Ballyskenagh 0-16 ...... St. Rynagh’s 2-7
Following the postponement of the opening game on last Saturday’s double
bill in St. Brendan’s Park because of a bereavement in the Lusmagh camp,
it fell to Ballyskenagh and St. Rynagh’s to get the 2004 Offaly senior
hurling championship, sponsored by Aidan Bracken Building Design, under way.
In what must be viewed as a low key start to the campaign last year’s
defeated finalists, Ballyskenagh, furnished evidence that they will again be
amongst the principal challengers in attempting to prevent Birr from completing
an unprecedented six-in-a-row sequence as winners of the Sean Robbins cup.
The 0-16 to 2-7 victory of the Tipperary border club was achieved by a performance
that was more workmanlike than spectacular. They got through the hour without
once being in arrears, but it was in the closing stages that they showed their
real character.
With ten minutes remaining in what up to then had been a listless enough affair
they held a seven points lead and appeared to be cruising to a comfortable enough
victory. Then, in trademark style, St. Rynagh’s came storming back to
cut their deficit to just a single point and threaten to put their opponents
to the sword.
It was then that Ballyskenagh showed their mettle as they upped their game and
added two late points that ensured their victory. Perhaps they have learned
not to take victory for granted until the final whistle blows in future.
Apart from the excitement generated by those final ten minutes Saturday’s
game did little to repay the support of a fairly decent attendance. As is generally
the case when these clubs clash the hurling was hard and uncompromising, with
neither side interested in taking prisoners.
From an early stage referee Martin Walsh set out his stall by flashing the first
of six yellow cards within five minutes of the throw-in, and by the end of the
hour he had obtained the "autographs" of four Ballyskenagh and two
St. Rynagh’s players.
With frees so plentiful the winners profited from the accuracy of both Eoghan
Franks and Mick O’Hara who between them accounted for exactly half of
their side’s total from placed balls.
Late Changes
While St. Rynagh’s lined out as selected Ballyskenagh shuffled their forces
as a result of filling the vacancy left at corner back by bringing on regular
forward Tom O’Toole.
He took his place at centre-half forward, and with corner forwards John Dooley
and Eoghan Franks switching positions every line with the exception of midfield
was affected.
County players more often than not stand out in club fixtures, and this occasion
was no exception.
Mick O’Hara was outstanding in a Ballyskenagh defence in which Mark Kirwan,
Cathal Murphy and goalkeeper Alan Franks were also seen to advantage. David
Franks did a lot of good work at midfield, while up front Eoghan Franks, Brendan
Murphy and Tom O’Toole fared best.
Hubert Rigney, Ger Rafferty and Declan Tanner defended stoutly for St. Rynagh’s,
for whom Paudie Mulhare and Nigel Woods shaded the midfield honours. It was
in attack that the Banagher side flopped, for only Kevin Kelly, Cathal Horan
and John Ryan came up to expectations.
With a stiff wind blowing into the town end Ballyskenagh were first favoured,
but it was Alan Franks who was the first goalkeeper into action in making a
fine save from Gary Healy within less than 30 seconds of the throw-in.
The early scores came at the other end, with a free by Eoghan Franks and a huge
free from inside his own half and a "65" by Mick O’Hara putting
three points on the board by the 9th minute. That lead was wiped out two minutes
later when Kevin Kelly placed John Ryan to blast the sliother past Damien McDermott
from close range.
That was the only time that St. Rynagh’s enjoyed parity on the scoreboard,
for the remainder of the first half saw Ballyskenagh dominate the scoring. Brendan
Murphy and Tom O’Toole pointed to restore Ballyskenagh’s lead, and
following a pointed free by Eunan Martin in reply they reeled off a further
five points. Four of these were scored by Eoghan Franks, who also "made"
the fifth for his brother, David.
Half Time
Ballyskenagh 0-10 St. Rynagh’s 1-1
Ballyskenagh moved David Carney to full-forward in a switch with Brendan Murphy
for the second half. The task of St. Rynagh’s was made that little bit
harder when a cross-field pass from Eoghan Franks set John Dooley up to stretch
his side’s lead to seven points after only 40 seconds.
With the wind now behind them St. Rynagh’s were expected to make inroads
on their arrears, but although they certainly improved as an attacking force
the lack of penetration up front was blatantly exposed.
Points by Gary O’Connor and Eunan Martin (free) sandwiched a pointed free
by Eoghan Franks, but there followed a lengthy scoreless spell during which
Eunan Martin failed with an easy free for the Saints and John Ryan squandered
a goal-scoring opportunity by shooting wide following a long range free by Declan
Tanner.
In a bid to improve matters St. Rynagh’s made a double substitution, bringing
in Michael Rigney and Kieran Killian in place of Eunan Martin and Shane Horan
and also moving John Ryan to full-forward.
The changes proved beneficial, for following points by Mick O’Hara (free)
and Brendan Murphy for Ballyskenagh the tide began to turn as St. Rynagh’s
started to eat into their opponent’s lead.
Paudie Mulhare sparked the revival and there followed three further points (2
frees) by Kevin Kelly. However, Alan Franks continued to guard his net jealously
and made a couple of crucial saves before being finally beaten by Cathal Horan,
whose 57th minute shot appeared to take a deflection en route to the net
Wake-Up Call
That goal left just a point dividing the sides and served as a wake-up call
for Ballyskenagh. David Franks rattled the Banagher woodwork before Mick O’Hara
sent a 60th minute free from 70 metres sailing between the uprights, followed
by an injury time clincher by David Franks to ensure a winning start to Roy
Mannion’s managerial career against his former colleagues.
Scorers. Ballyskenagh – E. Franks 0-6 (4 frees), M. O’Hara 0-4 (3
frees, 1 "65"), B. Murphy and D. franks 0-2 each, J. Dooley and T.
O’Toole 0-1 each.
St. Rynagh’s – K. Kelly 0-3 (2 frees), J. Ryan and C. Horan 1-0
each, E. Martin 0-2 (2 frees), G. O’Connor and P. Mulhare 0-1 each.
BALLYSKENAGH: Alan Franks; Brendan Franks Cathal Murphy, Barry Keeshan; Mark
Kirwan, Mick O’Hara, Aidan Franks; David Franks, Alan Middleton; David
Carney, Tom O’Toole, Noel Murphy; Eoghan Franks, Brendan Murphy (Captain),
John Dooley. Sub. Morgan Lalor for Dooley (46th).
ST. RYNAGH’S: Damien McDermott (Captain); Adrian Clancy, Hubert Rigney,
Shane Horan; Pat McIntyre, Declan Tanner, Ger Rafferty; Paudie Mulhare, Nigel
Woods; Eunan Martin, John Ryan, Kevin Kelly; Cathal Horan, Gary Healy, Gary
O’Connor. Subs. Michael Rigney and Kieran Killian for S. Horan and Martin
(both 44th).
REFEREE: Martin Walsh (Birr).
Home | Archives | Photo Gallery | Contact Us