Offaly SHC
Seir Kieran Stroll To 15 Point Victory
Seir Kieran 3-15 ....... Ballyskenagh 1-6
Seir
Kieran had the most comfortable of victories over Ballyskenagh in this Senior
Hurling Championship game played in St Brendan's Pk, Birr on Saturday evening
last and in the process sent out a message to all and sundry that they are not
yet a spent force.
Many people will wonder how Ballyskenagh who promised so much a couple of years ago have sunk so low. However, a small club like Ballyskenagh need the services of all their players but on Saturday last they were without the services of Mick O'Hara (inj), John Dooley (inj), David Carney (transferred), David Franks (out of country), Donal Golden, Peter Murphy, Liam O'Toole, while Noel Murphy only arrived home from America on Saturday morning and was introduced as a sub.
Joe Dooley opened the scoring with a point in the 2nd minute. Three minutes later the sides were level for the only time in the game when Tomás O'Toole pointed a 65', after Derek Middleton's shot was saved by Liam Coughlan. However, from the puck out Johnny Dooley got possession and fired over from 50 metres to give his side a lead they never subsequently lost.
Joe Dooley then set up Mick Coughlan for a point and this was followed by like scores from Johnny Dooley (f) and Joe Dooley in the 12th and 15th minutes. Bill Lalor and Alan Franks (f) were both wide for Ballyskenagh before Joe Dooley took a pass from his brother Seamus to make it 0-6 to 0-1 in the 20th minute. Bill Lalor from a free pulled a point back for 'Skenagh in the 22nd minute, but again Seir Kieran responded with points from Seamus and Joe Dooley. Any hope of a Ballyskenagh revival was shattered in the 28th minute, when Joe Guinan's ground shot came back off the post and Barry Bergin was on hand to slam the rebound to the net. Johnny Dooley pointed a free on the stroke of half time to put his side 10 points clear 1-9 to 0-2.
With wind advantage in the second half Ballyskenagh began to put pressure on the Seir Kieran rearguard, however, they were intent on going for goals and with Liam Coughlan in excellent form this was always going to be difficult.
Inside 45 seconds of the restart Ballyskenagh won a 25 metre free, Bill Lalor opted to go low, but the danger was cleared and Seir Kieran swept up field with Bill Dooley setting up brother Seamus for a point. Mick Coughlan then added another, before 'Skenagh were again awarded a free 30 metres from goal. Again Lalor opted to go low and again the danger was averted.
In the 34th minute Liam Coughlan brought off a great save from Cathal Murphy (now operating at full forward), and Brendan Murphy put the rebound over the bar. Bill Lalor followed up with a pointed free to leave it 1-11 to 0-4. In the next five minutes Seir Kieran hit five wides in succession three of them coming untypically from the stick of Johnny Dooley. In the 42nd minute
Ballyskenagh won a 35 metre free and once again Lalor tried for goal, this time the sliotar was saved at the expense of a 65', which Tomás O'Toole duly pointed. Johnny Dooley and Brendan Murphy swapped points in the 44th and 45h minutes, before Johnny Dooley well and truly ended the game as a contest 14 minutes from time. He availed of hesitancy in the Ballyskenagh defence and deftly side stepped two defender before shooting to the net 2-12 to 0-6.
Things became a little heated at this stage and referee Brian Gavin showed yellow cards to Seir Kieran’s Joe and Seamus Dooley and Tomás O'Toole from Skenagh. Six minutes from time Noel Murphy was fouled in the large parallelogram and goalkeeper Alan Franks came all the way up to send the penalty to the back of the net.
Any hopes of a mini revival by 'Skenagh were soon dashed as Joe Guinan and Damien Coffey responded with points and then Johnny Dooley sent home goal number three from 35 metres. The game ended with a Billy Dooley point in the 61st minute to leave the final score Seir Kieran 3-15 Ballyskenagh 1-6.
Scorers
Seir Kieran: Johnny Dooley 2-4 (0-2f), Joe Dooley 0-4, Barry Bergin 1-0, Seamus Dooley 0-2, Mick Coughlan 0-2, Joe Guinan 0-1, Billy Dooley 0-1, Damien Coffey 0-1
Ballyskenagh: Alan Franks 1-0, Bill Lalor 0-2 (0-2f), Tomás O'Toole 0-2 (0-2 65'), Brendan Murphy 0-2
Seir Kieran: Liam Coughlan, Kieran Dooley, Paddy Connors, Damien Murphy, Kevin Carey, Kevin Kinahan, Ray Dooley, Johnny Dooley, Joe Guinan, Finbar O'Neill, Seamus Dooley, Joe Dooley, Billy Dooley, Mick Coughlan, Barry Bergin Subs: Aidan O'Neill for Finbar O'Neill (50 min), Damien Coffey for Seamus Dooley (50 min), Michael John Corrigan for Mick Coughlan (57min).
Ballyskenagh: Alan Franks, Brendan Franks, Cathal Murphy, Eoin Maher, Mark Kirwan, Tomás O'Toole, Eugene Hannon, Barry Keeshan, Bill Lalor, Derek Middleton, Pat Donnelly, Ollie Ryan, Eugene Kirwan, Brendan Murphy, Ciarán Kirwan Subs: Noel Murphy for C Kirwan (inj) 29min.
Ref: Brian Gavin (Clara).