Ballinkillen U15s end 36-year wait with Féile Division 2 Shield glory
Ballinkillen had a superb win in the Feile last weekend
A day that demanded everything from 19 young hurlers — and they delivered.
Saturday saw an early start for Ballinkillen GAA’s U15 panel, and indeed for every team and family who converged on Borris in Ossory that morning for the Féile na nGael Division 2 competition. With bags packed and hurls at the ready, our 19 lads set off from home at 8.30am, joining clubs from across the country all united by the same early alarm call and the same sense of excitement and purpose. It is also worth noting that the panel was without a couple of lads on the day due to holidays but that did nothing to dampen the spirit or the performance of those who made the trip. By the time the dust had settled at 5.30pm, Ballinkillen would return home as Shield champions, ending a 36-year wait for national Féile glory that stretched all the way back to 1989. It was a day nobody associated with the club will forget in a hurry.
From the first puck-out at 11am, it was clear that Division 2 was no place for the faint-hearted. Ballinkillen’s opening game came against a strong Portlaois side, and despite a spirited display, the Carlow men were edged out by just two points. A narrow defeat, but far from a demoralising one — the lads had matched one of the competition’s fancied teams for large stretches and knew it.
Game two brought a crucial response. A competitive, hard-fought encounter with Ballyduff of Kerry saw Ballinkillen dig deep and come away with a deserved victory — exactly the lift the panel needed after a tight opener.
The third game introduced a name that would loom large over the rest of the day. Keady Lamh Dhearg of Armagh proved a step too far in the group stage, handing Ballinkillen their second defeat of the day. But rather than deflating the camp, it sharpened their focus. With their group results confirmed, the lads qualified for the Division 2 Shield — and the prospect of meeting some of the day’s finest teams once more in knockout hurling.
The Shield semi-final against Kevin Lynch of Derry was the game of the day. Intense from the first minute to the last, neither side could be separated after normal time, sending the tie into extra time. With tired legs and the emotions of a long day weighing heavy, it was Ballinkillen’s character and team spirit that proved the difference. They found something extra when it mattered most, seeing the game out to book their place in the Shield final.
The final brought a rematch with Keady Lamh Dhearg of Armagh, who had shown throughout the day why they were such worthy opponents. In a contest full of the skill, passion and sportsmanship that makes Féile such a special occasion, Ballinkillen rose to the moment and produced their finest hurling of the day to claim the Division 2 Shield. It was a fitting finale to a competition that had showcased the very best of underage hurling, with clubs travelling from Kerry to Derry and everywhere in between — a reminder of just how special and far-reaching Féile truly is.
Across the five games there were standout moments too numerous to mention — moments of individual brilliance, crucial scores, and passages of play that had supporters on their feet. Each and every one of those moments was a product of the work this panel has put in together, and a testament to what they are capable of when they believe in one another.
The management team were bursting with pride at the final whistle — and rightly so. To prepare a group of young players for the demands of a five-game Féile day, to keep them focused and united through adversity, and to see them lift silverware at the end of it was a tremendous achievement for everyone involved in the set-up.
None of this happens without the incredible support that surrounds this special group of young men. The parents, supporters and everyone at Ballinkillen GAA who played their part — whether on the sideline in Borris in Ossory or cheering from home — all contributed to what was achieved on Saturday. The club’s backing of this panel, on and off the pitch throughout the season, gave these lads the foundation to go out and perform on the biggest underage stage in the country. That support, from the earliest training sessions to the long journey home with a Shield in tow, is what makes Ballinkillen GAA so much more than a team — it is a community.
Days like these remind us why we pour so much into our young players. This group has shown not just ability on the field, but a spirit and togetherness that reflects everything that is great about the club and the people behind it.
The last time Ballinkillen won anything at the national Féile was 1989, well before any of the panel was born. That makes what these 19 young men achieved in Borris in Ossory all the more special. Five games, a full day on the road, and a Shield won through sheer determination, collective spirit, and the unwavering support of their club and families. The club couldn’t be prouder.
