Offaly S.H.C. Group ‘C’
Ballyskenach 4-17 ……. Carrig & Riverstown 0-5
BALLYSKENACH chalked up their first victory of the Offaly senior hurling championship when they defeated a weak Carrig & Riverstown outfit by twenty-four points last Sunday in Shinrone.
Three years ago these sides met in the junior hurling final and little did they realise back then that they'd ever meet in a senior hurling championship tie.
To their credit both clubs have made tremendous strides to climb up the ladder through the grades, however, they have found it difficult to adjust to the top flight.
Ballyskenach and Carrig & Riverstown were rooted to the bottom of the table with no points from three outings prior to last Sunday and at least Ballyskenach's win gives them something to show for their endeavours for the year. They competed very well in Group 'C' and were unfortunate in their three other games where they extended Shinrone, Tullamore and Drumcullen. They have a relatively young side and will have learned from the experience.
It seems Carrig & Riverstown will be retuming to the intermediate ranks next year. In fairness they hurled well in their opening matches against Tullamore and Shinrone (two matches they should have won) but when things went wrong their whole momentum was interrupted. Interest waned at training and the long break between matches didn't help their cause either.
Carrig & Riverstown don't really have the resources to compete at senior level but nevertheless they have to be commended for showing ambition and they were worthy intermediate championship and league winners last year.
As one can imagine there was very little to get excited about in Shinrone. Ballyskenach were 2-5 to 0-2 ahead at the half time break and they hit a procession of scores in the second half. Carrig & Riverstown kept plugging away hut it was to no avail and two Ballyskenach goals in the final ten minutes hammered the last nails into their coffin.
Eugene Hannon, Tomas O'Toole, Cathal Murphy, David Franks, John Dooley and Kevin Franks hurled well for a rampant Ballyskenach side, while Leonard Deane, John King, Kevin Carey and John Oakley put up brave resistence for C & R.
BALLYSKENACH: Michael O'Hara; Tomas O'Toole, John Gunnell, Eugene Kirwan; Eugene Hannon, Cathal Murphy, Mark Kirwan; Aidan Franks (0-3 0-1 free, 0-1 65), Noel Murphy (0-3); Brian Mullally, Peter Murphy (0-1), Vinny Franks; David Franks (1-5, 0-4 frees), John Dooley (1-3), Kevin Franks (2-2).
Subs.: Bill Lalor for John Gunnell (25 mins), Liam O'Toole for Vinny Franks (46 mins) and Ger Mullally for Mark Kirwan. (53 mins)
CARRIG & RIVERSTOWN: Leonard Deane; John King, James Hoctor, Bernard Larkin; Kevin Carey (0-2, '65s), Denis Hoctor, Michael Hoctor; Ger Oakley, Pat Hoctor; Jason Larkin, John Oakley, Edumnd Brady; Niall Lawlor, Padraig Freeman (0-1), Martin Cashin (0-1, free).
REFEREE: Brendan Finnerty, Crinkle