alex Carroll, James Micheal Casey, Darragh Collins, Cian Cussen
Jamie Dowd, Dara Fitzgerald, Tommy Harnett, Tony Kenneally, Conor McAuliffe, Séan McEnery, Jason O'Connell, Ben O'Sullivan, Pearse O'Sullivan, Seán O'Sullivan, Aaron Phillips, Aaron Rowsome, Paddy O'Sullivan, Cian Whelan