Great Games of the Past
(The writer was obviously more familiar with the Burgess players!)
Burgess 4-13 ....... Ballyskenach 4-1
The old saying “a good start is half the battle” was amply demonstrated at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday last, when Burgess with a whirlwind start set the stage for an impressive 12 points win over Ballyskenach in the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Final. Getting into their stride from the opening whistle, Burgess were constantly on the attach with the aid of the breeze in the first half, and it was little wonder that the Ballyskenach defence wilted and finally collapsed under the onslaught. At the interval Burgess led by 3-1 to 1-1, the losers’ scores coming the last few minutes of the first half and Burgess looked set for an easy victory. The opening minutes of the second half did nothing to dispel that notion, for two points were tacked on without reply before Ballyskenach struck back. Then the winners’ goalkeeper, Paddy Murray, was caught out of position and the losers got through for a goal. This goal put new life into the losers, but it was Burgess who scored next with points from Donie Nealon and Liam Burke. Back came the Ballyskenach boys again for a goal to narrow the gap to eight points. During this period the losers did their best works and only for some fine saves by Murray and some bad finishing by their forwards, the margin at this stage would have been narrower. However, Burgess weathered the storm and a goal by Patsy Nealon and a point from Donie Nealon left them comfortable winners by 12 points.
GOOD SIDE
From goalkeeper Paddy Murray to left corner Patsy Nealon, the winners had a fine side and all played their part in bringing another intermediate title to Burgess.
ROBUST GAME
One distasteful affair that occurred during the game was the apparent resolve to stop a certain Burgess player at any cost. This made the game unduly robust and also made the losers look the greater defenders, but on the other hand a Burgess player on two occasions provoked is opponent. Referee Michael Ryan, Moneygall, should have taken stern action at the outset instead of just admonishing a few players.
DONIE NEALON STARS
This seems little doubt that the toast of all Burgess on Sunday night was Donie Nealon, whose display was the highlight of the game. From the start he established himself as the best forward afield and when it seemed as if the tide might turn it was proved the inspiration to his side with a wonderful point he was all the time on the move and his personal tally at the end of the hour was one goal and eight points.
Although the winners’ forwards responded manfully to the grand service they got from their midfielders, they mus thowever be faulted in the matter of finishing. Throughout they shot 19 wides as against Ballyskenach’s seven.
NEALON BROTHERS
In the winners’ attack, Sean Nealon in his new position of full forward, combined well with brother Patsy and Liam Burke. The Nealon brothers, Donie, Sean and Patsy, between them accounted for 3-9 of their side’s total.
The remaining members of the Burgess attack, Billy O’Brien and John Hogan, also performed well.
MIDFIELD ADVANTAGE
At centrefield John Joe Slattery and Mick Collins had the advantage for the greater part of the hour over Phil Dwyer and John Joe Shanahan.
SOUND DEFENCE
In goal for the winners Paddy Murray made some grand saves and was well covered by a sound full back line in Jimmy Seymour, Jimmy O’Brien and Jimmy Maher. All through the competition, this trio have always played well for their side.
Jim McDonnell at right half back gave a polished performance and got great length into his clearances. Completing the half back line were Mick Ryan and Dinny Rohan, both of whom gave good displays.
James Shanahan brought off some good saves in the losers’ goal, while best of their back line with Paddy Dooley, Mick Hogan and John McDonnell.
Best for Ballyskenach attack, who were well held by the winners’ defence, were Murt Dean, Ned Delaney and Jack Dooley.
THE SCORING
Jim McDonnell and Patsy Nealon were both wide for Burgess before Donie Nealon opened their account with a point and followed this minutes later with a similar score. Next from a pass by John Hogan, full forward Sean Nealon had a Burgess goal and before the end of the first quarter had scores from Billy Brien (0-1), S. Nealon (1-1), while John Hogan had a goal disallowed. Jim McDonnell next sent a “70” wide for Burgess before James Shanahan, in the Ballyskenach goals, saved well from S. Nealon. D. Nealon added two more Burgess points, and a goal from Liam bourke left the score Burgess 3-8, Ballyskenach nil. Paddy Murray next made two good saves in the Burgess goal before the losers scored a goal from a melee and Dooley added a point to leave the half time score Burgess 3-8, Ballyskenach 1-1.
SECOND HALF
On the restart Burgess had a quick point followed by a similar score from D. Nealon before Ballyskenach had their second goal with Murray caught out of position in the Burgess goal. Donie Nealon and Burke added Burgess points before Dooley had a goal for Ballyskenach and minutes later they added another goal to narrow the gap to eight points, but Burgess came back and a goal by Patsy Nealon and a point by D. Nealon, left them comfortable winners.
Burgess: P. Murray, J. Seymour, J. Brien, D. Maher, J. McDonnell, M. Ryan, D. Rohan, M. Collins, J.J. Slattery, B. Brien, J. Hogan, D. Nealon, J. Burke, S. Nealon, P. Nealon.
Ballyskenach: J. Shanahan, P. Dooley, W. O’Keeffe, M. Hogan, D. Walsh, J. McDonnell, T. Shanahan, P. Dwyer, J.J. Shanahan, M. Dean, S. Hogan, N. Delaney, J. Dooley, W. McLoughlin, M. Moloney. Subs: B.McLoughlin, P. McLoughlin.
Home | Archives | Photo Gallery | Contact Us