Offaly S.H.C. Group 1
Ballyskenach 2-12 St. Rynagh's 2-9
Report by: Alan Walsh
GUTSY Ballyskenach took a giant step towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the Offaly S.H.C. for the second year in succession after they inflicted a three points defeat on St. Rynagh's following an exciting contest at Kilcormac last Sunday morning.
This was a repeat of last year's semi-final, and Ballyskenach, the Offaly junior and intermediate champions of 1994 and '95 respectively, turned the tables in defiant fashion. A superb 7th minute goal executed by Brendan Murphy got them off to the perfect start and at the interval, with the St. Rynagh's attack struggling badly, Ballyskenach led by five points, 1-6 to 0-4.
St. Rynaghs' chances took a further nose dive in the 44th minute as their netminder Damien McDermott was red carded by ref Martin Walsh for a rash challenge on Ciar‡n Kirwan, and corner back Adrian Clancy took over between the posts.
A goal from a Fintan Dolan penalty in the 50th minute reduced the gap to three points - 1-10 to 1-7, but Ballyskenach sealed their win as Derek Middleton's 59th minute goal put his side seven points up, 2-12 to 1-8.
St. Rynagh's did manage to pull back 1-1 in injury-time but it wasn't enough to prevent them from falling to their first defeat of the campaign. They drew with Seir Kieran in their only other game and they will get nothing easy as they face Kilcormac/Killoughey this weekend.
This contest was a real 'battle of the depleted.' Ballyskenach hadn't the services of the injured Mick O'Hara, captain of Offaly's Leinster under 21 winning side, John Dooley, David Carney and League of Ireland soccer player Donal Golden, while notable absentees from the St. Rynagh's line-up were the Rigney brothers - Hubert and Michael, and their reliable free taker Eunan Martin, all three of whom were All-Ireland medallists in '98 and they were sorely missed.
St. Rynaghs' lack of sufficient firepower proved to be their undoing. Of their starting front eight players, from midfield to left corner forward, only one managed to score from play and that was Enda Mulhare who scored an 11th minute point. Indeed, 2-5 of St. Rynaghs' 2-9 total came from placed balls (2-0 from penalties, 0-4 from frees and 0-1 from a '65), and their top scorer from play was sub Kevin McGee who helped himself to two points. Another sub, Fintan Dolan, was their top scorer after notching 2-2.
Ballyskenach, too, relied heavily enough on placed balls, with 0-7 of their total coming from such positions, but in Brendan Murphy, Tom O'Toole and Derek Middleton they had attackers who picked off vital scores and in the final analysis this proved to be the major difference between the sides. Murphy, however, spent the second half at midfield, after switching with his brother Peter, and it was a move that reaped a rich dividend for Michael Connolly's spirited and determined side.
In addition to the red card shown to Damien McDermott, five other players received yellow cards - Paudie Mulhare, Darragh Kelly, Kevin McGee and Ger Rafferty of St. Rynagh's, along with 'Skenach's Derek Middleton.
Ballyskenach now have four points in the bag from three games and their share joint top place in Group 1 along with Kilcormac/Killoughey. Their next opponents are Birr who have a former Ballyskenach stalwart in their ranks - Donal Franks.
Indeed, his brother David was one of Skenach's leading lights at right half back last Sunday, making some great interceptions and he also scored two vital points from placed balls. Cathal Murphy, despite giving away a penalty, and the Kirwan brothers - Mark and Eugene, also did well in the winners rearguard.
Eugene Hannon did well at midfield and when Brendan Murphy moved to this sector it helped Ballyskenach considerably. Tom O'Toole and Bill Lalor picked off their points in style, while Derek Middleton finished his goal brilliantly.
Adrian Clancy, Martin Hanamy and Michael Duignan performed well in the St. Rynagh's defence, although Duignan was switched forward for the final five minutes. County panellists Paudie Mulhare, John Ryan and Darragh Kelly all struggled to make a big impact, with Enda Mulhare and subs Kevin McGee and Fintan Dolan doing most to help St. Rynagh's in the scoring stakes.
