Junior Hurling Final Preview
By Dan Danaher
Starved
of success at adult level for the past decade or more these two small country
clubs are all fired up to make their own piece of history when they cross sticks
in Lusmagh at 3.30 pm. Ballyskenach, who have enjoyed success at underage level
last won this competition in 1977 and competed in the Senior ranks for a few
years after winning the Offaly Intermediate Hmling crown in 1979.
Carrig & Riverstown are also bidding to end a long wait in the wilderness after they won their last County Junior Hurling title in 1979. They fared well in the Intermediate grade for seven or eight years and were beaten narrowly in the 1981, '82 and '83 semi-finals by the eventual champions.
Ballyskenach enter the final as the pre-match favourites following their impressive unbeaten run. These two contestants met in the opening round of the championship which was played on a League basis when BalIys.kenach scored a comprehensive 4-16 to 1-6 victory.
Ballyskenach defeated Shinrone by 3-15 to 1-4, defeated Erin Rovers by 4-18 to 1-5, accounted for Clara by 2-9 to 0-14 and received walkovers from Birr and Tullamore. In the semi-final Ballyskenach scored a satisfying 2-16 to 1-11 victory over a Drumcullen side that had defeated them three times in the last four years.
The team is trained by former Ballyskenach clubman Paddy Kirwan who won an All-Ireland SHC medal with Offaly in 1981. Last year Paddy Kirwan was on the other side of the camp when he guided Birr to victory over his native Ballyskenach in the Offaly U-21 'A' Hurling decider. He has made a big difference since he came to coach the team this year and has got great commitment from players in training.
Interestingly his brother Gerry Kirwan, a well-known and respected referee, is still hurling at 54 years of age and he has three sons on the panel John, Eugene and Mark Kirwan. It is a remarkable achievement for any player to give the commitment and time to training and games at that age.
Two of the victorious 1977 Ballyskenach team Jimmy Middleton and Paddy McLoughlin are now selectors together with Denis Mullally. The nucleus of the Ballyskenach team comes from teams that won the Offaly Minor Hurling 'B' and 'A' titles in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Indeed ten of the team are still U-21 and three panel members Eugene Hannon, Bill Lalor and Aidan Franks are Minors.
Leaving veteran Gary Kirwan aside Ballyskenach have plenty of talented young hurlers like the Murphys Noel, Cathal and Peter, the O'Tooles Liam and Thomas, John Dooley and Padraig McLoughlin. The Ballyskenach halfback line of Cathal Murphy, Donal Franks and Liam O’Toole has been the lynchpin of their success this year while up front John Dooley, Noel Murphy and Padraig Mcloughlin have been notching match winning scores.
Ballyskenach Chairman Noel Russell rates Carrig & Riverstown highly and pointed out they were unlucky to lose to last year's eventual winners Kinnitty. He noted that even though their opponents had started slowly they had got stronger with every game and had a bigger win against Clara in the knockout stages than they did.
The Ballyskenach Chairman said Carrig & Riverstown were a stronger, physical more mature team and he predicts it will be very hard to beat them. He thanked all their sponsors who had given them financial support and added the club was very grateful for all their help.
Carrig & Riverstown have been badly hit by injuries to key players before this game. Willie Ryan played in last Sunday's semi-fmal against Edendeny despite a hand injury after receiving a paing killing injection and had a guard fitted to his hand.
Ger Oakley is on crutches after picking up a leg injury with Birr U-16 hurlers, Michael Hoctor was taken to Tullamore Hospital last Sunday with a shoulder injury and advised not to play for two weeks while John Kennedy is definitely out with a finger injury.
Former Offaly and Birr hurler Declan Hanniffy is trainer and selector of the side with the other two selectors Pat Gleeson and Gerry White. After losing to Ballyskenach, Carrig & Riverstown defeated Shinrone by five points, Tullamore by six points, gained the points against Birr and drew level with Clara thanks to a last minute point.
They finished in joint second place with Clara and defeated them by seven points in a playoff. With players like Sean Og Farrell and Peter Brady, Group One winners Edenderry, who were fancied to win the semi-final, led by a point until Liam O'Brien converted a '65' with the last puck of the game.
Carrig & Riverstown won the replay by two points after a tough but entertaining game of hurling. The return of former clubmm Martin Cashin, who played for over a decade in Laois has strengthened the side considerably while veteran Liam O'Brien has given great leadership on the forty.
Leonard Deane has been playing very well between the posts while Ger and John Oakley, John Kennedy and Wille Rym have made a big contribution to date.
Gerry White describes Ballyskenach as a very good all round athletic team who have to be the favourites because they are the form team this season.
It is hard to argue against Ballyskenach's form this season but Carrig & Riverstown have improved steadily and this final will be totally different than the first round. Carrig & Riverstown's injuries will also work against them and Ballyskenach should be too strong.