Sars edge Ballinacurra to Junior C HC title
- Oct 21,2026
Ballinacurra 1-15
A Cathal Galvin goal six minutes from time proved the difference, as Sarsfields edged out Ballinacurra to claim the East Cork Junior C Hurling Championship title, but immense credit must go to the beaten finalists.
The 2026 season was the first time that Ballinacurra fielded a hurling team in almost a decade, and what a return to action it was. So agonisingly close to a championship title on their return. Certainly they’ll be back next season.
But last Sunday was Sarsfields’ day, as the Riverstown side finished with a flurry to snatch the win. Darragh Fitzgerald’s goal for Ballinacurra had drawn the sides level with 10 minutes to go, but Darragh O’Connor nudged Sars back ahead.
The Riverstown men kept pushing and forced Ballinacurra goalkeeper Brian Sigerson to make a big save – and not for the first time – but Cathal Galvin was there to finish to the net in the 54th minute, and the Sars’ minor put them in the ascendancy.
Darragh O’Flynn added a brilliant point to put Sars four ahead and Ballinacurra almost responded with a goal of their own, but Jack Austin made a strong stop, and Sarsfields prevailed.
The first period had been cagey in parts, both sides guilty of wayward shooting. There was very little between the teams for the majority of the opening half – they were level on four occasions – but Sigerson was twice called into action to make big saves to deny Galvin and John Kelleher, with the latter just back from injury.
Sars closed out strongly to take a 0-10 to 0-7 lead at the interval. In the second half, Ballinacurra kept pace with their opponents, leaving it close across the first 10 minutes, until they managed to restore parity.
A well-worked goal in the 49th minute was converted by Fitzgerald, and a superb point from Patrik Kane had them back on level terms after 51 minutes. But Sars would find their groove late on to seal it, and Diarmuid Curtin accepted the title.
Defenders Sean O’Connell and John Carthy stood out for the Riverstown side, while Eoghan Hegarty and Scott Richards were impressive for Ballinacurra. Fitzgeralds Conor and Darragh were in serious shooting form, and midfielder Kane was so influential.
All pictures provided by Alan Stanton (Instagram @anothershotphotography_)
Scorers for Sarsfields: Z Herlihy 0-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65), C Galvin 1-1, B Galvin, C Gaffey 0-3 each, J Kelly, D O’Flynn, D O’Connor, A Leahy, D O’Donovan, J Kelleher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballinacurra: C Fitzgerald 0-11 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65), D Fitzgerald 1-1, G Harty, P Kane, O McCarthy 0-1 each.
Sarsfields:
1. Jack Austin
2. John Carty, 3. Cathal Quirke, 4. Diarmuid Curtin
5. Sean O’Connell, 6. Kevin Murphy, 7. Tadhg O’Brien
8. Darragh O’Donovan, 9. Adam Leahy
10. Brian Galvin, 11. James O’Farrell, 12. Zak Herlihy
13. Cormac Gaffey, 14. John Kelleher, 15. Cathal Galvin
Subs used:
23. Darragh O’Flynn for O’Donovan (35)
20. Darragh O’Connor for Kelleher (40 inj)
17. Rian Boyle for Galvin (50)
22. Jack Kelly for O’Farrell (50)
Subs unused: 18. Cillian Long, 19. Darragh Pomeroy, 21. David Dawson, 24. Matt Clifford, 25. Sean Timon, 26. Jack Ryan, 27. Daniel Duggan.
Ballinacurra:
1. Brian Sigerson
2. Callum McSweeney, 3. Eoghan Hegarty, 4. Trevor Costigan
5. Yohannis Mehigan, 6. Scott Richards, 7. Corey Mackessy
8. Patrik Kane, 9. Jake Shanahan
10. Glenn Harty, 11. Conor Fitzgerald, 12. Darragh Fitzgerald
13. Keelan Kennedy, 14. Evan Rowlands, 15. Ollie Murray
Subs used:
29. Killian Harty for G Harty (HT)
22. Oisin McCarthy for Shanahan (38)
17. Rob Swayne for Mackessy (42)
23. Dave O’Donoghue for Murray (45)
18. Shane Flavin for McSweeney (55)
Subs unused: 16. Thomas O’Leary, 19. Darren O’Callaghan, 20. Alex Cahill, 21. Jack Mackessy, 24. Daniel O’Sullivan, 25. Mark O’Keeffe, 26. Craig Murray, 27. Shane Byrne, 28. Tom O’Meara, 30. Steven Curtain, 31. Alex Sheehan.
Referee: Gavin Lynch-Frahill (Erin's Own)
