It was their years in the Offaly Championships, their first appearance in an Offaly final, and it was also a day of mechanical mishaps for their transport; but yet Ballyskenagh (Roscrea), won their hard-fought first Offaly Junior Hurling Final by 2-7 to 2-4 when they met Blackwood Rovers in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday last.
The team from Tipperary border arrived late because of their bus breaking down and after a string of opening scores, they were left trailing 0-4 to Blackwood’s 1-2 at the interval; when it certainly looked as if Blackwood would mop them up and sweep home to an easy win.
A much more fiery Ballyskenach opened up in the second half, and in devastating style swapped score for score with their hard hitting opponents to win by a 3 points margin.
They levelled the issue in three minutes after resuming, but Blackwood forged ahead again. On the 10th minute Ballyskenagh edged out in front once more and after a brace of goals from Moloney and McDonald and in the remaining quarter hour the badly shaken Blackwood Rovers never recovered and Ballyskenagh were worthy winners of the title even though a herculean effort was made by John Minnock to score the equaliser as time ticked on.
Mr. Johnny Spain (Drumcullen) handled the game admirably as a referee; while from the side line the game evoked all the best traditions of parish hurling, with the supporters not content at being seated, lining the sidelne, much to the displeasure of the linesmen. Played in a fine sporting fashion and with lively banter between the opposing supporters, the game was enjoyable and the partisan shouts of encouragement were warming in the chilly winter air.
Ballyskenagh were in fine fettle, bringing with them that tinge of Tipperary hurling which made them masters on the ground. The Franks, Feehan, McDonald and Moloney were excellent in attack in the second half, while the defending lines produced excellent men in Keeshan, Dooley and O’Shea.
The man of the match for Blackwood Rovers was John Minnock - a tower of strength in centrefleld, he never gave up and his brilliant try for the equaliser in the very last seconds of play were a fine tribune to a fine sportsman. I
It was good to see Barney Pyke in action again on the forwards, while Carthage Minnock had a good game in centrefield. On the attack Dan Conway and Patsy Leonard were the best while the defending line of Condron, Molloy and Meara backed goalie O'Meara in concerted fashion.
The Scoring.
The game opened with Blackwood Rovers rending several wides but a more accurate Ballyskenagh shooting brigade notched four points in a row from McLoughlin, Feehan, Franks and Moloney.
Twenty five minutes play had elapsed when Blackwood gained their first point but in the remaining five minutes D. Conway levelled with a goal and John Minnock scored the point that put them ahead 1-2 to 0-4 at the interval.
In the second half Keeshan levelled for Balllyskenagh with a point from a 21 yards free after 3 minutes play. Two minutes later Minnock put Backwood ahead again with a goal from a 21 yards free. Dan Conway put Blackwood in what seemed to be ‘easy street’ with a goal five minutes later when the Ballyskenagh backs were caught out of position.
On the 12th minute Ballyskenagh got their opening goal from Mick Moloney and three minutes afterwards they forged out in front with McDonald's goal. Keeshan added a point as if for good measure.
In the remaining ten minutes John Minnock's free was pounded upon by Patsy Leonard for a point. But Ballyskenagh gained another 21 yards free and D. Franks negatived with a similar score.
Towards the end the Rovers were attacking and had very hard luck when Barney Pyke's goal was disallowed - the whistle had gone for a free. Still hoping to gain the equaliser, one of their forwards missed an open goal and a 70 was scant reward. Taken by John Minnock it was well centred and another Blackwood free as Ballyskenagh fought hard to keep their net clear. Minnock's shot was again well directed but the Ballyskenagh backs held out and the time was up… they were winners by 2-7 to 2-4.
The Teams
Ballyskenach: J. Dooley, B. McLoughlin, P. Dooley, D. Walsh, M. O’Shea, P. McLoughlin, J. Keeshan, D. Franks, J. Nolan, P. Franks, J. Hogan, E. Franks, P. Feehan, J. McDonald, M. Moloney
Blackwood Rovers: T O’Meara, P. Condron, C. Molloy, J. O’Meara, T Feehan, D. O'Meara, J. Lyons. C. Minnock, J. Minnock, J. Doyle, J. Egan, B. Pyke, J. Flanagan, D. Conway, P. J. Leonard.
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