Malachy Stone introduction turns Wicklow Junior ‘A’ hurling final in Barndarrig’s favour

Éire Óg Greystones 3-9

The Lighting Protection Ireland Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship final didn’t follow the script. In fact, this decider resembled nothing even close to a script but instead, a sequence of simply dizzying, ridiculous events which led to one of the most insane finishes to a final you are likely to see.

With just four minutes of normal time remaining, five further goals would go in, hurls would be thrown, and names would be written in Barndarrig hurling folklore forever more.

Shane Whelan, who was joint captain along with Michael Owen Byrne, mentioned in his speech that Éire Óg were always the team they were likely to face.

With that in mind, could anyone have predicted the incredible showing that the Greystones men would produce on the day against a fancied Barndarrig side?

The opening half was cagey. Éire Óg left a litany of scorable frees behind them which could have, if converted, seen them go into the break in front.

Barndarrig and Andrew Kavanagh on the other hand were converting most of, if not everything, that went their way.

The first point of the game went to the aforementioned Kavanagh, who clipped a sweet score from the sideline to get things started. Mikey Ryan, however, did an impersonation of Kavanagh’s point up at the Herbst end a moment later to level things.

Tom Doyle then regained Barndarrig’s league from the 45 in space, before a further Kavanagh free and Andrew Traynor point from play pushed them three ahead.

Kevin Byrne, having seen enough, began an assault on the deficit from a huge distance out while Daire Corcoran also added a free.

Andrew Kavanagh hit back with two impressive frees of his own, yet moments later they would be countered and bettered. Daire Corcoran would see his free land somewhere between the 13 and the six-yard box, where a goal was to be created. Exactly who did what to have the ball land at Mikey Ryan’s feat is anyone's guess including the players on the field but boy did Mikey make use of this opportunity, picking and firing to the bottom left corner in one motion.

Level game! Frees, two from Kavanagh and one from Corcoran, along with an individually brilliant Joe Prendergast score off the run left things all square at the break.

If the first half was enjoyable yet slightly nervy classic county final hurling action, the second half was throw-the-kitchen-sink-at-it bonkers.

The key figure who entered the fray at the break was the clearly injured Malachy Stone.

Suffering from a lower leg injury that may not get the rest it deserves due to the week's celebrations; Stone effectively swung the contest having had a hand in all the goals.

Mike Arrigan, now on long-range free duty, put Éire Óg in front from the halfway line a minute in. Jacques McCall, who was busy all over the field, then struck over from along the sideline while a further Kavanagh free put Barndarrig in the driving seat.

Enda Forde then twisted and turned inside the 21 to raise a white flag before Martin Joyce hit Éire Óg in front again.

Andrew Kavanagh then levelled the sides from a placed ball before the madness ensued.

Beginning with a hopeful ball toward Jonathan Carlin, the ball would break into the path of Stone who ran in and finished low to the left corner of the net for the first of the majors.

A minute later and Ger Whyte would be picking the ball out of his goal again courtesy of the same man. This time having received a pinpoint pass from Sean Leonard, Stone would find himself in space enough to race through and fire to the net whilst a hurl was thrown in a hook attempt, which put his side six up.

This lead, the biggest in the contest so far, lasted all of 60 seconds. As not a minute later would Martin Joyce’s purposefully short free receive a glancing blow from Enda Forde which caused the sliotar to nestle in the town end net.

Game back on, Barndarrig again came knocking through Malachy Stone who won a long ball inside, turned and saw his strike arrow low and into contact with the deftest of touches from Chris Fitzpatrick’s hurl which did enough to manoeuvre the ball to the right corner of the net.

The length of injury time then reverbed around the grounds over Barndarrig cheers. Three more minutes.

Joe Prendergast only needed two to cut the deficit in half. Taking a hand pass from Forde, Joe took punishment on the way to blasting his strike to the rough of the net.

A three-point game with time almost up. Éire Óg searched for a fourth major but were met with resolute stuff from the Kilmacurra men who with a minute left went four points up from an Andrew Kavanagh 65, finally killing off Éire Óg Greystones.

A savage battle from both sides resulted in an end to Barndaririg’s short stint in Junior hurling, while you’d feel if Éire Óg can go again next year, they may just join their county final opponents in the intermediate grade.

Barndarrig: Michael Crowley; Roger Belton, Bernard Quinn, James Cullen; Kevin Cullen, Liam Dickenson, Martin Cullen; Andrew Kavanagh (0-10, 8f), Shane Whelan; Sean Leonard, James Quinn, Tom Doyle (0-1); Andrew Traynor (0-1), Brian Walsh, Jacques McCall (0-1). Subs Jonathan Carlin for B Walsh (H/T), Malachy Stone (2-0) for Tom Doyle (H/T), Michael Cullen for K Cullen (H/T), Chris Fitzpatrick (1-0) for J Quinn (54).

Éire Óg Greystones: Ger Whyte; Paddy O’Sullivan, Ross Lally, Conor Cornwall; Kevin Byrne (0-1), Mike Arrigan (0-1, 1f), Christy Connors; Daire Corcoran (0-2, 2f), Neil Browne; Hugh O’Neil, Kevin Booth, Jason Doyle; Enda Forde (1-1), Mikey Ryan (1-1), Joe Prendergast (1-1). Subs Martin Joyce (0-2, 2f) for J Doyle (H/T), Shaun Hughes for K Byrne (43), John Cahill for D Corcoran (52).

Referee: Paul Gahan (Buffers Alley)