Clough-Ballacolla make it two wins from two with victory over The Harps in the Laois SHC
The victors pulled away down the home straight this evening
Clough-Ballacolla were forced to dig deep to overcome The Harps and remain unbeaten in this year’s Senior Hurling Championship.
The Harps were ahead by two midway through the second half, but a spirited effort from Clough-Ballacolla saw them claim victory in the first game on the new surface in O’Moore Park as it reopened this evening for the first time since Laois played Wexford earlier this summer.
CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA 1-22
THE HARPS 1-15
A close game was anticipated by many as The Harps came into the contest on the crest of a wave having dispatched Rosenallis with ease in their opener and they looked very capable of making it two wins on the trot as they led by a point at half time at a score of 1-8 to 1-7.
The first half wasn’t the all action fast paced type of contest that one may have expected with both goals coming from penalties and the majority of points from placed balls via Stephen Maher and Mick Lanigan, but it was an intense battle nonetheless.
Early second half scores from Eoghan Murphy, Eoghan Doheny, Lanigan and Murphy in response to Aidan Corby, Willie Dunphy and Maher saw The Harps hold a two point lead at the midway stage of the second half, but Clough-Ballacolla began to up the gears as the half progressed.
Jordan Walshe was excellent throughout for Clough-Ballacolla and he slotted two monstrous scores from distance as they began to take control of proceedings and hit six points in six minutes to no reply to take a commanding four point lead with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Having lost Diarmaid Conway to injury early in the first half disaster struck for Clough-Ballacolla when Picky Maher was forced off with an injury as they tried to hold on to the lead.
Despite the absence of their talisman they were able to pull away further as the game approached the end and four points in the final minutes saw them race on to victory.