Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel Junior C Summer League Final
Thomastown 2-12 James Stephens 1-9
Two first half goals ultimately proved the difference between Thomastown and James Stephens when these sides met in the Junior C league final on the Saturday evening of the August bank holiday weekend. Both of these sides have been to the fore in this competition in recent years with James Stephens having won the Junior C league in 2025 while Thomastown won the 2025 Junior C Cup competition – and the evidence of this 2026 league final suggests that both will again be strong contenders for the Junior C Cup later this year.
The match was played on a warm evening and with the ball bouncing unevenly at times on a pitch due to the recent sustained warm weather conditions, both sides were slow to settle and they were level at 0-2 each after ten minutes. A highlight of the match was the high quality goalkeeping on show from Clodagh Galway (T) and Jenna Larkin (JS) with both making fine saves over the hour. The first half was largely very even on general play but the two key scores were goals from the impressive Sophie McCabe and Anna Farrell for Thomastown in the 15th and 29th minutes which gave Thomastown a good 2-4 to 0-5 lead at the break.
James Stephens pushed hard to reduce the deficit on the resumption but struggled to make inroads against a Thomastown defence well marshalled by Una Donnelly and Sinead Galway. Indeed, they continued to match James Stephens point for point up to the 50th minute when the score read 2-8 to 0-9 by the 50th minute. James Stephens continued to press and were rewarded when Roisin Leahy crashed a close range free to the net to give them hope of a comeback – but Thomastown refused to panic and added further points from Sophie McCabe (two frees, 1 from play) in the closing five minutes to record a deserved win.
Thomastown: Clodagh Galway, Megan O Reilly, Una Donnelly, Aoife Coverdale, Niamh O Shea, Sinead Galway, Fiona Farrell, Aisling Coverdale, Ellen Treacy, Samantha Kavanagh, Anna Farrell, Sophie McCabe, Laura Challoner, Chloe Nevin, Sarah Jane Morrissey, Subs: Ruth Ryan, Orlaith Kirwan, Marie Farrell, Caoimhe Fennelly, Aoife Ravenhall, Hannah O Reilly, Realtin Lannon, Millie Grace, Katie Begley.
James Stephens: Jenna Larkin, Ciara McDonald, Keri Hennessy, Molly Purcell, Niamh Leahy, Molly Burke, Roisin o Sullivan, Tara McGuire, Lucy Lennon, Aoibh Lawler, Cadie Boyle, Roisin Leahy, Sarah Kenny, Mia Dunne, Áine White. Subs: Lucy McGrath, Laura Leahy, Niamh Moore, Yoma Etaferi, Caoimhe Moran, Aoileann Cantwell, Sorcha Larkin, Lucy Coomey, Daisy Coomey, Anna Bergin, Niamh o Hara, Emily Lauhoff, Maura Barton, Alice Quinn, Caoimhe Egan, Eimear Gladney.
Referee: Willie Kearney
By PRO Tue 4th Aug
