A point scored by Noel Murphy 90 seconds into injury time earned Ballyskenagh the distinction of being the first winners in the millennium Offaly senior hurling championship when they came from behind to pip Lusmagh by 2-7 to 1-9 in Birr last Saturday evening. This was a game of real championship fervour in which the sides went at it hammer and tongs from throw-in to final whistle. Some of the tackling went outside the rules of the game, but the hard knocks which abounded were accepted in true sporting fashion, with no retaliation or sense of ill-feeling.
It was a game which could have gone either way, so closely were the sides matched, but overall Ballyskenagh finished deserving winners. Indeed, their supporters in the sparse attendance could have been spared those late heart-stopping fears had the forwards made better use of the chances which they created, particularly when wind-assisted in the second half. Instead, they shot 13 wides and came uncomfortably close to paying the price for such wastage.
It might equally be argued that Lusmagh forfeited the game through their failure to make better use in the first half of the stiff breeze blowing towards the town end. Although enjoying the benefit of an opening goal by county man Aidan Hanrahan inside 65 seconds, they failed to build sufficiently on it, and an interval lead of 1-6 to 0-5 clearly left them in a vulnerable position.
Sure enough, two goals in the space of eight minutes turned the game in favour of Ballyskenagh going into the final quarter, and although Lusmagh had the character to fight back and regain the lead with six minutes remaining their bravery went unrewarded when they conceded the last two points of the hour.
Surprised Many
Ballyskenagh, who surprised many by reaching the quarter-final stage of last year's championship, have the capacity to cause another shock or two in the current campaign. They favour a no nonsense approach and certainly will not be intimidated by any opponents. Their win was gained in the face of adversity, for they were forced to line out without Mark Kirwan and accurate free-taker John Dooley, the latter having suffered the misfortune of breaking his leg playing soccer.
On Saturday their defence proved very sound, with county man Mick O'Hara outstanding at full-back. Directly in front of him Cathal Murphy - one of four brothers on the side - gained the distinction of holding John Troy scoreless from play. He was supported on either side by Donal Franks and Barry Keeshan, making this half-back line the winners' strongest unit.
Liam O'Toole and Derek Middleton shaded the midfield honours, and although the front-runners wasted quite a few scoring chances there is no denying the fact that five of the six contributed. The Murphy brothers, Peter, Noel and Brendan, worked well together in the half forward line, but it was the front trio of David Kearney, Eugene Kirwan and Bill Lalor which proved the more productive, scoring 2-2 between them.
Lusmagh will be disappointed not to have taken at least a point from their opening fixture. Early on they impressed as the faster and more eager side as they raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead by the 7th minute, but thereafter there was a lack of vibrancy and poise in front of goal and a mere three points during the remaining 23 minutes represented meagre reward for the amount of possession enjoyed.
John Kelly and Brian Troy, together with goalkeeper Gary Kelly, all defended well and Derek Middleton enjoyed a fair measure of success at midfield. However, there was a patently obvious lack of punch up front, where both Aidan Hanrahan and John Troy failed to live up to their reputations, although the latter must be credited with clever distribution. The introduction of Austin Lynch early in the second half added a bit of bite to the attack and suggested that he should have been on from the start.
Flying Start
Lusmagh could not have wished for a better start, for in just over a minute they were given the tonic of an early goal when Aidan Hanrahan breathtakingly skipped, danced and jockeyed his way through the ranks of the Ballyskenagh defence before kicking the sliother wide of Tom O'Toole and into the far corner of the net.
Ray Byrne added a point a minute later before David Franks pointed a free to put Ballyskenagh on the scoreboard. A "65" pointed by Brian Troy and a free by John Troy stretched Lusmagh's lead and painted an illusionary picture of an easy win. Ballyskenagh, however, once they settled down, gradually came into the game and despite shooting a couple of bad wides they began to close the gap. David Franks (free) and Pat Temple swapped points before Bill Lalor and Peter Murphy fired over points which left just a goal between the sides by the 15th minute.
A great save by Gary Kelly denied Bill Lalor of what seemed to be a certain goal, and Ballyskenagh were out of luck again when Brendan Murphy burst through for a shot which shaved the upright. An exchange of points between Ray Byrne and Noel Murphy left the three points differential in favour of Lusmagh intact until John Troy landed a 30th minute free to make it 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
The fears which Lusmagh must have experienced that they had not done enough when favoured by the strong wind took on added substance five minutes into the second half when Bill Lalor's clever overhead pass paved the way for David Kearney to crash the ball home.
With their lead reduced to the minimum Lusmagh brought on Austin Lynch in place of the injured Brendan Kelly, and the subsequent reshuffle saw Aidan Hanrahan drop back to a defensive role. Lynch made an immediate impact by scoring a good point to give Lusmagh breathing space, but their opponents remained unruffled and forged in front for the first time in the 43rd minute when a long ball out of defence into a crowded goalmouth saw Eugene Kirwan scramble the sliothar past Gary Kelly.
Lusmagh took this setback in their stride. John Troy pointed a 60 metres free for the equaliser in the 51st minute, and when Austin Lynch restored their lead three minutes later it seemed that they had survived the crisis. It was Ballyskenagh, however, who showed their battling qualities by staging a powerful finish. Bill Lalor, set up by David Kearney, had a point blank shot excellently turned out for a "65" by Gary Kelly from which Ollie Ryan placed Bill Lalor for an equalising point.
Just when a division of the points seemed assured Noel Murphy became Ballyskenagh's match-winner with his injury-time point.
Scorers: Ballyskenagh - D. Kearney and E. Kirwan 1-0 each, D. Franks (2 frees), B. Lalor and N. Murphy 0-2 each, P. Murphy 0-1.
Lusmagh - J. Troy 0-3 (3 frees), A. Hanrahan 1-0, R. Byrne and A. Lynch 0-2 each, P. Temple and B. Troy ("65") 0-1 each.
BALLYSKENAGH: Tom O'Toole; Eugene Hannon (Captain), Mick O'Hara, Ollie Ryan;
David Franks, Cathal Murphy, Barry Keeshan; Liam Middleton; Peter Murphy,
Noel Murphy, Brendan Murphy; David Kearney, Eugene Kirwan, Bill Lalor.
Sub. Mark Kirwan for L. O'Toole (58th).
LUSMAGH: Gary Kelly; Sean Searson, John Kelly, Ger Searson; David Moran,
Declan Kelly, Brian Troy; Fintan Kelly, Pat Temple (Captain); Aidan Hanrahan,
John Troy, Ray Byrne; Brendan Temple, Brendan Kelly, Kieran Dalton.
Subs. Dominic Glynn for B. Temple (23rd), Austin Lynch for B. Kelly (35th).
REFEREE: Noel Flynn (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
| Gls | Pts | Wides | Frees | 65's | ||
| 1st Half | Ballyskenagh | 0 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| Lusmagh | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2nd Half | Ballyskenagh | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Lusmagh | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | Ballyskenagh | 2 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| Lusmagh | 1 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 1 |