Ballyskenach 0-12 ....... Birr 0-9
By Alan Walsh
BALLYSKENACH ensured an immediate return to the senior ranks after they deservedly
overcame reigning champions Birr in a dogged and hard fought IHC decider played
in miserable weather conditions at a well-presented Shinrone venue last Saturday.
Aidan Bracken Building Design IHC Final
Scorers:
Ballyskenach: Morgan Lalor (0-4, 0-2 frees), Brendan Murphy (0-3), Alan Franks
(0-1 free), Aidan Franks (0-1 '65), Derek Middleton (0-1), Ciaran Kirwan (0-1),
John Dooley (0-1).
Birr: Thomas Bolger (0-6, 0-5 frees), Keith Hehir (0-2, 0-1 free), Michael Cleere
(0-1 '65).
Wides:
Ballyskenach 11 (5 1st half); Birr 6 (2 1st half).
Cards:
Red: None. Yellow (6): Conor Egan (1 min), Michael Mulrooney (5 mins), Tony
O'Riordan (7 mins), Mark Kirwan (25 mins) Darragh Molloy (41 mins), Keith Hehir
(59 mins).
Less than twelve months earlier, twelve consecutive seasons (1996 to '07 inclusive) of top-flight fare ended for 'Skenach as they suffered defeat in the SHC relegation final.
However, their desire to regain senior status and will to succeed was far greater than Birr's and there was a huge outpouring of relief and elation as Aidan Franks got his clutches on the Michael Keary Cup.
Had 'Skenach, who indeed lost to Birr in the 2003 senior championship final, been more clinical they could have won far more impressively. They struck eleven wides (five more than Birr), while John Dooley, the player who captained 'Skenach to JHC success in 1994, was denied on the call of half time by a fine reaction save from Birr 'keeper Michael Mulrooney.
Goal opportunities were at a premium in a clash where defences for the most part enjoyed the upper hand. Birr's best chance came as early as the 7th minute when Keith Hehir broke past Tony O'Riordan's illegal challenge and instead of applying an advantage the referee called the play back for a free and issued a yellow card to the 'Skenach defender.
Ciaran Kirwan came close for 'Skenach in the 17th minute when his instinctive flick went over rather than under the bar, levelling the game at 0-3 apiece. Ballyskenach 'keeper Alan Franks, who'd the distinction of scoring the first point of the final, was fortunate to get away with flinging his hurley at a 20th minute James Roddy strike that flew wide.
There was the Dooley chance at the end of the first half and in the 45th minute Thomas Bolger skimmed the cross-bar with a dipping shot and seven minutes later Franks stood his ground well to deny Bolger who failed to get a clean connection with the sliotar.
The sides were level on five separate occasions during a tension filled and lacklustre opening thirty minutes. Birr twice held the lead, 0-3 to 0-2 & 0-4 to 0-3, and these brief spells that lasted no more than four minutes between them represented the only times that the IHC winners of 1997, '98, '99 & '07 led.
Ballyskenach were 0-6 to 0-4 up only for Birr to restore parity for the fifth and final time in the 25th minute. Morgan Lalor's 28th minute converted free meant 'Skenach led at the break by 0-7 to 0-6.
'Skenach controlled the third quarter, landing four unanswered points, 0-11 to 0-6. They should have put Birr to the sword during this period but they weren't ruthless enough and Derek Middleton and Brendan Murphy spurned decent point chances.
When Birr got their few minutes on top they almost made it pay. Two Thomas Bolger points reduced the gap to three, 0-8 to 0-11. He then missed his third free of the half before forcing Alan Franks into making a save.
So while 'Skenach were dominant their inability to kill off Birr left them very vulnerable to a late sting. Morgan Lalor (54 mins) and Keith Hehir (56 mins) traded converted frees but 'Skenach still had time to record three further wides through Middleton, Lalor and Fearghus Hannon, and Hehir's 60th minute 'kicked' attempt from 13m was the closest Birr came to snatching an equaliser.
Birr managed to score just two points from play (one in each half) so it doesn't take a genius to work out where some of their major problems lay.
It was somewhat surprising that they waited until the 42nd minute before introducing a sub to freshen up their attacking options and 'Skenach were certainly more pro-active on the side-line.
They identified that corner back Padraic Kennedy was struggling and they called him ashore and his replacement Barry Keeshan definitely steadied things. While they'd a second sub – Tadhg Maher – introduced for the start of the concluding half.
In terms of scores from play, 'Skenach won this goal-less final by 0-7 to 0-2. Their two semi-final encounters with Ballinamere certainly stood to them, meaning they'd only a fortnight of championship inactivity prior to the final whereas Birr had four weeks as they defeated Clara in their semi a week before 'Skenach and Ballinamere drew.
'Skenach captain Aidan Franks spoke very well after he accepted the silverware and he didn't rub it in to his brother Donal who played on the losing Birr side or to Birr manager Noel Russell who is a former 'Skenach Chairperson.
