Ballyskenach
produced a great second half display to come from behind capture the Offaly
Intermediate Hurling title in an entertaining final at Lusmagh on Sunday last.
Final
By John O'Callaghan
Ballyskenach 2-11 ....... Killeigh/Raheen 0-10 Ballyskenach
produced a great second half display to come from behind capture the Offaly
Intermediate Hurling title in an entertaining final at Lusmagh on Sunday last.
Killeigh/Raheen looked the better team in the first half and deservedly led by 0-7 to 0-2 a minute before the break when Padraig McLoughlin got through for a Ballyskenach goal to put a completely different complexion on the game.
With the wind behind them in the second half Ballyskenach looked a different team. It took them just five minutes to wipe out their three point interval deficit and they gradually edged away from their opponents before sealing victory with an injury time goal.
Ballyskenach went into the game as favourites but they looked anything but that in the first half when Killeigh/Raheen dictated matters. But for some wayward shooting (six wides in the first 12 minutes) Killeigh Raheen would have been much further ahead and those misses proved costly.
Killeigh/Raheen's main problems lay in their attack. Their starting forwards only scored three points from play and that simply is not sufficient to win a county final at any level. It took them 24 minutes to score in the second half and the goal that they needed to get them back into the game never looked like coming.
Padraig McLoughlin's goal on the stroke of half time was just the boost Ballyskenach needed. They had gone 22 minutes without scoring at that point and it left them very much within striking distance of K/R for the second half.
It was a much livelier Ballyskenach team in the second half, particularly in attack. As in their semi-final against Birr, they were content to take their points and quickly wiped out K/R's advantage and built up a lead of their own. They never quite put K/R out of their reach and a goal at any stage would have brought Killeigh/Raheen right back into contention. The game was in injury time when Philip McLoughlin, just on as a sub, got the goal that finally put daylight between the sides.
This week last year Ballyskenach were looking ahead to a junior final. Now just 12 months later they are looking forward to playing with the big guns in the senior championship. It is a remarkably quick rise through the ranks but they are a young side with a number of talented players and they are capable of holding their own in the top flight.
Killeigh/Raheen will be disappointed to have fallen at the final hurdle but on the day they can have few complaints. They failed to fully exploit the opportunities that came their way in the first half and were unable to hold a better balanced Ballyskenach outfit after the break.
Paul Mulvehill opened the scoring for Killeigh/Raheen in the first minute. John Dooley and Donal Golden had Ballyskenach ahead after seven minutes but the next six points all came to Killeigh/Raheen. Willie O'Connell pointed two long range frees and John Brady accounted for the other four, two two from play and two from frees. Goalkeeper Philip Deering kept them ahead with some great saves, particularly one diving save to touch a drive from Donal Golden heading for the top corner around the post. A minute before the break Padraig McLoughlin gathered the ball from a John Dooley sideline cut and crashed the ball to the roof of the net. A further point from a John Brady free left Killeigh/Raheen ahead by 0-8 to 1-2 at halftime.
It took Ballyskenach just five minutes to get back on level terms. John Dooley pointed a free, added another from play and Padraig McLoughlin raised the other white flag. Donal Golden put them ahead ten minutes into the half and then John Dooley pointed a '65' after Philip Deerig made another fine save from Donal Golden. John Dooley and Peter Murphy stretched the lead to four points before Aidan Deering had K/R's first score of the half after 24 minutes. John Dooley and Willie O'Connell exchanged points from ‘65’s before Aidan Franks pointed for Ballyskenach. In injury time Philip Mt:Loughlin beat advancing goalkeeper Philip Deering to a long ball to flick the ball to the net with his first touch for the clinching score.
Michael Ryan, Cathal Murphy and Donal Franks stood out in a good Ballyskenach defence, Ollie Ryan did some great work around the middle of the field and John Dooley, Padraig McLoughlin and Donal Golden featured in attack.
Philip Deering made some great saves for K/R. Pal Lanigan, Andy O'Grady and Paul O'Rourke impressed in defence. Willie O'Connell was prominent in midfield but the attack failed to sparkle with John Brady faring best.
Scorers; Ballyskenach; John Dooley (0-6, two '65s', one free), Padraig McLoughlin
( 1-1), Philip McLoughlin (1-0), Donal Golden (0-2), Peter Murphy and Aidan
Franks (0-1 each).
Killeigh/Raheen: John Brady (0-5, three frees), Willie O'Connell (0-3, two
frees, one '65'), Paul Mulvehill and Aidan Deering (0-1 each).
BALLYSKENACH: Tomas O'Toole; Eugene Hannon, John Kirwan, Michael Ryan; Liam O'Toole, Cathal Murphy, Donal Franks: Ollie Ryan, Eugene Kirwan: John Dooley, Noel Murphy, Peter Murphy: Aidan Franks; Donal Golden, Padraig McLoughlin. Subs. Bill Lalor (for Eugene Kirwan, 60 mins), Philip McLoughlin (for Peter Murphy, 60 mins).
KILLEIGH/RAHEEN: Philip Deering: Niall O'Rourke, Fintan Kelly, Pat Lanigan; Andy O'Grady, Paul O'Rourke, John O'Rourke: Willie O’Connell, Donal PlunKett: Andrew Brophy, Paul Mulvehill. Declan Gorman: Brian Deering, Enda Daly, John Brady. Subs. Aidan Deering (for Donal Plunkett. 37 mins), Alan Berry (for Paul O'Rourke, inj, 54 mins).
REFEREE: Dan Lawless (Kilcormac/Killoughey).