Junior A Hurling Championship 2022

[Mr.Mustard]

I'm very interested in how they'll fare in Premier Junior alright, things came together well for them this year, but with a second team like this it could all change completely by next season, should still have enough to be competitive next year but can't see them winning the grade on the first go like Ballygiblin, imagine they'll be in the middle of the pack somewhere, unless some serious talent falls off the senior team for some reason.

Next year's Junior A will be interesting anyway, feel for Kilshannig, they were so close and they've to start again now in a highly competitive Avondhu championship where there's no guarantee they'll come out, imagine whoever wins Avondhu will be there or thereabouts again next year as it's by far and away the most competitive championship now.

You could already predict the top 2/3 teams in all the other divisions to be honest, which doesn't seem to be helping them when it comes to business end of the season.

I think middle of the pack is a fair assessment for next year. Will lose a few going travelling but might gain one or two from senior as well. Will be hard for Kilshannig to go to the well again next year but they're a fine side at this level - no doubt.

 

[Churchtown Gael]

A great game Yesterday, standard was alot better than the first day. Some great scores by both sides, Erins Own first wide coming in injury time is a brilliant stat. Their conversion rate was brilliant. Collins on frees was superb 0-19 individual tally in a county final!!

Kilshannig will rue the wides again Yesterday, one free at the end of normal time should have been put over the bar instead of going for goal. Erins Own then went down the other end to get their goal. Hard to see Kilshannig getting back to the final again next year, football will probably take over next year after going up a grade plus a very competitive Avondhu division to get out of first.

 

[tallpall23]

Erins Own 1-30 Kilshannig 3-20 AET

Outstanding game. An absolute cracker. A great advertisement for junior hurling in Cork. Funnily enough, I also went to the Munster Junior A Final today between Ballygiblin and St. Kieran's and thought that the county final tonight was a much higher standard of hurling.

What an achievement for Erin's Own's second team to win a Junior A County. A great little club. Kilshannig will be sick though. I thought they had loads of chances to extend their lead and win it but squandered some of them. Erin's Own on the other hand had only one wide in all of normal time. Serious accuracy. Maybe it is my North Cork bias, but I thought the referee was much more lenient on giving frees to EO than Kilshannig. Mark Collins must have scored 16 or 17 points from frees. The same ref rode Ballyhea this year v Courceys.

Jack Twomey was superb again for Kilshannig. He is strong, good in the air and knows how to score. I still feel, he'd be worth a call up to the training panel. Mark Collins was definitely MOTM though. He must have finished with 0-20 points. Shane Murphy is some servant too, still as fit as ever in midfield. He must not be far off 40. Bill Curtin centre back for Kilshannig also had an excellent game.

Ballygiblin 3-12 St. Kieran's 0-11

As I said above, I also went to this game earlier today and it was a very poor affair. St. Kieran's were teak tough but had little hurling and seemed to have brought Ballygiblin down to their level because I thought they were very poor. I thought both Mark Keane and Darragh Flynn were very quiet. Both didn't stand out at all. I don't think Flynn scored at all, maybe 1 point. Shane Beston saved the day scoring 3-3, winning MOTM and he only got married yesterday. What a story and what a servant he's been to both Ballygiblin and Mitchelstown. A weekend he will never forget. I still tip Ballygiblin to push on and win the All Ireland in this. Last year's experience will help them greatly.

Best junior game seen now in a long time. Both teams definitely worthy of being up a grade or two. Judging by the ballygiblin Kieran’s game earlier in the day, the gap in standard between the premier junior and the business end of the junior A isn’t much. Although the Senior will take a lot out of Erin’s owns premier juniors next year, credit must be given to them over the course of the year for the performances they’ve given.

On a side note, i found myself inside there last night with a few neutrals given the likelihood of another tight game, I don’t think anyone could disagree with the frees given against kilshannig, some of the lazy fouling was very unnecessary at times. Personally I thought the referee had quite a good game. I don’t think he was lenient on Erin’s own but just the fact the Erin’s own werent committing the fouls he was blowing for