Castletown-Ballyagran ease past Templeglantine to claim Limerick Junior 'A' hurling crown

CASTLETOWN-BALLYAGRAN are Limerick Junior 'A' hurling champions for 2025 after a comprehensive 3-14 to 0-9 victory over Templeglantine on a rain-swept Saturday evening in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

Cian McNamara opened the scoring inside the first minute with a brilliant solo effort before Mark Riordan doubled his side's lead from a free after four minutes of action.

Colin Bresnehan then pointed after some sharp, off the shoulder running from Castletown-Ballyagran, before Mark McCarthy fired over a free to settle Templeglantine into the contest after six minutes.

Riordan then struck on the double as Templeglantine struggled to get clean possession from their own puck-out. McCarthy struck another placed ball for Templegantine who were in desperate need of some scoring momentum having elected to play with the breeze in the opening half.

After a copious amount of missed chances, Castletown-Ballyagran finally found the target again through McNamara before John Dillon slotted over from an acute angle.

As conditions began to deteriorate, the game became prone to errors on both sides with a pair of McCarthy frees cutting the deficit to three points at the end of the half. HTAt half-time, Castletown-Ballyagran led Templeglantine 0-7 to 0-4.

John Dillon ensured it was another quick start to the half for Castletown-Ballyagran before McCarthy responded with his fifth free of the contest. Mark Riordan then popped up with scores from both play and a free with three scoring contributions in as many minutes.

Meanwhile, Templeglantine suffered a big blow when losing full-back John Riordan to a red card. McCarthy did converted yet another free to keep his side in touch.

However, Riordan found the net a few minutes later, rifling his shot into the top left corner. Adam Fitzgerald responded which remarkably was Templeglantine’s first score from play after 45 minutes of action.

McNamara was gifted a point from a wayward puck-out. Less than a minute later McNamara slipped in between two men before finishing past Seamus Murphy to extend Castletown-Ballyagran’s lead to 11 points after 49 minutes of play.

McCarthy nailed his seventh free before substitute John Walsh got on the scoresheet. As the clock trickled towards added time, McNamara slotted his second goal of the final courtesy of a defensive mishap from Templeglantine.

Ben Herlihy and Fitzgerald traded scores in added time however the destination of the Ryan Cup was never in doubt in the latter stages of this final as Castletown-Ballyagran sealed the 2025 Woodlands House Hotel Junior A Hurling Championship title in fine style on a 3-14 to 0-9 scoreline. 

SCORERS: Castletown-Ballyagran: Mark Riordan 1-6 (0-2 frees), Cian McNamara 2-3, James Dillon 0-2, Ben Herlihy, Colin Bresnihan, John Walsh 0-1 each. Templeglantine: Mark McCarthy 0-7 (0-7 frees), Adam Fitzgerald 0-2.

CASTLETOWN-BALLYAGRAN: Paul Hourigan, Kevin O’Leary, Edmond O’Donnell, Richard Walsh, Liam Carroll, Harry Dore, James McDermott, Dan Shelton, Ger Barry, Mark Riordan, Ben Herlihy, Cian McNamara, Jack Walsh, James Dillon, Colin Bresnihan. Subs: John Walsh for Richard Walsh (34 mins), Bill Walsh for Liam Carroll (47 mins), Evan White for Jack Walsh (51 mins), Shane Hourigan for Ger Barry (57 mins), Ciaran Ryan for James McDermott (60 mins).

TEMPLEGLANTINE: Seamus Murphy, Kealan Lyons, John Riordan, Ryan O’Connell, Tim Lyons, Philip Collins, Liam O’Connor, James Riordan, Ian Tierney, Danny McCarthy, Mark McCarthy, TJ Hunt, Adam Fitzgerald, Tom Young, Evan Larkin. Subs: Rory O’Brien for Tom Young (35 mins), Jamie Quirke for Ian Tierney (41 mins inj), Aaron Murphy for TJ Hunt (44 mins), Killian Keogh for Evan Larkin (57 mins).

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Doon).