Junior B Final Review and IFC Final Preview

Junior B Final Review and IFC Final Preview

Portarlington: 2.15

Castletown 2.08

Standout Players From The Junior B Final as Portarlington Win Title:

Portarlington’s standout players:

1. Cathal Ward in attack.

2. Conor McCarthy in defense.

Cathal Ward:
Although Conor Maher, Evan Lyons and Jordan Fallon provided the bulk of the scores: Cathal Ward only got 0-1 but he was the best of the lot because he was the playmaker that made these scores possible. He was always running into the right spaces at the right time to find and set up a scoring opportunity by running onto a recieving pass to continue to break defensive lines with his physicality holding off challenges and open up scoring as a result with a pass for his teamates: as his vision was perfect in attack to anticipate exactly and correctly where a score will come from. Ward knew where he was gonna run before he even recieved the ball: fantastic vision. He also kicked some excellent long ball too.

Examples of his play:

After a turnover from a Castletown attack in the 1st half, Conor McCarthy emerged from defence with pace and went on a long run right into midfield, McCarthy found Ward on the wing, Cathal Ward then fed a wonderfully timed quick hand pass inside from the wing to Evan Lyons who was running onto the ball in front of the posts and popped the ball over the bar. Direct set up of a score from both McCarthy and Ward.

Lucas Coleman then kicked a brilliant short diagonal kick pass from the left wing into Cathal Ward who was running onto the ball with pace it was Wards turn to point from play. Great vision from both Lucas Coleman and Cathal Ward here again to find one another to set up this score.

Cathal Ward won ball in midfield and sent a lovely long and low ball into Matthew O’Sullivan who directly set up Lucas Coleman with a scoring chance.

Not only catching long ball but kicking long ball was a successful feature of Ward’s play too.

Conor McCarthy:

Portarlington were able to be so effective up front thanks to the brilliant defensive efforts of Conor McCarthy, coming to the fore at the other end of the pitch.

Castletown were dangerous up front with the likes of Ryan and James Mullaney providing a constant scoring threat.

But Conor McCarthy was really strong at left corner back and emerged from the back line with possession to not only prevent Castletown scores but also set up 2 Portarlington scores: 1 from Evan Lyons in the 1st half and 1 from Jack Whelan in the 2nd half.

Conor McCarthy both defended well and aided in attack, having a major impact at both ends of the pitch.

In the 1st half: After a turnover from a Castletown attack, Conor McCarthy emerged from defence with all 3 of: possession,
pace and strength, he went on a long run right into midfield, breaking through Castletown tackles with ease, McCarthy rather than running into further Castletown traffic and risk losing possession, McCarthy instead cleverly found Ward on the wing, Cathal Ward then fed a wonderfully timed quick hand pass inside from the wing to Evan Lyons who was running onto the ball in front of the posts and popped the ball over the bar. Direct set up of a score from both McCarthy and Ward.

In the 2nd half: Conor McCarthy won a short kickout and carried ball so effectively holding off challenges from 2 Castletown defenders trying to smother him. Conor successfully cleared with a hand pass off and this hard work from McCarthy directly led to score from play by Jack Whelan.

Conor McCarthy deservedly received an applause from the Portarlington fans in attendance as he was substituted off in last minute of game as a thanks for his strong defensive efforts that helped Port seal the Junior B title.

Castletown’s standout player: Conor Walsh

Conor Walsh with brilliant man marking and defensive pressure held off Lucas Coleman from making a direct run and score and had to force him to recycle the ball, this eventually led to score by PJ Ward but it was great work by Conor Walsh to fend off Lucas Coleman.

Conor Walsh kicked a great long low ball into Conor Phelan and this almost led to a score by Ryan Mullaney but hit the post unluckily.

Conor Walsh won the kickout by slapping ball down to Jack Breen who took this breaking ball and found Ryan Mullaney who popped it over the bar.

So far Conor Walsh has prevented a Portarlington score and involved directly in Castletown scores by Ryan Mullaney, but should be 2 scores also setting up Ryan hitting the post too.

Conor Walsh again involved in score this time as he passed to Conor Phelan who found Daniel Whelan for point from play. Conor Walsh also won the resulting kickout from this score.

On next kickout again, Conor Walsh won breaking ball.

Conor Walsh with dispossession and turnover on Matthew O’Sullivan that led to free in scored by Ryan Mullaney.

Immediately following Conor Walsh won the resulting Portarlington kickout and won free in again for Ryan Mullaney.

Conor Walsh won 5 kickouts in total from both his own and Port kickouts: through a variety of clean catches, slap downs and first to claim breaking ball. He was as prominent in midfield as he was in defence at centre back. Despite defeat, Walsh was incredibly impressive.

IFC FINAL PREVIEW

Kilcavan v Ballyfin on Saturday 26th September in Laois Hire O’Moore Park at 7pm

Tickets: https://laoisgaa.ie/football-match-tickets/

Kilcavan:

• First intermediate final in 65 years, since 1961.
• They have never been senior since being founded in 1946. The only club in Laois who has never been senior. Seeking to make the most significant history of all time for their club.
• Kilcavan hadnt met Mountmellick in championship football since 2006 and hadn’t beaten Mountmellick in the championship since 2002, making their 2026 semi-final win a historic 24-year breakthrough.

Ballyfin:

• First intermediate final in 12 years, since 2014.
• Since their intermediate win in 2014, and following SFC campaign in 2015, they spent the next 11 years in a row in the senior football championship and were an established senior team, relegated by Crettyard in 2025.
• Senior highlights: 2 consecutive semi final appearances in 2019 and 2020.

