Ballybrown edge past Ahane to set up Premier U21 final clash with Mungret St Pauls

The sides met in the premier minor final in 2020 where Ballybrown were comprehensive winners.

Ballybrown joined Mungret St Pauls in the Limerick Premier U21 Hurling final by virtue of a 0-21 to 0-13 win over Ahane on Tuesday evening.

The Clarina outift will be hoping to add U21s honours to the minor (2) and U19 triumphs claimed since 2019.

The City sides will meet this Sunday in the decider at 2pm in Mick Neville Park.

On Tuesday evening, Ballybrown, who were heavy favourites prior to the contest kicked off the scoring as they opened up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead early on.

Ronan Fox’s fourth free of the evening had proceedings all square after 13 minutes as Peter Donoghue gave the East side their first lead shortly after.

Aiden O’Connor responded for Ballybrown but again Fox gave Ahane the lead. But Ballybrown finished strongly to take a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage into the interval.

Scores from Kevin Morrissey and Fox after the restart had Ahane level once more at 0-9 apiece. Ballybrown thundered back into the contest with five on the bounce with All-Ireland winner Colin Coughlan amongst the scorers.

Ahane hit two on the trot to cut the margin to a score before O’Connor and Fox exchanged scores to leave it 0-15 to 0-12 with 13 to play. Coughlan had the next score to further the margin to which O’Connor added to as Ballybrown eventually eased to victory.

That maintained their 100% start to the competition as they take on Mungret St Pauls in a rematch of their round two clash. On that evening, Ballybrown were 0-18 to 0-16 winners. They also met in the 2020 Minor Premier Final where Ballybrown retained their title with a dominant 3-23 to 0-20 winners.

Mungret St Pauls booked their place in the final on Monday evening as they dethroned champions Doon with a 2-11 to 0-11 victory.