Four
points in the closing stages of this Offaly Senior Championship clash gave Ballyskenach
the full points against Shinrone at St. Brendans Park on Saturday evening and
secured their place in the quarter final of the championship.
Ballyskenach 1-19 ....... Shinrone 1-16
John Horan Reports Four
points in the closing stages of this Offaly Senior Championship clash gave Ballyskenach
the full points against Shinrone at St. Brendans Park on Saturday evening and
secured their place in the quarter final of the championship.
The sides were level going into the last five minutes before Shinrone moved ahead thanks to a Padraig McLoughlin point. Ballyskenach, however, were that bit more resilient in the ensuing minutes when scores from John Dooley. Noel Murphy and David Franks swung the match finally in their favour.
It turned out to be an exciting encounter not least for its closeness when the sides were level on no less than ten occasions over the hour.
Following a high scoring opening half the teams were level at 1-10 each at halftime. Approaching half time Shinrone grabbed the advantage when Tom Cleare linked with Pat Maloney to strike a goal. Minutes later Ballyskenach were in for a goal of their own when a free by John Dooley hopped awkwardly in front of keeper Jason Ryan and reached the net.
The second half of the match was even more dramatic and was still undecided with three minutes remaining and that was until Ballyskenach had late points up their sleeve.
Ballyskenach started the better and moved into a four point lead eight minutes in. Donal Golden hit a brace of points while John Dooley with a free and David Carney following a solo run lifted his shot over the bar.
Shinrone had to wait until the 10th minute to register a score when John Doughan converted a '65'. They followed up with two points in two minutes and levelled the match at the end of the first quarter when Torn Cleare fired a shot over from distance.
Both sides traded points again and were still level 0-6 apiece in the 19th minute. Ballyskenach, however then nudged ahead again when John Dooley dispatched two points, one from play making it 0-8 to 0-6.
The scoring twisted and turned in final seven minutes of the half. In the 23rd minute Shinrone were in for a goal when following a solo run into the Ballyskenach defence by Tom Cleare, the ball fell for Pat Maloney who goaled. Shinrone then found the range with quick points from Tom Brereton and Michael Cordial to lead 1-9 to 0-8.
Back came Ballyskenach and they struck with a goal of their two own when from a free John Dooley's shot dipped in bounced deceivingly in front of the keeper and into the net. The same player hit two final frees while Shinrone replied with a free from John Doughan so at the interval both teams went in level pegging at 1-10 apiece.
Ten
minutes into the second half the sides were still level, however it was John
Dooley with a '65' who gave Ballyskenach the initiative of a point.
It was continously nip and tuck and Shinrone struck with scores from Michael Cordial and Sean Ormond to lead by 1-13 to 1-12.
In the space of three minutes Ballyskenach put together three points to turn the match in their favour again when John Dooley, his eighth point of the match, David Franks and Peter Murphy all scored to make it 1-15 to 1-13 in the 50th minute.
Amazingly late on Shinrone turned matters around again and moved into a lead of 1-16 to 1-15 only for Ballykenach to reply with a free to level the game for the tenth and final time.
Ballyskenach then grabbed the contest by the scruff of the neck approaching full time and injury time with two final points and a free which got them home.
BALLYSKENACH: Tomas O'Toole; Eugene Hannon, Michael O'Hara, Ollie Ryan; Mark
Kirwan (0-1), Cathal Murphy, Barry Keeshan; John Dooley (1-10, 1-8 frees, 0-1
'65'), David Franks (0-2); Brendan Murphy, Noel Murphy (0-2), Peter Murphy (0-1);
David Carney (0-1), Donal Golden (0-2), Eugene Kirwan.
Subs: Bill Lalor; Liam O'Toole (for Ollie Ryan).
SHINRONE: Jason Ryan; Willie Comerford, Ger Maher, PJ. Cleary; John Cleary.
John Doughan (0-4, 0-3 frees). Declan Maher; Padraig McLoughlin (0-2), Denis
Doughan; Sean Ormond (0-2), Tom Cleare (0- 1), Tom Brereton (0-1); David Ormond,
Pat Maloney (1-2), ' Michael Cordial (0-4, 0-3 frees).
Subs: Flannan Cleary (for David Ormond); John O'Meara (for Tom Brereton).
REFEREE: Martin Walsh (Birr).