A Conor Gleeson goal at the death finally brushed off the obstinate challenge of Ballyea as Sixmilebridge cemented a second Under 15A crown in three years in Cusack Park.
Sixmilebridge 2-11
Ballyea 1-8
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
A late goal two years previously snatched an unlikely title win but this time it was fully deserved as along with possessing a more balanced side, Tadhg Keogh’s side also never trailed at any stage of this final.
While final quarter goals for Stephen Gavin and Gleeson were timely boosts, the winners can also be extremely thankful to outstanding goalkeeper Conor Keogh who was rock solid throughout in difficult inclement conditions while also stopping a 55th minute penalty.
Talisman Rory Chaplin, inspirational corner-back Conor Peacock, Jack O’Halloran, Zak Phelan and Donal O’Leary were others to shine for Sixmilebridge.
Ballyea captain Dara Kennedy certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side while his midfield partner Evan Cleary, TJ Chambers and goalkeeper Sean O’Malley who despite a leg injury battled on admirably to the finish were best for Derrick O’Connor’s side who were heartbreakingly made to suffer another final defeat, two years after being beaten in the Under 13A equivalent.
Four Chaplin points aided Sixmilebridge’s passage to a 0-7 to 0-5 interval advantage but the undoubtedly highlight of the first half was an incredible point blank save by Keogh from an Eoin O’Connor bullet.
That two point margin remained into the final quarter when Sixmilebridge appeared to be set for victory when Dylan McInerney centred for Stephen Gavin to make space and fire to the net at 1-10 to 0-8 in the 51st minute.
Keogh came to his side’s rescue to keep Ballyea’s backlash at bay with a penalty save from Kennedy. However, the Sixmilebridge goalkeeper was powerless to prevent a breakthrough goal on the hour mark after initially saving Evan Cleary’s rasper, only for Dara Kennedy to flick the rebound to the net at 1-11 to 1-8.
With tensions heightened, the next score was critical and it eventually fell to Sixmilebridge substitute Gleeson with almost the last puck of the game to ensure a second successive championship triumph, having soared to the Under 14A honours in 2022.
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Rory Chaplin (0-5, 4f); Stephen Gavin (1-1); Conor Gleeson (1-0); Zak Phelan, Donal O’Leary (0-2 each); Cathal Ryan (0-1)
Scorers for Ballyea: Dara Kennedy (1-4, 1f); Thomas O’Dea (0-2); Kris O’Callaghan, James Casey (0-1 each)
Sixmilebridge
1: Conor Keogh
2: Conor Peacock
3: Dylan Keogh
4: Ross Kearney
5: Cuan Mac Giolla Cearra
6: Jack O’Halloran
7: Conor Fitzpatrick
8: Zak Phelan
9: Luke Deegan
12: Dylan McInerney
11: Cathal Ryan
10: Jack McNamara
13: Donal O’Leary
14: Rory Chaplin
15: Stephen Gavin
Subs
21: Cian McInerney for McNamara (HT)
17: Conor Gleeson for D. McInerney (52)
18: Dougie Brew for O’Leary (63)
Ballyea
1: Sean O’Malley
2: Cian Turner
6: TJ Chambers
4: Oisin Vaughan
7: Thomas Hehir
3: Cian McAllister
5: Marc Kennedy
8: Dara Kennedy
9: Evan Cleary
14: Bill Egan
11: Eoin O’Connor
10: Sean O’Sullivan
12: Liam Casey
15: Thomas O’Dea
13: Kris O’Callaghan
Sub
17: Cillian Moylan for O’Callaghan (52)
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
