Ballyskenach
completed the Offaly Junior hurling double when they added the 1994 League crown
to the championship title they collected last October, when they defeated Drumcullen
in the final at Kinnitty last Saturday night.
League Final
Ballyskenach
completed the Offaly Junior hurling double when they added the 1994 League crown
to the championship title they collected last October, when they defeated Drumcullen
in the final at Kinnitty last Saturday night.
In a keenly contested game played on a bitingly cold evening, Ballyskenach were given a stiff test by Drumcullen and only began to put daylight between the sides midway through the second half.
After their convincing march to the Junior championship title last year, Ballyskenach were favoured to win this game but it didn't all go according to plan. It must be said that they were minus seven of the side which captured that title and had some of these players been available, their victory on Saturday might have been achieved with less anxiety.
Early on it looked to be going according to the script and a goal after just three minutes set them on their way. Drumcullen goaled in the first real attack after nine minutes but had fallen 3-2 to 1-2 behind before half time. However Drumcullen finished the half strongly and actually went in leading at the break by 3-3 to 3-2.
That jolted Ballyskenach and they regained the lead four minutes after the restart. There was still nothing in it until a burst of 1-3 in four minutes midway through the half put them seven points clear and the result wasn't really in doubt after that.
As the scoreline would suggest both backlines were somewhat porous and defensive mistakes were responsible for a number of the goals. It generated a lot of excitement and led to fluctuating fortunes but they are not the type of mistakes mentors like to see.
Overall Ballyskenach were the better team and they looked to have the better balance through the field. Their forwards were lively and looked the more threatening. They moved about well, dragging the Drumcullen defence out of position, and look some good scores.
The Ballyskenach full forward line did the real damage and between them the three players scored 5-4 of their. total, all from play, which is very impressive scoring. They got a good supply of ball from outfield and then did what was expected of them after that.
While they did rattle in four goals, the Drumcullen forwards didn't have the same sharpness. Having grabbed the lead on the stroke of half time, they were unable to build on that advantage after the interval and it took them 19 minutes to score in that half and then from a free.
The Ballyskenach defence did tighten up more in the second half and didn't allow Drumcullen the opportunities they had given them in the first half. The Drumcullen scoring was fairly well spread out with six players getting their eight scores, but they lacked a forward to pose a persistent threat to the Ballyskenach defence.
It was a free flowing game played in a great spirit and remarkably eighteen minutes had passed before referee Jack Delaney had to award the first free. In all there were only 17 frees over the hour and both sides played the game as it should be played, hard and fair and concentrating on hurling.
Ballyskenach have graduated to intermediate ranks for this year's championship and with Donal Franks due back from the Lebanon shortly, and the return of a number of injured players, including the Murphy brothers, to bolster the ranks, they could have a big say in the destination of that championship as well this year.
It took just three minutes for Ballyskenach to get on the mark with their first goal. Eugene Hannon sent the ball in and Aidan Franks crossing from the right, gathered possession and cracked a good shot low to the net.
They came close to adding to that shortly afterwards when Kieran Dooley made a good save and Philip McLoughlin's shot was deflected onto the goalpost and cleared away. He made another good save from Denis Egan after that as Ballyskenach threatened to run riot early on. Philip McLoughlin got their first point after eight minutes after collecting a passing from Eugene Hannon.
Drumcullen got a boost a minute later in their first real attack. Martin McCarthy sent a long ball goalwards, goalkeeper Donie Wade and corner back Ger Mullally appeared to have the situation under control but there was indecision between them and Tim Guinan nipped in the flick the ball away from them and P.J. Kavanagh applied the finishing touch to put it in the net.
Ballyskenach responded well and Padraig McLoughlin sent a ball goalwards. Philip McLoughlin and Eamon Spain contested the ball in the air and as it broke from them the full forward reacted quickest to steer the ball into the net. P.J. Kavanagh scored Drumcullen's first point and then Sean Guinan raised another white flag with a good point from 50m.
After 19 minutes a long free from the Ballyskenach defence broke into the path of Philip McLoughlin and he made no mistake from close range. When Aidan Franks added a point they were two goals clear.
Four minutes before the break Drumcullen got back into it. Eoin Lyons prevented Tim Guinan's shot from going wide and as the ball broke across the square he followed up to send it to the net. Des Mannion pointed a free from the half way line and then from another of his long frees Sean Guinan doubled on the ball in the air to send it to the net and left Drumcullen 3-3 to 3-2 in front at half time.
Two minutes after the restart John Dooley had the sides level with a point from a free and then Philip McLoughlin put Ballyskenach a point ahead. It stayed that way for eight minutes before Ballyskenach hit their fourth goal. Eugene Hannon played a good ground ball into the corner for Philip McLoughlin to run on to and his cross was finished to the net by Denis Egan. Points followed in quick succession from John Dooley, Eugene Hannon and Aidan Franks to put Ballyskenach seven points clear.
Coleman Dooley and John Dooley exchanged points from frees and then with three minutes left Drumcullen netted for the fourth time. Fran Reddin's shot was diverted to the net by Ronan Quegan who nipped across in front of the goalkeeper. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly wiped out as Eugene Hannon's shot at the other end came to the unmarked Denis Egan at the edge of the square and he gave the goalkeeper no chance.
In the Ballyskenach defence, Keith Russell, particularly in the second half, Tomas O'Toole and John Kirwan played well. Eugene Kirwan and Ollie Ryan gave them the edge in midfield and in attack Eugene Hannon set up a lot of scores, and the full forward line of Aidan Franks, Philip McLoughlin and Denis Egan took them well.
Bosco Dooley, Mannion and Eamon Spain battled hard in the Drumcullen defence, Michael Dooley put in a lot of effort around midfield, and Ronan Quegan, Sean Guinan and P.J. Kavanagh did most work in attack.
Scorers: Ballyskenach; Philip McLoughlin (2-2), Denis Egan (2- 0), Aidan Franks (1-2), John Dooley (0-3, two frees), Eugene Hannon (0-1).
Drumcullen; P.J. Kavanagh and Sean Guinan (1-1 each), Eoin Lyons and Ronan Quegan (1-0 each), Des Mannion and Coleman Dooley (0-1 each, both frees).
BALLYSKENACH: Donie Wade; Ger Mullally, John Kirwan, Michael Ryan; Keith Russell, Tomas O'Toole, Liam O'Toole; Eugene Kirwan, Ollie Ryan; Eugene Hannon, Joe Dooley, Padraig McLoughlin; Aidan Franks, Philip McLoughlin, Denis Egan.
DRUMCULLEN: Kieran Dooley; Pat Heffernan, Eamon Spain, Keith Nugent; Bosco Dooley, Des Mannion, Ger McIntyre; Martin McCarthy, Michael Dooley; Eoin Lyons, Coleman Dooley, Ronan Quegan; P.J. Kavanagh, Sean Guinan, Tim Guinan.
Subs. Gavin Nugent (for Tim Guinan, 47 mins), Fran Reddin (Michael Dooley, 48 mins)
REFEREE: Jack Delaney (Kinnitty).