Ballyclough Edge Uibh Laoire in JBHC Final Thriller

Ballyclough were crowned  Confined JBHC champions after a dramatic 3-9 to 1-14 win over Uibh Laoire in Ovens on Friday night.

David Ludgate struck the winning point deep into injury time to settle a thrilling contest that looked set for extra time. Ballyclough’s three goals ultimately proved decisive, despite a heroic 1-10 haul from Uibh Laoire’s Seamus MacUidhir.

Uibh Laoire started well with early scores from Caoimhin Ó Mainnin and Briain Ó Riordan, but Ballyclough responded with 1-4 in three minutes—Paul O’Flynn netting, followed by points from Jack Moynihan and Damien Buckley.

MacUidhir brought Uibh Laoire back into it with five unanswered points, but Ballyclough struck again—Damien Buckley and Sean O’Leary raising green flags to lead 3-4 to 0-8 at half-time.

MacUidhir’s second-half goal from a long-range free and consistent scoring drew the sides level before he edged Uibh Laoire ahead late on.

Shane Buckley equalised, before Ludgate’s cool finish clinched the title for Ballyclough, whose key performers included Moynihan, Buckley, and Denis O’Neill.

Ballyclough:
E O’Connor; S Walsh, T Healy, C Duffy; M Buckley, D O’Neill, A Finnegan; S Buckley (0-2), C Moynihan; S O’Leary (1-0), D Ludgate (0-1f), P O’Flynn (1-0); J Moynihan (0-2), D Buckley (1-1), T O’Neill (0-3, 0-2f).
Subs: A Finnegan for D O’Neill (50), D O’Neill for T O’Neill (54), J O’Shea for C Moynihan (58).

Uibh Laoire:
D Ó Duinnin; A Ó Deaghaide, D Ó Riordáin, B Ó Murchu; D Ó Donnbháin (0-1), C Ó Riordáin, S de Paor; S MacUidhir (1-10, 1-7f, 0-1 65), J Pickering; B Ó Riordáin (0-1), G MacSuibhne, S Ó Riordáin (0-1); S MacSuibhne, C Ó Mainnin (0-1), S Pickering.
Subs: L Ó Cearnaigh for G MacSuibhne, B MacSuibhne for S de Paor (both 47), S Hodman for B Ó Riordáin (50).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Youghal).