Success for Ballyporeen against neighbours in south Tipperary Under 17 B Football final

Ballyporeen 0-10 Knockmealdown Gaels 0-9

Ballyporeen beat Knockmealdown Gaels by a point in Saturday’s clash of the neighbours in the South Tipperary Under 17 B Football Championship final, played on the 4G pitch at Fethard Town Park.

The game was played at a lively pace, with Gaels first off the mark, scoring two points in as many minutes from the boot of Paudie French and a free by Harry Byrne.

Ballyporeen stormed into the game before the fifth minutes with two points, the first from a free by Jason King and the second by Michael O’Brien from play.

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The Bally’ boys had two goal chances, none of which were taken, with the Gaels goalie Donnacha Reidy coming to his team’s rescue.

In the eighth minute an excellent run by Ballyporeen’s Lochlann Roche resulted in a fisted point.

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The exchanges were close for the next 12 minutes, although six attempts at scores ended in the hands of the goalkeepers.
In the 20th minute Dylan Horgan from the Gaels brought the teams level at 0-3 each. Within a minute Liam Proven scored a point from play to put Gaels back in front.

Ballyporeen, on their next attack hit the crossbar, the ball came back into play and they were rewarded by Michael O’Brien collecting and scoring a point.

In the 24th minute Jack Kearney, Ballyporeen’s best player, raced through with a tremendous kick for goal that Donnacha Reidy saved and cleared his lines.


In the 26th minute Jason King scored a great point from play and within a minute the excellent Tadhg Dunlea ran at least 60 metres to score a point for the Gaels, bringing the teams level at 0-5 each.

After the interval Paudie French raced up the field, scoring a point for the Gaels and within a minute they hit the crossbar, with the second attempt coming off a defender. In the 33rd minute Gaels ‘keeper Donnacha Reidy kicked a 45 to put them two up.

However, in the 35th minute Jason King kicked a great two-pointer for Ballyporeen, bringing the sides level again. On another run Tadhg Dunlea kicked a point for Knockmealdown Gaels.

The next score was in the 49th minute, a free by Harry Byrne for the Gaels.

However, for the last 10 minutes Ballyporeen took control and did the scoring while the Gaels missed three chances.

Bally’s Jason King, the captain, scored a point and Michael O’Brien added two points from play to seal the win.

Best for Ballyporeen were Oran Kearney, Eoghan Vaughan, Jack Kearney, Jason King, Lochlan Roche and Michael O’Brien.

For a gallant Knockmealdown Gaels team, Donnacha Reidy, Tadhg Dunlea, Paudie French and Harry Byrne caught the eye.

Ballyporeen: Ryan Walsh, Oran Kearney, Michael Quinlan, Paudie O’Sullivan, Eoghan Vaughan, Oisin O’Donnell, Jack Kearney, Jason King, captain 0-5 (2p 2f), Lochlan Roche 0-1, Ciaran O’Flynn, Robert Carey, Michael O’Brien 0-4, Billy Carey, James Fitzgerald, Isaac McLoughlin. Sub used: Darragh Williams.

Knockmealdown Gaels: Donnacha Reidy 0-1 (45), James Morrissey, Shane O’Mahony, Adam O’Sullivan, Liam Proven 0-1, Tadhg Dunlea 0-2, Donnacha Hurley, Paudie French 0-2, Jack Sullivan, Patrick Hennessy, Eoin Ryan, Jason Carey, Dylan Horgan 0-1, Harry Byrne 0-2 (2F), Cian McHugh.

Referee: Paul Guinan (Killenaule).