Alan Walsh
Ballyskenagh 1-15 ...... Drumcullen 1-10
Despite
being reduced to 14 players in the 48th minute after David Carney received a
straight red card for a pull across Harry Ryan. And despite hitting 17 wides
(11 in the 1st half), Pat Cleary managed Ballyskenach still had too much in
the tank for Drumcullen in this SHC Group 1 encounter at St. Brendan's Park
on Saturday evening.
It was Ballyskenach's second win from three outings and maintains their push for a quarter final place. Their remaining fixture is against Birr, the side that beat them in the 2003 county final.
Jim Williams' 'Sash' have lost both their games to date and they have it all to do if they are to turn things around against St Rynagh's and Kilcormac/Killoughey.
Drumcullen made things very interesting when they fought back spiritedly during the opening five minutes of the 2nd half but they faded away badly afterwards and like so many teams have done in the past, they failed to make optimum use of their numerical advantage.
Ballyskenach hit the ground running and knocked over four points in the opening three minutes as they got off to a dream start but they began hitting wides like there was no tomorrow and at the break they were 1-5 to 0-5 in front.
Conor Gath's clinicially despatched penalty just after half-time levelled it and the teams were tied on two further occasions before Ballyskenach upped the ante and pulled away by registering five points on the bounce, 1-12 to 1-7, with 43 minutes elapsed. The 'Sash' were unable to eat into this cushion even after Carney foolishly got himself sent off and disappointment was their lot.
David Franks, Mick O'Hara and Mark Kirwan hurled strongly and consistently in the Ballyskenach rearguard, although Kirwan was lucky to escape without caution after he caught Conor Gath with a late challenge in front of the stand during the 1st half. Ballyskenach dominated mid-field so much that Drumcullen were forced to draft both Harry Ryan and John Cashin to this sector.
Brendan Murphy clipped over four important points and he was the real difference between the teams although Stephen Ryan (after he switched) didn't allow him have things all his own way and he executed a fine 'hook' on him when a goal looked certain in the 19th minute. Aidan Franks and Eoghan Franks also tormented the Drumcullen defence and David Carney was just beginning to exert an influence and had scored two points when he got a rush of blood to the head and was dismissed.
Drumcullen depended too much on Conor Gath to provide their score supply. He finished with 1-7, all from placed balls, and he was probably left in at full forward for too long during the 2nd half. Ray Gath made a couple of darting runs, one of which led to the penalty, but overall the Drumcullen attack lacked meaningful penetration.
Brian Gath and Aidan Mannion had ding-dong battles with John Dooley and Noel Murphy respectively, and late on both central defenders were shoved forward as the 'Sash' tried to salvage the situation, but to no avail.
Skenach, hurling into the Church end goal, began at 100 mile per hour and inside 33 seconds they had fired over two points per Eoghan Franks and Brendan Murphy. Franks added a free and Murphy scored from 64 metres and alarm bells were already ringing among the Drumcullen backroom boys as they switched Stephen Ryan and Padraig Cashin on the right flank of their defence.
Drumcullen gradually got to grips with the flow of things. John Cashin scored a good point after an incisive pass from Harry Ryan and Conor Gath added a brace of frees to leave a point in it, 0-4 to 0-3, with 13 minutes gone. In fact the 'Sash' almost nicked a goal but Cashin's strike was cleared off the line by defender Cathal Murphy and David Spain's rebound shot whizzed across the face of the uprights.
Aidan Franks made it 0-5 to 0-3 and his younger brother Eoghan struck Skenach's 7th wide in the 15th minute. Drumcullen had hit no wides at this stage but this soon changed as Cashin and Pierce Gath were off target. Conor Gath closed the gap to the minimum again and in the 25th minute Skenach claimed their only goal. Brendan Murphy's strike seemed to be drifting wide but Aidan Franks caught his marker flat footed and kept the sliotar in before whipping it to the roof of the net. A Gath converted free left Drumcullen a goal adrift, 0-5 to 1-5 at the break.
Nintey seconds into the new half the 'Sash' were level. Ray Gath fed Tony Ryn and the gangling forward was hauled down by Mick O'Hara at the expense of a penalty that was drilled in low to the onion bag by Conor Gath. Skenach edged ahead twice through points by Brendan Murphy and Eoghan Franks but Drumcullen responded thanks to Gath (free) and David Spain and this was turning into an enjoyable affair.
However, the 'Sash' were unable to maintain their momentum and Ballskenach surged clear by hitting five oints between the 37th and 43rd minutes to make it 1-12 to 1-7. The scores came from Eoghan Franks (2 frees), David Carney (2) and Brendan Murphy. Pierce Gath and Franks exchanged points before referee Brian Gavin showed a red card to Carney who will be a big loss to Skenach when they meet Birr.
Conor
Gath converted a '65 1-13 to 1-9, and his brother Ray was yellow carded before
Alan Franks scored Skenach's 14th point after being set up by David Franks.
Conor Gath brought his tally to 1-7 when he pointed another free, an incident
that saw Peter Murphy carded for a high tackle on John Cashin.
In desperation Aidan Mannion flung his hurley to block a 57th minute Brendan Murphy shot. He was shown a yellow card and Eoghan Franks did the needful from the free. That was the last score although Skenach did have time to strike three more wides and shooting is certainly a facet of play they'll need to address.
Ballyskenagh: Tomás O'Toole; Mick O'Hara, Cathal Murphy,
Brendan Franks; David McLoughlin, David Franks, Mark Kirwan; Alan Middleton,
Alan Franks (0-1); Eoghan Franks (0-7, 0-4 frees), Noel Murphy, Brendan Murphy
(capt., 0-4), Aidan Franks (1-1), John Dooley, David Carney (0-2).
Sub: Peter Murphy for John Dooley (52 minutes)
Drumcullen: Alan Mannion; Stephen Ryan, Brian Gath, Paul Mannion;
Padraig Cashin, Aidan Mannion, Brian McIntrye, David Spain (0-1), Clem Spain;
Conor Gath (1-7, 1-0 penalty, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '65), Pierce Gath (capt., 0-1),
Harry Ryan; Ray Gath, Tony Ryan, John Cashin (0-1)
Subs: Joe Troy for P Cashin and James Dooley for D Spain (both 46 mins)
Referee: Brian Gavin, Clara
Home | Archives | Photo Gallery | Contact Us