Match Reports

The Killer Bs advance to Seandun Cup Final

7 November 2021
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By John O’Connor

The Killer Bs beat a strong Bishopstown side this morning in Bishopstown to advance to the Craobh Rua final.

This is this teams 4th final appearance in 3 years and the experience gained Will hopefully stand to them in next weeks game. Passage who had a much changed team from the Quarter final team, fought for every single ball as if their life depended on it. They never gave the home side a minutes peace throughout. Bishopstown opened the scoring from a long range free and increased the lead to two points a minute later from the hurl of their no 9. Passage settled down and two frees from the excellent Alex Murphy had the sides level after 10 minutes.

The games only goal was dispatched to the back of the net by Dan Hanlon who was a thorn in the Bishopstown’s full back throughout. Dan finished up with a personal tally of 1-2. The Passage half back line of Kevin Cuthbert, Thomas Harrington snd Aidan Medley were well on top in this tough first half. Passage had a 2 pt lead at the half time whistle.

After the restart Bishopstown threw the kitchen sink at the Passage defence. They quickly scored two points to level the scores. It was end to end now some breath taking points from Luke Tett and Jamie Mc Carthy restoring Passage 2 point lead . Passage aided by some fresh legs now took the game to Bishopstown. Several good goal chances were missed and this opened the door for a possible smash and grab from the home team.

Passage held out to win after a close in free in the last minute was saved The Passage full back line of Jack O Mahony, Thomas Lester and Josh Shiels were outstanding throughout. Cian O Mahony put in a great shift in the middle of the park. Next up is Whitechurch next Sunday in Ballinlough. It’s 30 yrs since the Killer Bs won a piece of silverware and this young team aim to create their own piece of history next week.

The famine is over as Passage Hurlers reach the promised land

25 October 2021
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By Noel Collins, 24/10/2021

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Final Score:
Passage 6-10
St Vincent’s 1-10

It might have taken 61 years to win a City Junior A Hurling Championship, but those Passage supporters who were privileged to be at Ballinlough today saw their team gain an emphatic victory over North Siders St Vincent’s. Both teams went into the game unbeaten this season, St Vincent’s drawing with Passage in the League and reaching the final with good victory over Glen Rovers, while Passage had a hard fought victory over Na Piarsaigh in their semi-final.

A large crowd turned up at City Division headquarters to soak up the atmosphere and cheer on their teams as they paraded behind the Ballyphehane band prior to the throw in. It was St Vincent’s who started quickest, with Luke Callanan putting over a good point from play inside the opening minute. Blake Murphy soon followed with St Vincent’s second point. Cian Mc Carthy settled the Passage nerves with a pointed free on three minutes, followed by a Graham Carroll point from play to level matters. Passage then had a huge moment in the game when first Shane Howard bellowed the Vincent’s net with an unstoppable shot, then seconds later full forward Cian Mc Carthy caught a high dropping ball and despite being held up he managed to blast the ball low past Craig Cahill into the St Vincent’s goal. It left Passage 2-02 to 0-2 with 7 minutes gone.

St Vincents came back with two points, one each from Johnathan O’Mahony and a Blake Murphy free. Minutes later, a St Vincent’s 21 yard free was blasted to the net by Blake Murphy to let the score 2-02 to 1-04 with 15 minutes gone. The Passage response was swift and clinical, when Passage number 15 Conor Coughlan cut in from the right wing to beat Craig Cahill for a Passage third goal. Vincent’s, trying desperately to stay in a game fast drifting away from them, had two points from Luke Callanan and a Gavin Mc Carthy free to let it 3-02 to 1-06 on the twenty-minute mark. Again, the Passage response was swift – midfielder Graham Carroll won a ball around the middle and powered his way past a few tackles before hitting a high shot that ended up in the net for the fourth Passage goal, 4-02 to 1-06.

From there to the break, Passage dominated with the defense which was ably led by captain Ronan Harrington, while the midfield of Ryan and Graham Carroll making sure the ball kept going into the forward line where Cian Mc Carthy and Shane Howard dictated the play. Points from Ryan Carroll, Cathal Mc Carthy, Conor Coughlan and a Cian McCarthy free, while Gavin Mc Carthy and Blake Murphy had points for St Vincent’s, to let the score at the break to be Passage 4-06 to St Vincent’s 1-08.

St Vincent’s needed to start the second half well if they were to have any chance of stopping the Passage juggernaut, but Passage put the game to bed inside the opening minute. A long ball out of defense found Niall Mc Carthy who sprinted for goal and slipped past a few tackles before finishing to the net, leaving the score to be 5-06 to 1-08. Minutes later, Cian Mc Carthy had goal number six as he caught a high ball and again slipped it past a helpless Craig Cahill. From there to the finish Passage were well on top, try as they might St Vincent’s could not make any impression on the scoreboard. 3 Points from Cian Mc Carthy, and a final point from Anthony Kidney had Passage deserving winners on a scoreline of 6-10, to 1—10. The City Division Junior A Cup was presented to Captain Ronan Harrington by Seandun Board Chairman Mick Higgins, while Cian Mc Carthy won the match of match trophy.

