Murphy leads Crosshaven to South-East Junior B Final Win
In the end, this was a game decided by margins. Crosshaven and Ballygarvan could not be separated over normal time, finishing level at Crosshaven 1-10 to Ballygarvan 2-07.
The early exchanges said a lot about how tight the contest would be. Both sides squandered chances, with two wides apiece before the first real opening arrived. When it did, it came from Pádraig Murphy’s attempt at a point, which dropped behind Shane Kennefick and into the net. It was a scrappy goal, but it gave Crosshaven the early initiative.
Ballygarvan’s response was the first sign of how the match would be shaped by goalkeeping. Peter Foley’s spectacular save to deny Mark Kennefick preserved Crosshaven’s lead at a moment when Ballygarvan looked ready to answer in kind. It was the first of several interventions that made Foley a stand out player on the night.
Crosshaven’s attacking play, built on the link-up between Oisin and Senan Buckley, produced the better chances, and points from Jack Kent and Fionn Mansfield kept them in front. Their wasteful finishing, however, left the door open, with Senan Buckley’s chance for a second goal drifting wide.
Ballygarvan took their time to settle, but Conor Mackey’s goal after 20 minutes changed the complexion of the half. From there they adopted a more defensive approach that Crosshaven found difficult to unlock. Crosshaven’s long deliveries up the pitch only served to feed that strategy, and it took a Senan Buckley point to break through. Darragh Martin’s reply showed that Ballygarvan were comfortable trading scores.
Foley again proved decisive when Ciaran McIntyre had his sights set on a second Ballygarvan goal, and his save was among the best performances of the day. At the other end, Gerard Lynch’s failed attempt to dispossess Murphy underlined the skill that would later earn the captain Man of the Match.
Points from Dylan O’Connor and Jamie Ahern brought Ballygarvan back to within a point at the break, a position that reflected their resilience as much as their threat.
The second half was a contest of responses. Darragh Martin and Noel Murphy kept Ballygarvan in touch, and when Oisin Buckley restored Crosshaven’s lead, the advantage lasted only until Ballygarvan found the net again to move in front. Neither side could hold the upper hand for long, which set up the tense finish to normal time.
Ballygarvan began the extra period the stronger side, with Murphy and O’Connor each hitting a point in quick succession. The chance to put the game out of reach came to O’Connor, but Foley’s save and the wide that followed proved crucial. It was the pivotal moment of extra time, as it denied Ballygarvan the lead they needed to keep Crosshaven at bay.
Oisin Buckley’s points brought Crosshaven back in front, and from there their defence held firm, with Ballygarvan struggling to find a way through.The winning score came from a turnover. Shay Murphy drove forward and fed Jamie Fitzgerald, who found Pádraig Murphy, and the captain finished calmly.
With little time to rest following their title win, Crosshaven travelled to Clonakilty on Sunday to meet Adrigole in the County championship. Despite a goal from Senan Bckley early in the first half, Crosshaven trailed by seven points at half-time. However an influx of two-pointers in the second half saw their second narrow victory within a week – with a one point win. They now advance to the semi-finals with their opponents to be confirmed.
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