By Noel Collins, 24/10/2021

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.