1999 - Senior Championship

Offaly Senior Hurling Semi-Final

St Rynagh's Prove Too Strong for Ballyskenach

St. Rynagh's 1-13 ....... Ballyskenach 0-11

By John 0' Callaghan

St. Rynagh’s withstood the brave challenge of Ballyskenach to claim their place in the Offaly Senior Hurling Final with a five point victory in the first of the semi-finals at St. Brendan’s Park, Birr on Saturday last.

The winners laid the foundation for their victory when backed by the wind in the first half. They built up a interval lead of 1-10 to 0-3 and their defence performed admirably in the second half to repel the Ballyskenach onslaught and earn their place in the county final.

Ballyskenach were playing in their first senior semi-final and they can look back with some satisfaction on their efforts. They fought hard and kept themselves in contention for much of the game but the experience of the St. Rynagh’s men was vital on this occasion and they were able to close down the Ballyskenach men as they strove to get back into the game in the second half.

St. Rynagh’s ability to pick off scores was a decisive factor in their favour and their forwards posed a greater all round threat. Ballyskenach relied too much on placed balls for their scores and their failure to score more from play cost them dearly. St. Rynagh’s will now meet old rivals Birr in the county final on Sunday week as they bid to win their first title since 1993. They have lost three finals since then, all to Seir Kieran, so will be anxious to reverse that trend in the final.

Although Ballyskenach were first to score, a string of St Rynagh's points in a six minute spell had them 0-5 to 0-1 in front after just 10 minutes. They didn't score as freely over the following 17 minutes and three minutes before the break their lead was just six points.

That was a good position for Ballyskenach having faced the wind but St Rynagh's scored the crucial goal at that point and Ballyskenach played a part in their own downfall. Barry Keeshan was penalised for overcarrying about 30m from goals but Ballyskenach delayed the free being taken and referee Pat Direen moved it forward to the 20m line. That was crucial as it enabled Eunan Martin to go for goal and he successfully found the net and then added a further point to give his side a comfortable ten point interval lead.

Ballyskenach gradually chipped away at the lead in the third quarter and they had brought the gap down to seven points by the 12th minute. They were enjoying good possession and a goal at that point would have given them a great lift and could have put them in the driving seat. However the Rynagh's defence closed ranks and held Ballyskenach scoreless for the next 14 minutes and that effectively ended their hopes of victory.

The wind played a major part in the proceedings. Both sides scored just three points against the wind but crucially St Rynagh's made more use of it when at their backs. The effect of the wind was clearly seen in the puck outs. In the first half David Hughes was landing his pucks outs around the Ballyskenach 20m line and that was putting pressure on their defence. In the second half those puck outs were only reaching around the midfield area.

St Rynagh's will be somewhat concerned about the fact that they shot 17 wides over the hour. Ten of those wides came against the wind in the second half, indicating that they did enjoy some good possession in that period. They got two points in the first nine minutes of the half but didn't score again for another 22 minutes when Kieran Flannery pointed in injury time but with their defence holding firm at the other end they were able to protect their lead.

Ballyskenach failed to point from play in the first half despite having some good opportunities. They found the target from play three times in the first 10 minutes of the second half but despite having wind advantage failed to score from play again after that. It was probably a little surprising that they didn't try to engineer a goal from one of their late frees but instead they opted to take their points. In all eight of their 11 points came from placed balls and their return from play wasn't sufficient to win a county semi-final.

St Rynagh's gave little away in defence. David Hughes was sharp between the posts and his lengthy puck outs in the first half were very effective. Sean Rigney did a solid job at full back while Martin Hanamy and Hubert Rigney also performed with credit in defence. At midfield Paudie Mulhare did a lot of valuable work while in attack Eunan Martin picked off good points from play and frees, Michael Duignan posed a constant threat and young Gary O'Connor also put in some great effort.

Tomas O'Toole had a good game between the Ballyskenach posts. In front of him Michael O'Hara hurled very well for the hour both at full back and later on the wing. Mark Kirwan also made a good contribution in defence while Eugene Hannon worked hard throughout. David Franks enjoyed some good moments in the middle of the field but the attack didn't sparkle with the fluency shown in previous games. David Carney worked tremendously hard and was unfortunate not to get greater reward. John Dooley was accurate from placed balls while Noel Murphy also had some good moments.