He paid tribute to all the personalities that helped 'keep the 'Skenach show on the road and you could see that winning this third IHC title (their previous wins were in 1979 & '95) meant an awful lot to 'Skenach and fair play to them.
Alan Franks made the long trek up from his goal to take a first minute 21m free awarded against Conor Egan and his rising strike flew over the bar for a point.
Birr levelled through Thomas Bolger (free) in the 7th minute although Keith Hehir should have been given the benefit of 'an advantage'. Derek Middleton and Michael Cleere ('65) swapped points and that 10th minute '65 was bizarre as 'Skenach defender Padraic Kennedy 'headed' the sliotar out over the end line.
Hehir made it 0-3 to 0-2 and 'Skenach levelled in the 17th minute after Ciaran Kirwan pointed from close range following a move that saw Timmy Hennessy, Morgan Lalor and John Dooley prise open the Birr defence.
Bolger (free) regained the lead for Birr and between the 18th and 21st minutes 'Skenach hit three points in succession. The first a free by Lalor and two from play by the enterprising Brendan Murphy, 0-6 to 0-4.
Two accurate Bolger frees tied matters for the fifth time at 0-6 apiece and in the 28th minute Cleere fouled Murphy and Lalor did the needful with the free. The score remained 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but Dooley was extremely unlucky to see his mid-air strike kept out by Mulrooney.
'Skenach resumed with all guns blazing. Aidan Franks converted a '65 and then the bustling John Dooley took centre stage. He off loaded intelligent passes to Morgan Lalor and Brendan Murphy who both bisected the uprights and he also got in on the scoring act him-self, making it 0-11 to 0-6 in the 43rd minute.
There was some confusion before the umpire eventually indicated that Thomas Bolger's shot had gone over the bar for a 45th minute point. He soon added a pointed free and all of a sudden the gap was down to three points, 0-8 to 0-11, and the title was in the melting pot.
Bolger had the misfortune of being off target with a free and then seeing his low shot saved before Morgan Lalor's 54th minute pointed free eased 'Skenach nerves.
Keith Hehir (free) pulled a point back but it wasn't enough as 'Skenach clung on for glory and more importantly, a swift return to senior hurling.
The 'Skenach defence was tenacious throughout and in fairness any unit that restricts the opposition to just two points from play in a final deserves to win. Cathal Murphy put the shackles on Liam Power and as alluded to already, Barry Keeshan tightened up the full back line.
Aidan Franks and Mark Kirwan were solid in the half back sector and the tireless Derek Middleton (with his in-fashion 'Tyrone beard') and Alan Middleton won the mid-field tussle. This pair worked incredibly hard and it says a lot for their contribution when one takes into account that Birr's starting mid-fielders were both replaced.
Inter-county player Brendan Murphy showed his experience and cleverness by weighing in with three points from play and in a tight, low scoring final these were crucial scores.
With Timmy Hennessy struggling at centre forward, the hub around which the 'Skenach attack revolved was John Dooley. Garech Doorley tried to hurl Dooley from behind like a 'traditional full back' and that didn't work as Dooley tormented him, setting up scores, winning valuable possession and scoring a good point him-self. Morgan Lalor also picked off some nice scores.
Birr's best performers were at the back. Brothers Barry and Paddy Ryan were excellent and Donal Franks didn't put a foot wrong against his former club. Donal Ryan also made a positive contribution after he was sprung. From mid-field on, Birr were in serious trouble.
Declan Pilkington worked hard in an attack that relied far too heavily on Thomas Bolger. Brian Nolan injected a bit of pace when he came on and Keith Hehir needed to see much more of the sliotar.
BALLYSKENACH: Alan Franks; Tony O'Riordan, Cathal Murphy, Padraic Kennedy;
Shane Kirwan, Aidan Franks (capt.), Mark Kirwan; Derek Middleton, Alan Middleton;
Morgan Lalor, Timmy Hennessy, Brendan Murphy; Ciaran Kirwan, John Dooley, Ronan
Middleton.
Subs.: Barry Keeshan for P Kennedy (25 mins), Tadhg Maher for R Middleton (half
time), Fearghus Hannon for T Hennessy (46 mins), Gavin Hannon for C Kirwan (50
mins).
BIRR: Michael Mulrooney; Paddy Ryan, Garech Doorley (capt.), Donal Franks;
Conor Egan, Barry Ryan, Clifford Colohan; Michael Cleere, James Roddy; Darragh
Molloy, Kenneth Spillane, Declan Pilkington; Thomas Bolger, Liam Power, Keith
Hehir.
Subs.: Brian Nolan for J Roddy (42 mins), Donal Ryan for M Cleere (45 mins),
Ger Teehan for K Spillane (48 mins), Gary O'Meara for L Power (59 mins).
REFEREE: Ciaran Groome, Bracknagh.
(C) The Offaly Express
Home | Archives | Photo Gallery | Contact Us