The Scoring
Ballyskenach made a very lively start. David Franks sent a '65 wide, before they opened their account in the 6th minute with a pointed free by Bill Lalor after Tom O'Toole had been fouled by Martin Hanamy. Seconds later Eugene Kirwan cleared the sliotar upfield towards Brendan Murphy who squeezed home a classic goal from the narrowest of angles. St. Rynagh's closed the gap to a point, 0-3 to 1-1, by the 11th minute with points from Michael Duignan ('65), Noel Hogan (free) and Enda Mulhare. Indeed, the '65 resulted from a great save by Alan Franks from Enda Mulhare. Eugene Hannon scored Ballyskenach's 2nd point from long range and Ray Devery replied with a similar score at the other end.
Bill Lalor (2 frees), Tom O'Toole and Derek Middleton added further points for Ballyskenach by the 23rd minute, stretching their lead to 1-6 to 0-4 and that's how the score remained up until half-time.
St. Rynagh's boss Padraig Horan tried to re-jig his attack just before the interval with John Ryan and Darragh Kelly switching from the full forward line to the half forward line in a move with John Malone and Noel Hogan. Hogan was later replaced by Fintan Dolan in the 21st minute.
Dolan (free) and David Franks ('65) swopped points, as did Dolan (free) and Lalor (free). Kevin McGee, introduced for Darragh Kelly, pointed for St. Rynagh's to cut the deficit to four points, 1-8 to 0-7, by the 36th minute.
Bill Lalor scored a great point for Ballyskenach, and then in the 44th minute St. Rynagh's were dealt another blow as their 'keeper Damien McDermott was red carded for a challenge that saw the injured Ciarán Kirwan being replaced by Liam O'Toole. Right corner back Adrian Clancy took over between the posts for St. Rynagh's, and Lalor converted the resulting free to give Ballyskenach a 1-10 to 0-7 lead.
In the 49th minute Cathal Murphy did well to 'hook' John Ryan, but seconds later Murphy fouled Ryan at the expense of a penalty which was brilliantly drilled to the net by Fintan Dolan despite the efforts of Tom O'Toole, Alan Franks and David Franks on the goal line. Barry Keeshan set up Tom O'Toole for a point and Kevin McGee knocked the sliotar in flight over the bar as matters hotted up.
With only five minutes remaining St. Rynagh's drafted Michael Duignan from centre back to full forward in a switch with John Ryan. In the 56th minute Duignan set up Kevin McGee with an opportunity to grab the equalising goal but his poorly struck shot was stopped by Alan Franks.
David Franks then pointed a free for 'Skenach and in the 59th minute they more or less wrapped up victory. Adrian Clancy tried to direct a quick puckout to Paudie Mulhare who slipped at a most inopportune time. Brendan Murphy fed Derek Middleton and he scored a cracking goal to put his side ahead by seven points, 2-12 to 1-8.
St. Rynagh's fought to the bitter end. A rising free from Duignan flew over the bar, and then Enda Mulhare saw the sliotar nipped off his hurley by the vigilant David Franks at the expense of a '65. John Ryan dropped in the '65. Mulhare was fouled for a 62nd penalty and Fintan Dolan once again dispatched his shot to the net. Another minute of injury-time was played, but St. Rynagh's just couldn't get the late goal they needed.
BALLYSKENACH: Alan Franks; Eugene Kirwan, Cathal Murphy, Ollie Ryan, David
Franks (0-2, 0-1 '65, 0-1 free), Mark Kirwan, Barry Keeshan; Eugene Hannon
(0-1), Peter Murphy; Derek Middleton (1-1), Noel Murphy, Brendan Murphy (1-0);
Ciarán Kirwan, Tom O'Toole (0-2), Bill Lalor (0-6, 0-5 frees).
Sub.: Liam O'Toole for Ciarán Kirwan, (44 mins).
ST. RYNAGH'S: Damien McDermott; Adrian Clancy, Martin Hanamy, Enda McHugh;
Shane Horan, Michael Duignan (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 '65), Ray Devery (0-1); Paudie
Mulhare, Emmet Broderick; Noel Hogan (0-1, free), John Malone, Gary O'Connor;
Enda Mulhare (0-1), John Ryan, Darragh Kelly.
Subs.: Fintan Dolan (2-2, 2-0 penalties, 0-2 frees) for Noel Hogan, (21 mins),
Kevin McGee (0-2) for Darragh Kelly, (34 mins) and Ger Rafferty for John Malone
(44 mins). REFEREE: Martin Walsh, Birr.