Report By: Alan Walsh
BALLYSKENACH created a piece of history for themselves last Sunday in Kilcormac when they won the club's first silverware in the senior ranks with a fully deserved 2-12 to 2-7 win over a very disappointing Kilcormac/Killoughey outfit in the O'Connor Cup SH Final.
Full forward Tom O'Toole emerged as the star of the show for' Skenach as he chalked up 1-8 (all from frees) to steer his, side to success and a jubilant Eugene Hannon accepted the cup, which commemorates the late Michael O'Connor, after the final whistle.
This knockout competition is for clubs that fail to reach the Semi-final, of the championship and Ballyskenach, who showed great heart and hunger, were worthy winners, even if they found it difficult to shrug off the attention of the "home" team.
And no doubt Ballyskenach will use this win as a springboard from which to launch their bid for a good championship run in 2002. Indeed, this win augurs well for them especially since they achieved it minus the services of the Murphy twins (Noel and Cathal), John Dooley and Mick O'Hara.
While this wasn't the championship, the big question remains as to why Kilcormac/Killoughey have fallen so dramatically over the past yea? They were within a whisker of reaching the 2000 SHC Final, losing narrowly in the semi-final to Seir Kieran and they ran Birr close in this year's championship, only to lose to Shinrone and Lusmagh afterwards.
It is hard to put a finger on what's missing from their armoury because after their unprecedented U-21 and minor dominance of the early 90’s they should be the emerging senior club in the county. Unfortunately, they seem to be heading the opposite direction and they must do something to arrest the decline.
Conditions were heavy underfoot and they may have been a contributory factor as referee Brian Gavin awarded 19 frees over the hour, 21 to K/K.
The Double K's hadn't Henry Kilmartin, John Rigney or Paul Cummins in their ranks, but even so they should have been good enough to win this match. They weren't and they were severely punished for conceding frees within striking range.
The teams were level on four occasions in the opening 24 minutes.(1-0 all, 1-1 all, 1-2 all and 1-3 all) before Ballyskenach registered three points on-the-trot to lead by 1-6 to1-3 at the interval.
Following some stern words from captain Seamus Spain at the break, K/K came out with all guns blazing on the re-start and they went ahead, 2-4 to 1-6, by the 34th minute.
The sides drew level three more times (2-4 to 1-7, 2-5 to 1-8 and 2-6 to l-9) by the 47th Minute, before Brendan Murphy's 50th minute goal set Ballyskenach up for victory. 'Skenach soaked up plenty of K/K pressure in the closing minutes and they clung on bravely for a five points win, 2-12 to 2.7. Offaly selector Joe Tully was among the spectators and he went away with little learnt, although he would have been encouraged by the form of David Franks who recently returned from abroad and starred at mid-field for the winners.
As mentioned earlier, Tom O'Toole was an unsung hero for 'Skenach and his unerring accuracy from frees (he missed only once) was the platform from which they built their win
Brendan Murphy took his second half goal in some style, but why 'Skenach started him at corner forward is puzzling? Murphy has a lot more to offer his club and county the further away he is from the goal and even last Sunday he did his best hurling on the wing. Others to shine for 'Skenach were Brendan Franks, Mark Kirwan, Eugene Hannon (after he switched to join the attack) and Pat Donnelly who got through a lot of useful work at centre forward.
Kilcormac/Killoughey showed only sporadic glimpses of their potential and their best performers were the ever-consistent Seamus Spain - if the younger players were able to perform the way he can all the time, then K/K would have very few problems, Keith McConville and Jamie Flynn. Elsewhere, K/K struggled, especially up-front and at midfield.
Paul Leonard rattled in a second minute goal for K/K, but four minutes later 'Skenach were level. Martin Murray fouled Brendan Murphy and from the resulting 21 metres free, Tom O'Toole drilled the sliothar to the corner or the net, past an unsuspecting wall of defenders. Pat Donnelly and John Leahy (free) exchanged points, before O'Toole (free) made it 1-2 to 1-1 in the 16th minute. Leahy (free) tied matters for the third time at 1-2 all, before O'Toole (free) and Colm Cassidy also flighted over points by the 24th minute.
Ballyskenach finished the half impressively. Brendan Murphy scored a fine point
after he gained possession from an Alan Franks puck-out, while Eoin Franks and
Tom O'Toole (free) - following a foul on Murphy, made it 1-6 to 1-3 in 'Skenach's
favour at the break.
Within four minutes of the resumption, K/K were in front. Joey Wynne knocked over a point and then Tony Spain scrambled a goal following a long range free by Stephen Byrne - but it was debatable whether Ciaran Kirwan picked up the sliothar or not in the lead up to this free? This put K/K ahead, 2-4 to 1-6. O'Toole (free) equalised, and twice K/K went ahead by the minimum thanks to John Leahy, but each time O'Toole replied to leave the score at 2-6 to l-9 by the 47th minute.
Three minutes later came the decisive goal. Eugene Hannon burst through on a solo and despite being fouled, he kept going and passed to Brendan Murphy who beat his county colleague Stephen Byrne from the tightest of angles. O'Toole (free) added a point, thus giving 'Skenach a 2-10 to 2-6 lead.
K/K replied with a Shane Hand point. while Mark Leonard and Eoin Franks saw goal chances go astray, before Skenach sealed their win with late points from sub Tadgh Maher and O'Toole (free).
BALLYSKENACH: Alan Franks, Ollie Ryan, Eugene Kirwan, Brendan Franks, Eugene
Hannon (capt.), Mark Kirwan, Alan Middleton, Bill Lalor, David Franks, Derek
Middleton, Pat Donnelly, Ciaran Kirwan, Eoin Franks (0-1), Tom O'Toole (1-8
– all frees), Brendan Murphy (1-1).
Subs.:Owen Maher for Eugene Kirwan, inj.. (26 mins), Barry Keeshan tor Derek
Middleton, (29 mins), Tadgh Maher (0-1) for Ciaran Kirwan, (39 mins) and Kenny
Franks for Bill Lalor (57 mins)
KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY: Stephen Byme, Keith McConville, Seamus Spain (capt.), Seamus Kiely, Martin Murray, Shane Hand (0-1), Jamie Flynn: Joey Wynne (0-1), Kevin Rigney: Colm Cassidy (0-1), Mark Hand, Mark Leonard, Tony Spain (1-0), Paul Leonard (1-0), John Leahy (0-4. 0-3 frees, 0-l '65)
REFEREE: Brian Gavin, Clara.