Ballybrown crowned Premier Minor Hurling Champions for the third year running

Ballybrown defeated Monaleen in the 2021 Limerick Premier Minor Hurling Final on Tuesday evening.

A brilliant display from Ballybrown ensured a third successive minor title as they beat Monaleen 2-30 to 1-17 in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Aidan O’Connor became the third Ballybrown man in a row to lift the trophy, joining 2019 captain Conor O’Neill and last year’s captain Colin Coughlan.

That 2019 success ended a 31-year wait for the Clarina outfit.

O’Connor opened the scoring before Monaleen replied with three on the bounce. But the defending champions replied with six of the next seven scores, taking a two point lead into the waterbreak.

Paul O’Neill got the first goal of the game shortly after the restart as Colin Coughlan’s third of the night pushed Ballybrown seven clear.

O’Neill had added his second goal before Monaleen troubled the scoreboard in the second half with the lead 2-13 to 0-6 after 25 minutes.

An O’Connor free rounded off the first half scoring as Ballybrown led by 2-15 to 0-8 at the break.

Ballybrown continued their dominance in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 0-8 to 0-3 to move eighteen points clear.

Monaleen did reply with a goal of their own after 55 to reduced the deficit to 2-26 to 1-16. But Ballybrown hit the last three scores to secure a deserved win and a first ever hat-trick of titles at the grade.

It continues an incredible run of success for Colin Coughlan as he added to his already bourgeoning trophy cabinet with the 19-year-old amassing nearly every accolade in the game in his teenage years.

Attention will now turn to the Premier U21 Championship for Ballybrown which kicks off on October 19. They are in Group 1 alongside Doon, Kilmallock, Na Piarsaigh and Adare.

Monaleen are in the ‘A’ Championship which begins on October 24.