As the half time whistle was blown, Ballyskenach failed to register a score in their game with Shinrone. Shinrone, however, could only manage to register 1-2 during the period and when play resumed, it was Ballyskenach who dictated the play and went on to score 4-2 without any reply from their opponents.
On Sunday's display neither team could fancy their chances for championship honours this year. To put it mildly, the game lacked any real interest throughout and the standard generally was very poor.
Even though they failed to score in the first half, their first score didn’t come until the game was 37 minutes old, one got the impression that Ballyskenach would come out on top. Two factors helped give this impression, the fact that Shinrone, though having most of the play could only chalk up 1-2 in the first half and the slightly better approach to the game by Ballyskenach, even though scores failed to come.
Generally Dull
The game never got off its feet and while there were a few comparatively exciting moments late in the game, it was for the most part dull and uninspiring.
The first quarter produced no score and play in this period was lifeless. Neither side, though given ample opportunity, seemed to care where the goalposts were. Whenever a player got possession, his main object was to get rid of the ball and leave the consequences to fate. Tom Maher pointed a Shinrone free at the end of the first quarter and another spell of listless hurling followed, 12 minutes in fact, before another score game. This one, a point, came from Shinrone’s Dessie Regan. A minute from the interval, Jimmy Burke shot home a goal.
Ballyskenagh Take Over
There was a little more life in the second half. Both sides put greater spirit into the opening minutes and play swayed from end to end, though scores were hard to come by. After 7 minutes, Johnny McDonnell finished a Ballyskenach attack with a goal. Three minutes later, they went ahead when Tadhg Kirby shot home the best score of the match, having made an opening himself. Ballyskenagh were now definitely on top in all sectors and scores followed from McDonnell and Billy Flynn (1-0) each and Eddie Franks (0-2).
The winners, though poor enough in the first half, showed better combination and their lack of scores could be attributed in some way to the hard tackling Shinrone defence. John Landy in goals saved his side from many attacks and the full back line, in particular P. Kavanagh, showed up very well. Their opposite trio, led by Paddy Dooley, was also very sound and the game could be called a game of defences. Ballyskenach’s Paddy McLoughlin came into the game in a big way in the last quarter, while Brendan Keeshan gave a very good display on the wing.
Gerry Kirwan had matters much his own way at midfield and Eddie Franks, a demon for work, completed an unbeatable line. Up front, Eddie Delaney was always in the midst of things without really achieving anything worthwhile and the full forward line got into its stride in the second half.
Tom Maher at centre half for Shinrone was very reliable all through and in the attack Jimmy Burke, Flan Maher and Liam De Roe were most prominent.
The Teams
Ballyskenach – J. Dooley, J. Kirwan, P. Dooley, D. Walsh, B. Keeshan, P. McLoughlin, D. Connors, G. Kirwan, E. Franks. E. Delaney, J. Bolger, J. O’Shea, B. Flynn, J. McDonnell, T. Kirby
Shinrone – J. Landy, S. Burke, S. Hoctor, P. Kavanagh, B. Mullally, T. Maher, S. Quirke, M. McKenna, H. Bevans, L. De Roe, F. Maher, J. Maher, S. Hoctor, D. Regan, J. Burke.