Ballyskenach 2-17 ....... Tullamore 1-12
Ballyskenach ended the group stages of the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship with an unbeaten record when they defeated Tullamore by an eight point margin in Banagher on Sunday evening last.
Ballyskenach had already qualified for the quarter final stages before this game while Tullamore's interest in the championship had ended so there was very little at stake. For the winners it was the chance to maintain that winning sequence as they prepare for next weekend's quarter final against Kilcormac/Killoughey and they did that comfortably.
The game was quite competitive up to the interval at which stage Ballyskenach led by a point, 2-5 to 0-10, but they took complete control in the second half as they reeled off a string of points to pull well clear and Tullamore's goal didn't come until the final minute of the game.
Ballyskenach won three and drew one of their four games and will go into Saturday's quarter final with a degree of confidence that they are capable of causing an upset. When they got moving in the second half they took some great points and if they can repeat that kind of form they will cause Kilcormac/Killoughey problems.
A crowd of only about 100 turned up to watch this game and they were treated to a good contest for half the game.
Ballyskenach were 1-3 to 0-2 ahead midway through the first half but Tullamore came back well and had gone a point ahead five minutes before half time.
The crucial score game two minutes before the break when Ballyskenach netted their second goal to regain the lead. Tullamore argued that there was a question of square ball but the goal stood and they trailed by a point at the interval. However that goal seemed to knock a bit of the heart out of them and three Ballskenach points in the first five minutes of the second half set the trend for the remainder of the game.
Tullamore's two second half points came from placed balls and by the time Damien Fox netted their goal a minute from the end they had gone over 20 minutes without a score as Ballyskenach just stretched away from them.
Ballyskenach started without Cathal Murphy and Donal Golden in this encounter but both are expected to be available for next weekend's quarter final. Despite their absence they still carried too much firepower for their opponents. Noel Murphy had an excellent game scoring six points from playoff no less an opponent than Kevin Martin, while John Dooley and Brendan Murphy also found the target well.
Damien Fox was once again Tullamore's chief scoregetter and PJ. Martin, who worked hard throughout, was the only other player to find the range more than once. Their challenge fell away badly in the second half as Ballyskenach began to pull away.
This was a good win for Ballyskenach, particularly as they were missing a few players, but they will need to improve their accuracy before next weekend as they finished up with a tally of 16 wides.
Those misses weren't punished on this occasion but could prove more costly against tougher opposition.
The game took a while to get going and both sides had three wides each before the first score came after 10 minute when PJ Martin pointed. John Dooley quickly equalised from a free and Noel Murphy added two more before P. Kelly lofted over a good point from the middle of the field. In the 15th minute Bill Lalor flicked the ball into the path of David Carney who raced goal wards before planting a powerful shot in the Tullamore net. Two Damien Fox points (one free) got Tullamore back in contention but Brendan Murphy immediately pointed for Ballyskenach.
Tullamore then enjoyed their best spell hitting four points on the trot from PJ Martin, Damien Fox (free), Mick Mackey and Mark Gallagher to take the lead after 25 minutes. Two minutes before the break David Franks landed a long range free in the Tullamore goal mouth and when the ball broke Bill Lalor drove it to the net, despite Tullamore claims for a square ball. Two Damien Fox points (one free) with one in response from Brendan Murphy left Ballyskenach 2-5 to 0-10 in front at the break.
Two John Dooley points (one free) and another from Peter Murphy inside the first five minutes of the second half gave Ballyskenach a good start.
Tullamore had a goal chance when PJ. Martin's shot was batted out by Tomas O'Toole and he then got out to block Mark Gallagher's follow up with his head at the expense of a '65' which Damien Fox pointed. The same player added a point from a free after eight minutes to bring the lead back to two points but it was almost all Ballyskenach after that.
John Dooley, David Franks and Dooley again from a '65' stretched the gap by the midway point of the half. Tomas O'Toole was called on again to make a fine save from P. Kelly as Ballyskenach added further points, three from Noel Murphy, one from Brendan Murphy and a great effort from wing back Barry Keeshan.
A minute from the end Mick Mackey and Mark Gallagher combined to set up Damien Fox for a goal but Ballyskenach had the last say with another point from Noel Murphy to give them a comfortable win.
Eugene Hannon, Mark Kirwan, Barry Keeshan, John Dooley, Noel Murphy and Brendan Murphy were Ballyskenach's best, while John Rouse, Paul Rouse, Tom Cusack, Andy Hoctor, Damien Fox and PJ. Martin worked hardest for Tullamore.
BALLYSKENACH: Tomas O'Toole; Eugene Hannon, Michael O'Hara, Olly Ryan; Liam
O'Toole, Mark Kirwan, Barry Keeshan (0-1); David Franks (0-1), John Dooley (0-5,
two frees, one '65'); David Carney (1 -0), Noel Murphy (0-6), Brendan Murphy
(0-3); Bill Lalor (1-0), Eugene Kirwan, Peter Murphy (0- 1).
Subs. Derek Middleton (for Eugene Kirwan, 50 mins), John Gunnell (for David
Carney, 56 mins).
TULLAMORE: Derek Larkin; Ciaran McNeill, John Rouse, Paul Rouse; Alan Martin, Kevin Martin, Tom Cusack; Andy Hoctor, P. Kelly (0-1); Mark Gallagher (0-1), Mick Mackey (0-1), Damien Fox (1-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65'); Nigel Mannion, P.J. Martin (0-2), Edwin Finnerty.
REFEREE: Martin Walsh (Birr).