St Rynagh's almost got the perfect start when Fintan Dolan collected a long puck from David Hughes inside the 20m line and crashed a shot off the crossbar. Ballyskenach opened the scoring when John Dooley pointed a free following a foul on Brendan Murphy. Rynagh's were level when Paudie Mulhare collected a pass from his brother Enda and pointed. They went in front after seven minutes when Hubert Rigney burst out of defence and scored a fine point. Straight from the puck out Eunan Martin returned the ball back over the bar and less than a minute later the same player was on target again following a four man move which began with goalkeeper David Hughes.

Rynagh's should have had a goal after nine minuts when Paudie Mulhare ran through and handpassed to Michael Duignan but he flicked the ball wide of the posts. Alan Kelly extended the gap to four points before John Dooley was on target from another free for Ballyskenach. From the puck out Fintan Dolan made a good catch, passed to Michael Duignan and he pointed. Martin Hanamy, Hubert Rigney and Fintan Dolan then combined to set up Enda Muhare for another point and it was 0- 7 to 0-2 mid-way through the first half.

Ballyskenach had a chance of a goal but Donal Golden directed the ball into the sidenetting. They pulled back another point from a John Dooley free following a foul on Noel Murphy and then a high ball from Brendan Murphy into the goalmouth was missed by everyone before being cleared to safety.

The final ten minutes of the half belonged to Eunan Martin. He soloed through for a good point after 20 minutes and then pointed a 60m free following a foul on Michael Duignan. Then three minutes before half time, when a free had been moved forward to the 20m line, he drove his shot to the net and before the whistle pointed another free to make it 1-10 to 0-3 at half time.

Ballyskenach almost made a dramatic start to the second half. After just 14 seconds the ball was sent through to David Carney but his flicked effort was excellently saved by David Hughes and the ball came back out to Noel Murphy, who pointed. John Dooley pointed a free before Eunan Martin landed a great free from 60m into the wind. David Carney then controlled a cross from Noel Murphy beautifully on his hurley and sent the ball over the bar. Gary O'Connor replied with a Rynagh's point. His first effort was blocked down but he regathered the ball and went on to kick a point.

David Hughes came to Rynagh 's rescue when he saved again from John Dooley. David Franks found the range from 5Om and John Dooley then pointed a 60m free after a foul on Brendan Murphy.

Fourteen scoreless minutes followed during which both sides missed chances. Kieran Flannery saw a cross shot come off the crossbar while an effort from Donal Golden came down off a post. Tomas O'Toole was sharp to get out to a ball before Kieran Flannery and avert a dangerous situation before John Dooley broke the deadlock with a point from a free and he then added two more frees to cut the gap to four points a minute from time. However Rynagh's had the last say when Kieran Flannery caught a free from Eunan Martin and pointed and the Shannonsiders were back in the final again.

ST RYNAGH'S: David Hughes; Colm Keane, Sean Rigney, Martin Hanamy; Shane Horan, Hubert Rigney (0- 1), Leonard Egan; Paudie Mulhare (0-1), Darragh Kelly; Eunan Martin (1-6, 1-3 frees), Alan Kelly (0-1), Enda Mulhare (0-1); Gary O'Connor (0-1), Michael Duignan (0- 1), Fintan Dolan.
Sub. Kieran Flannery (0-1) (for Alan Kelly, 26 mins).

BALLYSKENACH: Tomas O'Toole; Eugene Hannon, Michael O'Hara, Ollie Ryan; Mark Kirwan, Cathal Murphy, Barry Keeshan; Liam O'Toole, David Franks (0-1); John Dooley (0-8, all frees), Noel Murphy (0-1), Brendan Murphy; Peter Murphy, Donal Golden, David Carney (0- 1).
Subs. Bill Lalor (for Barry Keeshan, half time), Eugene Kirwan (for Brendan Murphy 56 mins).

REFEREE: Pat Direen (Killeigh/Raheen).

(Midland Tribune 25th September 1999)