Both teams are on opposite ends of the scale: Kilcavan seeking a first ever SFC campaign in 2027 to make history for their club. Ballyfin, a highly experienced senior side after their 11 year campaign that seen them reach the heights of 2 SFC semi finals in a row in both 2019 and 2020.

Despite being opposites in senior experience: Both teams have one thing in common: They played with huge intensity in their semi finals and it’s expected to carry into the final for a fierce exciting battle as the proof is there when these sides met previous back in Round 2: Ballyfin only won by a point.

Kilcavan defeated their rivals Mountmellick for the first time in 24 years: in an intense physical contest by 3 points, won by the great pace of their younger players: Sean Lalor, Adam Hunt, Cian Ryle and Niall Lalor, who utilised their speed and out ran rivals Mountmellick. This is a very talented young team seeking to make their mark at senior level for the first time.

Ballylinan held a five-point lead with near 20 minutes to go, but Ballyfin produced a superb eight-point unanswered burst to turn the game around and go three points ahead  in injury time before Ballylinan again equalised with a goal in the last kick of normal time, taking the game to extra time where Ballyfin prevailed to claim their place in the final. Courtesty of the brilliance and resilence of talisman Sean Moore and both Darragh Connolly and Adam Connolly. Overcoming adversity. Their experience as a senior side for over a decade was on display.

Both teams in their semi finals vs Mountmellick and vs Ballylinan proved their ability to perform under high pressure when the odds are against them.

Kilcavan deservedly survived a frantic derby against Mountmellick in the LOETB Centre of Excellence to secure a three-point victory and book their place in the Intermediate Championship final. There was drama from the opening minute as Rory Lalor and Ian Dunne both saw goal attempts denied by Mountmellick goalkeeper Adam Connolly. Niall Lalor opened the scoring before Cian Ryle converted two frees. Mountmellick responded when Jarlath Connolly played Tadhg Culliton through for the opening goal, but Sean Lalor produced a great finish for Kilcavan. Points from Jarlath Connolly, Aaron Tarpey, Niall Lalor and Ian Dunne left Kilcavan 1-6 to 1-2 ahead at half-time.

Mountmellick started brightly after the restart through Shane Conran and Jim Scully, but Evan Hunt then supplied Adam Hunt, who finished to the net for Kilcavan’s second goal. Hunt and Sean Lalor added points before Scully found Colm Coss, who fired Mountmellick’s second goal. Scully and Conran reduced the deficit further, but Rory Lalor and Ryle responded. Jack Gorman’s late point set up a tense finish, but Kilcavan held firm through six minutes of injury time. Final score 2.10 to 2.07.

Ballyfin booked their place in the Laois Shopping Centre IFC final after overcoming Ballylinan in extra time in an exhilarating semi-final in Annanough.

Ballylinan controlled much of the opening half and led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time, with Gary Walsh converting four frees. Jack Julian then struck a goal after Cathal Fennessy won possession, putting Ballylinan five points clear in the 37th minute.

Ballyfin responded with eight unanswered points, including three from Adam Connolly, while Sean Moore added three frees. Ballyfin then moved three ahead entering injury time, but Ballylinan forced extra time when Gary Walsh won possession and found Ryan Brady, who fired into the net with virtually the last kick of normal time.

Ballyfin took control in extra time. Sean Moore and Darragh Prendergast added points before Darragh Connolly found the net. James Moore, Ciaran Quinn and Moore also scored as Ballyfin pulled clear.

Ballyfin won 1-23 to 2-10.

Previous Meeting: Round 2 IFC 2026

Ballyfin 1.16

KIlcavan 4.6

Right from the throw-in, it was clear neither side wanted to hold back. Ballyfin built their game on picking off points from all angles, steadying the ship with consistent scores from patient build ups of possession. They managed to find the back of the net once, which proved crucial, but they mostly rely on picking apart a defense with holding possession and patiently waiting for the opportunity to pop the ball over the bar.

Kilcavan, on the other hand, had a totally different blueprint: green flags. They didn’t just score goals; they hammered them home. Scoring four goals in a single championship match usually guarantees a comfortable win, but their issue was stringing points together between those massive bursts of energy.

Just when it looked like Ballyfin had done enough to comfortably pull away, Kilcavan launched a massive, defiant late surge. They threw absolutely everything at Ballyfin in the final few minutes, completely hunting them down.

In the end, Ballyfin barely survived the onslaught. A late point allowed them to hold on by the absolute skin of their teeth,winning it by a single point to book their spot directly into the semi-finals. Kilcavan walked off the pitch defeated but proved to everyone watching that they have the firepower to hurt Ballyfin.

The Key Takeaway for the Final

Ballyfin might have the edge in terms of a decade and more long worth of senior experience and point-scoring consistency, but Kilcavan’s ability to explode into life and score goals out of nowhere makes them incredibly dangerous. Ballyfin cannot afford to switch off for even a second this Saturday. Despite this being Kilcavan’s first final in 65 years, they have proved they are not just lucky to be here, it is deserved and they are dangerous.

SCORERS –  Ballyfin: Sean Moore 0-6 (four frees), Adam Connolly 0-4 (two two-pointers), Darragh Prendergast 1-1, Darragh Connolly 0-2, James Finn 0-2 (two-pointer), James Moore 0-1. Kilcavan: Adam Hunt 3-1, Cian Ryle 0-5 (two frees, one two-pointer free), Sean Lalor 1-0.