Muskerry JAHC Final....

Cloughduv: 2-23....

Ballinora: 0-9

Cloughduv were crowned MJK Oils Muskerry JAHC champions for the second time year in a row following a comfortable victory over 2016 champions Ballinora in the decider at Ovens on Saturday night. 

Cloughduv dominated from start to finish. The winners led 0-7 to 0-2 after the first-quarter, with Joe Ryan’s point following a clever pass from James Moynihan the highlight. Ballinora scored two of the next three points, David Howard battled hard for Ballinora, as they experienced forward pointed two frees. But the momentum was with the winners, they pushed 0-13 to 0-6 clear after 27 minutes, until the victorious side netted two goals in 40 seconds, James Moynihan and Joe Ryan with the green flags, Brian Verling with both assists. The sides traded points, as Cloughduv led 2-14 to 0-7 at the break.

The one-way traffic continued, Cloughduv scored four of the five points in the third-quarter, 2-18 to 0-8. 

Ryan sent over a long-range point for Cloughduv, arguably the score of the game, but the 2016 champions Ballinora replied from a free through Alan O’Shea. It would be their final score of the game. The winners raised four white flags in the final twelve minutes, Ryan (2), a Verling free and a Donal Corkery effort. Ballinora did have a chance to net a consolation goal two minutes from time, but Howard’s well struck effort went narrowly wide from close range. 

Both sides enter the county championship.

Scorers for Cloughduv: J Ryan 1-5 (0-1f), B Verling 0-7 (0-5f), J Moynihan 1-3, D Corkery 0-3, M Walsh 0-2, K Barry-Murphy 0-2, A Murphy 0-1.

Scorers for Ballinora: D Howard 0-5 (0-5f), D Holmes 0-2, D Corkery 0-1, A O’Shea 0-1 (0-1f).

Cloughduv: C O’Driscoll; A Twomey, B Ahern, P Buckley; G Ahern, D O’Leary (C), E Clifford; A Murphy, K Barry-Murphy; M Walsh, A Cronin, D Corkery; B Verling, J Ryan, J Moynihan. 

Subs: D O’Sullivan for G Ahern (46), L Long for B Verling (51, inj), A Ahern for J Moynihan (54), S Curzon for A Cronin (57), A Cronin for B Ahern (63, inj).

Ballinora: B Crowley; D Dineen, B Hourihan, K Greally; T McGrath, C Brosnan, P Cronin (C); M Lordan, A O’Shea; D Corkery, R Connery, P Fitton; K Murphy, D Howard, D Holmes. 

Subs: A O’Neill for D Dineen (43).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg).  

Report by Barry O’Mahony