Offaly S.H.C. Group 1
Ballyskenach 2-7 ...... Lusmagh 1-9
AN injury time point by Noel Murphy helped Ballyskenach gain a vital win over Lusmagh in this opening round match in Group 1 of the Offaly S.H.C. at St. Brendan's Park, Birr last Saturday.
Lusmagh played with the wind at their backs in the first half and they led at half-time by 1-6 to 0-5. Aidan Hanrahan bagged their goal after just 70 seconds, but Ballyskenach battled back into contention.
The concluding thirty minutes was a low scoring affair with Ballyskenach, who were without two key players in the guise of John Dooley and Donal Golden, outscoring their opponents by 2-2 to 0-3. Their goals came from the camáns of David Carney and Eugene Kirwan. This was an important win for last year's semi-finalists Ballyskenach and it puts them in a good position as they challenge for one of the four knockout places that are on offer in Group 1.
Defeat will represent a big blow to Lusmagh's hopes, but they are a young side and the experience they build up this year should stand to them.
Overall, this opening match of the 2000 Offaly senior hurling championship was far from a classic, but the closeness of the scoring ensured that there was an exciting finale. Lusmagh had a late spell of pressure as they tried desperately hard to salvage matters, but it came to nought as Ballyskenach clung on.
Eugene Hannon and Mick O'Hara performed solidly in the winners' full back line, while David Franks had a very good first half and centre back Cathal Murphy did well to hold the vaunted John Troy scoreless from play.
Young Derek Middleton impressed at midfield for Ballyskenach, while upfront Noel Murphy, Bill Lalor and Brendan Murphy, who for the mostpart was well held by David Moran, made good contributions. The only blemish on Noel Murphy's display was a 25th minute yellow card for a late tackle on Pat Temple.
John Kelly did well at full back for Lusmagh, with David Moran also doing well in the 'Reds' rearguard. Pat Temple worked hard at midfield, with Aidan Hanrahan and Ray Byrne doing most upfront to threaten Ballyskenach. John Troy only showed his talents in flashes, while sub Austin Lynch, called in to replace the injured Brendan Kelly, scored two fine points after his introduction.
Scoring Sequence
Lusmagh hurled with the wind and into the Church End of St. Brendan's Park in the first half, and they got off to the best possible start as Aidan Hanrahan took off on a long mazey solo run and he kicked the sliotar to the net beyond Tom O'Toole with only seventy seconds played.
Ray Byrne soon added a point as Lusmagh made it 1-1 to nil, but Ballyskenach got off the mark with a converted free from defender David Franks. Lusmagh replied with two points from the Troy brothers - Brian and John. Brian was on the mark from a '65, while John found the range from a free to give the Lusmagh men a 1-3 to 0-1 advantage. David Franks (free) and Pat Temple fired over points at either end, but by the 22nd minute Ballyskenach had reduced the gap to a goal following points by Bill Lalor and Peter Murphy. Ray Byrne and Noel Murphy exchanged points, before a converted free by John Troy meant that Lusmagh went in at half-time leading 1-6 to 0-5.
Just like Lusmagh did at the start of the opening half, Ballyskenach grabbed a goal in the 3rd minute of the concluding period thanks to David Carney. Sub Austin Lynch made it 1-7 to 1-5 for Lusmagh in the 37th minute, but in the 40th minute Michael Connolly trained Ballyskenach took the lead for the first time and they didn't relinquish this subsequently.
Noel Murphy, an All-Ireland medallist in 1998, lofted in a probing delivery and as the sliotar fell between Eugene Kirwan and John Kelly, Kirwan managed to guide the sliotar to the net past Gary Kelly who was filling the boots of Jim Troy, Lusmagh's consistent and steady netminder for over two decades.
John Troy, with his third converted free of the match, tied proceedings at 1-8 to 2-5, and there then followed a lull in scoring. Austin Lynch fired Lusmagh in front with a point, before Bill Lalor levelled and in an exciting finish Noel Murphy popped over the decisive winning point in injury-time.
BALLYSKENACH: Tom O'Toole; Eugene Hannon, Mick O'Hara, Ollie Ryan; Barry Keeshan, Cathal Murphy, David Franks (0-2, frees); Liam O'Toole, Derek Middleton; Brendan Murphy, Noel Murphy (0-2), Peter Murphy (0-1); David Carney (1-0), Eugene Kirwan (1-0), Bill Lalor (0-2).
Sub.: Mark Kirwan for Liam O'Toole, (55 mins). LUSMAGH: Gary Kelly; John Searson, John Kelly, Ger Searson; David Moran, Declan Kelly, Brian Troy (0-1, '65); Fintan Kelly, Pat Temple (0-1); Aidan Hanrahan (1-0), John Troy (0-3, frees), Ray Byrne (0-2); Brendan Temple, Brendan Kelly, Kieran Dalton. Subs.: Dominic Glynn for Brendan Temple, (20 mins) and Austin Lynch (0-2) for Brendan Kelly, inj., (35 mins).
REFEREE: Noel Flynn, Kilcormac/Killoughey.