Tracton 1-15 Killavullen 1-10
(JJ Hurley)
Tracton tasted their first county success in three decades as they overcame Killavullen in the CO-OP Superstores Junior A Hurling Final at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday
A famous night for Tracton
Played in slippery conditions, the night will long be remembered around Tracton Parish for the outstanding performance of Ronan Walsh contributing 10 points to the final tally.
Mark Byrne nearly gave Tracton a dream start but Charlie Cremin pushed it out for a 65, which Ronan Walsh converted.
Killavullen had their first score on two minutes before Mark Byrne had two points to give the Carrigdhoun men a lead of 0-3 to 0-1, after four minutes.
A long deliver into Michael O’Sullivan produced another a point, moments later a similar delivery to O’Sullivan ended up in the Killavullen net.
After a lull in the play, Magner struck for Killavullen’s second score on fifteen minutes, as Tracton led by 1-4 to 0-2.
Another super strike for Walsh had Tracton extending their lead on 19 minutes before Magner narrowed the margin on 24 minutes.
However, Magner blew the contest widen open on 27 minutes as he dispatched a penalty to the Tracton net after Mike O’ Connor had been fouled.
Tracton replied with a point from Walsh a minute later, as the wet conditions made it difficult for both sides.
Another super point from Liam Fox had the scores at 1-6 to 1-4 on 32 minutes, before Walsh added another point to leave the score at 1-7 to 1-4.
Opening the Tracton account in the second half was Walsh from the dead ball, before two points from Owen Magner and Darragh O’ Grady had the north Cork side closing the gap
Indiscipline from Killavullen gave Walsh two opportunities from the dead ball and he duly converted both efforts.
Two Colm O’Mahony points had the score at 1-10 to 1-8 on 43 minutes, but four minutes later a Byrne point had a goal between the sides.
As Magner and Paul O’ Riordan swapped points, the score on 50 minutes was 1-12 to 1-9.
Walsh edged his side ahead but a Fox point on 54 minutes had a goal between the sides.
From there to the finish, Tracton’s defence was resolute, and two more frees from Walsh had the Minane Bridge side striding on to victory.
Scores
Tracton: R Walsh 0-10 (8F 1 65), M Walsh 1-1, M O’Byrne 0-3, P O’ Riordan 0-1
Killavullen: J Magner 1-4 ( 2f 1 65 1P), C O’ Mahony (1F) L Fox 0-2 each, D O’ Grady, O Maguire 0-1 each.
TRACTON: S O’Sullivan; K Webb, K Healy, J Lynch; J Good, R Sinclair, G Webb; T McGuiness, D Byrne; C Quinn, S Kiely, P O’Riordan; R Walsh, M O’Sullivan, M Byrne.
Subs J Kingston for S Kiely (HT), D Kidney for T McGuinness (43), D Harrington for C Quinn (42), K Corrigan for G Webb (52), D Flaherty for M Byrne (55)
Killavullen: C Cremin; F Magner, E Buckley, E Birchill; B Cotter, L Cronin, P O’Sullivan; M Cagney, J Magner; E Cotter, L Fox, P Grady; C O’Mahony, M O’ Connor, P Looney.
Subs D O Grady for M Cagney (22), O Magner for P O Grady (26), C Looney for E Cotter (41)
Referee: Eoin Coleman (Youghal).
Ruairi Sinclair Tracton captain takes possession of the County Junior A Hurling Trophy
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