Junior football joy for Gerald Griffins

Gerald Griffins collected their first adult silverware in two decades on Sunday afternoon when they beat Hospital-Herbertstown in the County Junior Football League final in Ballingarry.

The sides were level at 0-6 each at the break but second-half goals from Paul Brouder, Michael Thornton and Gerard Stack helped them to a 3-10 to 0-8 win. Ronan Magee kicked six of Hospital’s eight points.

SCORERS - Gerald Griffins: Paul Brouder 1-2, Michael Thornton 1-1, Gerard Stack 1-0, Aidan Ryan, Dara Noonan (one free) 0-2 each, Colm McSweeney, Paudie O’Connell, Brian Herbert 0-1 each. Hospital-Herbertstown: Ronan Magee 0-6 (four frees), Aaron Murphy (‘45), Ross O’Donovan 0-1 each.

HOSPITAL-HERBERTSTOWN: Johnny McAuliffe; Michael Larkin, Darragh R O’Sullivan, Mike Fitzgerald; Kevin O’Donoghue, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Ross O’Donovan; Ken O’Loughlin, Keith O’Connor; Tadhg Leddin, Mark Deegan, Michael O’Neill; Ronan Magee, Aaron Murphy, Joe Fogarty. Subs: Seán Reale for Michael O’Neill (22 mins), Mickey Bob Ryan for Tadhg Leddin (33 mins), Darragh M O’Sullivan for Michael larkin (injured - 47 mins), Dean O’Shea for Keith O’Connor (49 mins), Liam Hartnett for Darragh M O’Sullivan (black card - 49 mins), Robert Buckley for Joe Fogarty (53 mins).

GERALD GRIFFINS: Seán Lynch; Noel Guiry, Christy McSweeney, Brendan Stack; Paul Brouder, Paudie O’Connell, Diarmuid Noonan; Tommy Griffin, Colm McSweeney; Jamie Long, Dara Noonan, Martin McSweeney; Aidan Ryan, Michael Thornton, Brian Herbert. Subs: Gerard Stack for Jamie Long (40 mins), Eoin O’Brien for Diarmuid Noonan (injured - 62 mins).

REFEREE: Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell)

- For a full report and photos on this game, see the weekend print edition of the Limerick Leader