Overall it was a wonderful display by the Passage 15, they had winners all over the field, Aidan Long was mighty in goal, the six backs led by Eoin Murphy and Ronan Harrington were all outstanding, holding a tight reign on the Vincents forwards who themselves got four goals against the Glen. Midfield had the two Carroll’s Ryan and Graham turning in a great non-stop performance, while the six forwards ably led by Shane Howard and Cian Mc Carthy who managed to score 2—05 and have a vital part in the other goals. Nial Mc Carthy and Conor Coughlan troubled their markers all day by their clever play. The management team of Eoin Griffin, Teddy Mc Carthy, James Barrett, John O Connor, Billy O Regan, John O’ Neill, and the stats team of Sean O’Mahony and Eoin Barry deserve great credit for the work and dedication and effort put in during the season. Now Passage go forward to the County where they will meet Ballinascarthy, who beat St Mary’s in the Carbery Final today.

Passage Scores, C. Mc Carthy – 2:05 (0:04 F, 0:01 65,) C. Coughlan & G. Carroll -1:01 each, N. Mc Carthy & S. Howard 1:00 each, R. Carroll, C. Mc Carthy & A. Kidney – 0:01 each. 

Passage in City Junior A Hurling Final

5 October 2021
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By Noel Collins

Full Time Score:

Passage 2—16 Na Piarsaigh 1—15

Passage advanced to the BCE Consulting Engineers City Division Junior A Hurling Final and a meeting with St Vincents after a bruising encounter with Na Piarsaigh at Ballinlough on Sunday Morning.

A game which saw four sending offs, two each to both sides plus, 11 yellow cards dished out had both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats for the full 63 minutes. Na Piarsaigh were first out of the blocks with a fine point from play by corner forward Killian O Leary inside the opening minute. Passage hit back with points coming from Niall McCarthy and Conor Coughlan to put Passage into the lead. Na Piarsaigh came back with a point of their own from an Alan Keating free.

Both sides were given their all with no quarter spared. Then on 12 minutes, a long high ball into the Na Piarsaigh defence was won by Cian McCarthy who laid it off to the in running Shane Howard who bellowed the net from close quarters, Passage 1-02, Na Piarsaigh 0-2 with 12 minutes on the clock.

Free taker Alan Keating kept Na Piarsaigh in touch with a pointed free, Cian Mc Carthy came back with a Passage point. Ronan Cooney came up the field to hit over a fine point Passage and was soon followed by a Cian Mc Carthy point from play , Passage 1-05 Na Piarsaigh 0-3pts. Na Piarsaigh were not given up and hit back with three points, through Eoin Hannifin, and two points from Alan Keating to let a goal in it 1-05 to 0-5 with 23 minutes on the clock.

A foul by a Na Pairsaigh defender on a Passage forward saw a Passage penalty awarded, but although Cian Mc Carthy struck it well, Na Pairsaigh keeper Sean Fitzgerald got down well to save.Keating and Mc Carthy exchanged points, but the Northside men finished the half strong with Keating and Alan Brady pointing to let it level at the break Passage 1-06 Na Pairsaigh 0- 9 and all to play for.

Passage turned over with the wind behind them and a man more then Na Piarsaigh after they lost a player for off the ball incident midway through the opening half. The second was more of the same as both sides went all out for the victory. Passage came out fast with two unanswered points, through Conor Coughlan and a long range point from Ryan Carroll, Passage 1-08 Na Piarsaigh 0-9.

Passage then upped their game with four unanswered points from, Cian Mc Carthy 0-2, Cathal Mc Carthy and Graham Carroll, Alan Keating hit over a Na Piarsaigh point to let it 1-11 to 0-10 pts at the water break. Na Piarsaigh lost another player before the water break through a off ball incident and Passage were down to 14 players when a Passage player was deemed to strike a helmet when going for a high ball. Na Pairsaigh rallied again and points from Alan Keating and Padraig Gould had then in with a good chance.

On 52 minutes, a great long delivery from no 6 Ronan Harrington was caught by full forward Cian Mc Carthy under pressure, but the former Cork star had in the net in an instant. Passage 2-11 Na Pairsaigh 0-12. Two more points followed from Ryan and Graham Carroll to stretch the lead.

But again the North-siders were not going away, as Passage had another player sent off for an off the ball incident, two points, one from Alan Brady and Gould had it 2-13 to 0-14 with two minutes remaining. Passage stood tall and their defence under the guidance of Eoghan Murphy at full back and No 6 Ronan Harrington repelled any Na Piarsaigh rally. Conor Coughlan had a Passage point to make it 2-14 to 0-14 points going into injury time. A Piarsaigh 21 yard free was saved by Passage, before Paul Cunningham had a Na Piarsaigh goal deep in injury time. Graham Carroll closed out the game for Passage with a well taken point, to let the final score Passage 2-16, Na Piarsaigh 1-15.

I stand to be corrected but I don’t remember Passage and St Vincents ever playing in a Junior A Hurling final, I remember an Intermediate final Passage vr St Vincents in Riverstick in 1960, Passage winning 3-07 to St Vincents 1-08

Scores ; C Mc Carthy 1—05, S. Howard 1—0, C.Coughlan, G Carroll 0-3 each, R.Cooney, R. Carroll 0-2 each. N.Mc Carthy 0-1

Na Pairsaigh scores: A. Keating 0-9, P.Cunningham 1-0, A Brady, P.Gould 0-2 each, K.O Leary, E. Hannifin, 0-1 each.

Passage; A Long, C.Mc Carthy, E.Murphy, R Cooney, A.Kidney, R. Harrington, S.Harrington, R.Carroll, G Carroll, T.O’Neill, N.Mc Carthy, L.Hanlon, S.Howard, C.Mc Carthy, C Coughlan, sub used, J.Byrnes