JOHN
Dooley scored 1-10 as Ballyskenach toppled their neighbours Shinrone after a
highly entertaining Offaly S.H.C. Group 2 encounter in St. Brendan's Park, Birr
last Saturday evening.
Offaly S.H.C. Group 2
Ballyskenach 1-19 ....... Shinrone 1-16
JOHN
Dooley scored 1-10 as Ballyskenach toppled their neighbours Shinrone after a
highly entertaining Offaly S.H.C. Group 2 encounter in St. Brendan's Park, Birr
last Saturday evening.
The teams were level on ten occasions over the hour before Ballyskenach pulled away in the closing minutes to secure a three points win, and with it, their place in the quarter-finals of the championship.
Shinrone, despite being out of the championship prior to Saturday's match and despite their uncertain start, played as if they, too, were seeking a place in the knockout stages, but their best efforts weren't enough as they slumped to their 4th defeat. Shinrone led by 1-9 to 0-8 after 25 minutes but Ballyskenach hauled them back and it was practically point-for-point afterwards.
Ballyskenach have still to play Tullamore in the group series of the championship but the outcome is of little consequence as 'Skenach are already through to the quarter-finals. Interestingly, Paddy Kirwan is now at the helm as Ballyskenach trainer and no doubt he'll have them well prepared for the knockout stages.
Ballyskenach began in whirlwind fashion and inside eight minutes they were 0-4 to nil ahead as Donal Golden (2), John Dooley (free) and David Carney fired over points.
At
this stage it looked as though Ballyskenach were going to run riot against their
neighbours, but Shinrone responded manfully and a key factor in their revival
was the switching of Willie Comerford to fullback to curtail the influence of
Donal Golden. And once Shinrone settled, patrons in St. Brendan's Park were
treated to the most lively game of the 1999 senior hurling championship.
By the 12th minute Shinrone had drawn level. Centre back John Doughan opened their account with a converted '65 and Michael Cordial (free), Pat Maloney and Tom Cleere also followed up with points in quick succession. Noel Murphy and Padraig McLoughlin registered points at either end, before Mark Kirwan drove over a fine long range point to give Ballyskenach a 0-6 to 0-5 advantage.
Shinrone's Sean Ormond levelled matters for the third time in the 16th minute, but two points from the caman of John Dooley put Ballyskenach ahead once again. Minor player Michael Cordial pulled a point back for Shinrone in the 20th minute and two minutes later his team struck for the game's first goal.
Tom Cleere carved through the Ballyskenach cover and he sent a low shot towards goal. The sliotar wasn't cleared quickly enough and Pat Maloney drilled a ground shot to the net beyond Tom O'Toole. Shinrone were now buzzing with confidence and points by Thomas Brereton and Michael Cordial (free) gave them a 1-9 to 0-8 lead by the 25th minute.
Ballyskenach were in no humour for lying down and they came back purposefully, being helped along by a fortunate goal. In the 26th minute John Dooley floated in a free from 60 metres out and it hopped on the edge of the small square, deceiving Jason Ryan in the Shinrone goal, and hitting the net. Dooley added two further points from a free and a '65 to put his side back in front - 1-10 to 1-9, and on the stroke of half-time John Doughan pointed a free to leave the sides going into the dressing room at the interval on level terms.
It was tit-for-tat on the restart. Michael Cordial put Shinrone in front with a pointed free in the 36th minute, but Ballyskenach regained the lead as John Dooley (free and a '65) raised white flags. Cordial made it 1-12 apiece, before Sean Ormond and John Dooley exchanged points by the 46th minute.
Ballyskenach edged two points ahead as David Franks and Brendan Murphy hit the target, but yet again Shinrone levelled through John Doughan ('65) and Padraig McLoughlin. McLoughlin and Dooley swopped points to leave the sides level (1-16 all) for the 10th and final time with 55 minutes played.
Ballyskenach finished strongest though and points by Noel Murphy, David Franks and John Dooley (free) gave them a hard earned win and assured them of their place in the quarter-finals of the Offaly S.H.C.
BALLYSKENACH:
Tom O'Toole; Eugene Hannon, Mick O'Hara, Ollie Ryan; Barry Keeshan, Cathal Murphy,
Mark Kirwan (0-1); John Dooley (1-10, 1-7 frees, 0-2 65's), David Franks (0-2);
Peter Murphy, Noel Murphy (0-2), Brendan Murphy (0-1); David Carney (0-1), Donal
Golden (0-2), Eugene Kirwan.
Subs.: Bill Lalor for Eugene Kirwan, (50 mins) and Liam O'Toole for Ollie Ryan,
inj., (61 mins).
SHINRONE: Jason Ryan; Willie Comerford, Ger Maher, P.J. Cleary; John Cleary,
John Doughan (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 '65), Declan Maher; Padraig McLoughlin (0-3),
Denis Doughan; Sean Ormond (0-2), Tom Cleere (0-1), Thomas Brereton (0-1); David
Ormond, Pat Maloney (1-1), Michael Cordial (0-5, 0-4 frees).
Subs.: Flan Cleary for David Ormond, (53 mins) and John O'Meara for Thomas Brereton,
(55 mins).
REFEREE: Martin Walsh, Birr.