ABK Desmonds edge past Granagh Ballingarry Croom in Limerick u20 B hurling final

ABK DESMONDS were crowned U20 B Champions when they defeated Granagh Ballingarry Croom 1-18 to 2-14 on Saturday afternoon in Sean Finn Park, Rathkeale. 

Both sides were unbeaten coming into Saturday's clash. Granagh Ballingarry Croom and ABK Desmonds deserve huge credit for the spectacle they produced in testing conditions. 

Tadgh O'Brien put ABK Desmonds into the lead after 30 seconds. Granagh Ballingarry Croom responded with a goal of their own when midfielder Paudie Murphy slotted the sliotar into the back of the net. 

ABK Desmonds had the game level after eight minutes when Oisin O'Farrell hit two points in-a-row. O'Farrell has recently been called into the Limerick senior hurling squad. 

Jack Daly and Oisin O'Farrell traded frees after that to have the sides level for the second time. Daly was on target with his second point of the day to push Granagh Ballingarry Croom 1-2 to 0-4 ahead. ABK Desmonds then had their own bit of fortune when Oisin O'Farrell's effort for a point ended up in the back of the net. 

In the next 14 minutes the victors outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-2. Granagh Ballingarry were awarded a lifeline on 29 minutes when Paudie Murphy played the sliotar across to Jack McNamara. McNamara made no mistake from close range.

Finn O'Gorman responded and ABK Desmonds led 2-4 to 1-11. Granagh Ballingarry Croom had the advantage of the strong breeze in the second half. 

Daly and O'Farrell swapped scores in the early stages of the second half. Granagh Ballingarry Croom Jack Daly stepped up with two huge scores and Seamus Murphy's charges trailed 2-7 to 1-12. 

Daly adeed two more frees and the sides were now dealocked 2-10 to 1-13. ABK Desmonds sharpshooter Oisin O'Farrell was to the forefront and the Limerick u20 star chipped in with two points in-a-row to push his club back in front. 

Jack Daly was proving crucial from the placed ball and Daly reduced the gap to the minimium on 56 minutes. It was anyone's game but ABK Desmonds hung on in the end to secure a narrow one point victory. 

SCORERS:

ABK DESMONDS: Oisin O'Farrell (1-9, 0-7frees), Tadgh O'Brien 0-5, Matthew Keaveney 0-2, Finn Gorman and Jamie Dolan 0-1 each

GRANAGH BALLINGARRY CROOM: Jack Daly (0-14, 0-11 frees, 0-1 65), Paudie Murphy and Jack McNamara 1-0 each

ABK DESMONDS: Cathal Guerin; John Fitzsimmons, Cathal Moran, Adam O'Sullivan; Conor McNamara, Colm O'Connell, Evan Costelloe; Matthew Keaveney, Callum Ryan; Mike O'Sullivan, Oisin O'Farrell, Jack Ward; Finn O'Gorman, Tadgh O'Brien, Jamie Dolan. 

GRANAGH BALLINGARRY CROOM: Kyle Hayes; Shane O'Brien, Brian Sheehy, Paudie McKenna, Kieran O'Kelly, Mark O'Shea, Luke Murphy; Paudie Murphy, Jack Daly; Darragh Enright, Eoin Horgan, Eoin Lynch; Tom Horgan, Jack McNamara, Jack Mulqueen.

REFEREE: Michael Browne (Dromcollogher Broaford).