U16HC Division 1Cup final: All square in Trim thriller

16 October 2026

Kiltale's Eanna Horgan and Frankie Gilsenan close in on Tagdh McGovern Kilmessan during the Under 16 Division 1 cup final at Lomans Park

Kilmessan 4-12 Kiltale 3-15

Kilmessan and Kiltale returned to Lomans Park for the second time in five days, this time to decide the destination of the Under 16 Division 1 hurling championship title. In the end these two very talented sides could not be separated even after extra time in front of a very large crowd at the Trim venue.

Kilmessan were first to trouble the scoreboard with points from Keelan Power and Jamie O’Brien. Kiltale hit back and dominated the next 15 minutes. Points from David Bulloch, Frankie Gilsenan and Tom McVann was followed by a Gilsenan goal. Andrew and David Bulloch completed the scoring spree and the Maroon & Green were 1-5 to 0-2 in front. Three in a row from midfielder O’Brien kept Kilmessan in the game and they went to the half time huddle 1-5 to 0-5 in arrears.

Kiltale took a firm grip on the game with a second goal from Gilsenan early in the second half. Further scores from Andrew and David Bulloch, Cathal Byrne and the impressive Gilsenan extended that lead 2-9 to 0-7 and Paddy Kelly’s charges looked set for victory with ten minutes remaining. Kilmessan had other ideas. Harry Maguire and O’Brien left six in it but before the full time whistle time whistle O’Brien and Michael Moran raised green flags to force extra time.

Kiltale rose to the occasion again. David Bulloch pointed and Gilsenan was in again for his third goal. A minute later Keelan Power found the back of the Kiltale net, game on again. Kiltale led 3-12 to 3-10 at the end of the first ten minutes.

O’Brien and Luke Reynolds Donnelly pointed for the team in white before Darragh Reynolds gave them the lead with a fine goal. Could Kiltale respond with time almost up? David Bulloch narrowed the lead to one and half back Billy Black sent over the equaliser before referee Frank Scully blew the full time whistle.

The replay is a game not to be missed.

Kiltale: Turlough Purcell, Sean Phelan, Conor Rispin, Rian McCormack, Harry Mulvanny, Padraig Byrne, Billy Black 0-1, Eanna Horgan, Cathal Byrne 0-2, Tom Bannon, David Bulloch 0-6, Tom McVann 0-1, Andrew Bulloch 0-2, Dylan Mooney, Frankie Gilsenan 3-3, Michael Rispin, Adam Bannon, Edward O’Shea, Adam Dunne, Conor Gray, Sean Mongey

Kilmessan: Simon Hobbs, Dylan Clarke, Adam Horan, Tandy McGovern, Colm O’Neill, Michael Byrne, Dinny Reilly, Jamie O’Brien 1-7, Darragh Reynolds 1-0, Michael Moran 1-1, Keelan Power 1-1, Finn Duffy, Harry Maguire 0-2, Luke Reynolds Donnelly 0-1, Cathal Battersby, Padraig Connell, Jasper Bennett, Jamie Cullen

Referee Frank Scully