Sunday's club championship round-up

By Kevin Egan

AIB Munster Junior Hurling Club Final

Russell Rovers (Cork) 2-13 St. Mary's (Waterford) 0-11

AIB Munster Junior Football Club Final

Na Gaeil (Kerry) 3-13 Mullinahone (Tipperary) 1-1

AIB All-Ireland Junior Football Quarter-Final

Blackhill (Monaghan) 2-11 Thomas McCurtain's 0-10

Na Gaeil of Kerry and Russell Rovers of Cork were crowned Munster junior football and hurling champions this afternoon and the scorelines would suggest that both sides did so comfortably, even though Russell Rovers were pushed to the wire in an absorbing clash with St. Mary’s of Waterford at Fraher Field.

Storm Atiyah forced the switch from Mallow to Dungarvan but that certainly didn’t bother the Rebel County representatives in the early stages as they burst out of the blocks with a goal from Josh Beausang in the first minute. St. Mary’s, under the guidance of former Waterford hurler and All Star Dan Shanahan, had the aid of the breeze in the first half and with Eoin Kearns in good form from frees, they drew level by half time, 0-7 to 1-4.

Beausang (who ended the game with 1-8) and his colleagues controlled the game after half time however and gradually moved five points clear, before making their 2-13 to 0-11 win safe with a late Brian Hartnett goal.

Mallow did play host to the junior football decider, where Na Gaeil of Kerry easily brushed aside the challenge of Tipperary side Mullinahone. It finished 3-13 to 1-1 in favour of the Tralee side, with both Mullinahone scores coming from captain Kevin Walzer in second half injury time.

County men Jack Barry and Diarmuid O’Connor were the driving force for the winners at midfield, with Dara Devine their goalscorer as they moved 1-7 to no score clear at half time. Mullinahone defended valiantly despite being under immense pressure but they cracked in the last ten minutes when Andrew Barry and James O’Connor added further goals.

Also today on the junior football scene, Blackhill of Monaghan had a successful trip to Ruislip as they edged out Thomas McCurtain’s by 2-11 to 0-10 in the All-Ireland quarter final at McGovern Park. A goal from Michael Geehan and two early points from Hugh Byrne got the Ulster champions out to a solid start but they struggled to shake off the attention of a resolute home side, and it was only when Geehan added his second goal on the cusp of full time that they could start thinking of an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Wexford’s Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, who won the Leinster decider yesterday.