First-ever title for Saints as Bal are denied the double
St James 0-11
Ballinascarthy 0-9
TOM LYONS REPORTS
THE celebrations will last for some time, and rightly so, after St James captured their first-ever Carbery junior A football title on a memorable Sunday.
This final in Timoleague will be forever remembered as the day St James, the small rural club from the Ardfield/Rathbarry parish, not only played their first ever junior A final, but captured the title at the first time of asking.
In doing so, St James’ denied Ballinascarthy a rare football/hurling double.
Favoured by a strong breeze in the first half, St James were slow to find their shooting boots but a dominant second quarter saw them leading by four points at the break, 0-7 to 0-3.
By the end of the third quarter Bal had the lead down to two points but both defences were well in charge and St. James were getting a second wind. Again they rebuilt a four-point lead in the last quarter.
When time almost up and their first-ever title staring them in the face, St James faltered and Bal cut the lead to a dangerous two points in injury time. It was really backs to the wall for the Saints at that stage but their defence, so heroic all day, bravely held their lines.
Player/manager Alan O’Shea was man of the match and scored 0-5, while St James’ outstanding midfielder James O’Driscoll and ace forward Mark Evans, and outstanding centre back Kevin O’Leary were three more to shine for the Saints.
DON’T MISS THURSDAY’S SOUTHERN STAR FOR THREE PAGES ON THE ST JAMES’ HISTORIC WIN.
Scorers
St James: Alan O’Shea 0-5 (5f); Mark Evans 0-2; Paul O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Brien, James O’Driscoll, Frank Hayes 0-1 each.
Ballinascarthy: Cillian Cullinane 0-4 (2f); Ben Murray 0-2; David Walsh, Jeremy Ryan, Brian O’Donovan 0-1 each.
St James: Diarmuid O’Donovan; Míchéal McCarthy (B), Eoin Feen, David Hayes; Mícheál McCarthy (D), Kevin O’Leary, Joseph O’Sullivan (captain); Paul O’Sullivan, James O’Driscoll; Aaron Hayes, Sean O’Reilly, Kevin O’Brien; James O’Sullivan, Mark Evans, Alan O’Shea. Subs: Frank Hayes for S O’Reilly (40), Kieran O’Donovan for K O’Brien (50), Conor Hayes for A O’Shea (black card, 57).
Ballinascarthy: Barry Hanrahan; Eoin O’Brien, Chris Ryan, Gearóid O’Leary; David Walsh, Daniel Nyhan, Ciarán O’Neill; Sean Ryan, Ciarán Nyhan; Jeremy Ryan, Padraic Cullinane, Ricky O’Flynn; David McCarthy, Cillian Cullinane, Brian O’Donovan. Subs: B Murray for P Cullinane (40), M Kirby for R O’Flynn (42), D Harte for McCarthy (45), D McCarthy for B O’Donovan (54), Daniel O’Brien for C O’Neill (62).
Referee: Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty).
