Strong first half display sends Drumcullen on way to county title

Molloy Precast & Environmental Systems Junior C Hurling Final

DRUMCULLEN 3-11

BALLYSKENACH-KILLAVILLA 1-6

A STRONG first half display set Drumcullen on the road to a\victory in a very competitive Offaly Junior C Hurling Championship Final played at Clareen on Saturday.

Inspired by Colm Gath, who shot 2-5 in that first half, they built up an eight point half time lead and they were able to hold off the Ballyskenach-Killavilla challenge in the second half and maintain their advantage to the finish.

Drumcullen were the better team over the hour and fully deserved their victory. They played with more cohesion and sharpness and were on top in most areas of the field. To their credit Ballyskenach-Killavilla never gave up and kept fighting to the finish but they were unable to get the scores in the second half that might have sparked a fightback.

There was no questioning the commitment and determination shown by both sides. There was some terrific blocking and hooking and every ball was contested with vigour. Both teams gave it everything but Drumcullen were that bit stronger and they made that domination count on the scoreboard.

Backed by the wind Drumcullen made a terrific start and were 1-3 to 0-0 up after just seven minutes, all scored by Colm Gath. Ballyskenach-Killavilla did have chances but hit some early wides and by the 21st minute Drumcullen were 10 points up, 2-6 to 0-2. Ballyskenach-Killavilla got a break with a goal just before half time and with the wind to come in the second half were still in it, trailing 2-7 to 1-2 at the break.

Ballyskenach-Killavilla registered a number of wides in the early part of the second half that could have cut that lead and it took them 12 minutes to get off the mark in that half. Drumcullen kept the score ticking over and a third goal with 12 minutes left sealed the victory.

Drumcullen played well throughout and had strong performers all over the field. Daire Boyd, Liam Kelly and Donal Mahon were all very strong in defence, Brian Pardy put in a big shift in the middle of the field, ably assisted by Kevin Fleury, while Colm Gath did the damage in attack, with Mark Kennedy and Michael McCarthy also contributing handsomely.

Ballyskenach-Killavilla never gave up and put in a huge effort. Kevin Dooley made some fine saves in goal, while Peter Hogan, Brian King and Kyle Hanamy all put in a big effort in defence. Martin Murphy did a lot of good work around the middle of the field but they struggled to make an impact in attack and only two points of their final total came from play. In fact 1-3 of their 1-6 came from their goalkeeper and a member of their full back line with another point from a sub, and that summed up their problems in attack.

In contrast only two points of Drumcullen's total came from placed balls with 3-9 coming from play and that was the big difference between the sides. They looked sharper around the field and also had a couple of goals disallowed. Both sides hit 11 wides with a number of Ballyskenach-Killavilla's coming from placed balls and their misses probably came at more inopportune times when they needed to make an impact on the scoreboard.

Drumcullen started brightly and Joe Kelly flashed an early effort across the goals and wide. They did take the lead in the third minute when Colm Gath pointed a free from his own 65m line. Then a minute later Colm Gath burst onto the loose ball about 45m out and ran on and fired a great shot to the net. He added further points from play and his side were 1-3 to 0-0 up after seven minutes.

Ballyskenach-Killavilla eventually got their first score when Brian Bergin pointed after 11 minutes but Colm Gath and Kevin Fleury replied for Drumcullen before Brian Bergin pointed a free, making it 1-5 to 0-2 after18 minutes.

Then Drumcullen struck for their second goal. Brian Pardy and Kevin Fleury linked up and when the latter's shot was half blocked it fell for Colm Gath and he finished to the net and quickly added a point from a free.

Two minutes before half time Ballyskenach-Killavilla were thrown a lifeline when a 60m free from Peter Hogan went all the way to the Drumcullen net. Donal Mahon did reply with a Drumcullen free and they also had a goal disallowed after Michael McCarthy was deemed to be in the square when finishing a rebound from a Colm Gath shot which had been saved by Kevin Dooley.

Eight points down at half time Ballyskenach-Killavilla had the wind in the second half but hit early wides which could have got them closer. Kevin Fleury pointed for Drumcullen after seven minutes, although many on the Ballyskenach-Killavilla side thought it was wide.

Ballyskenach-Killavilla got a great chance of a goal after 12 minutes when Kevin Dooley's long puck out was won by Kevin King, who transferred to James Dooley but his shot flashed over the bar off the crossbar, when a goal was on and badly needed by Ballyskenach-Killavilla. Brian Pardy and Mark Kennedy hit a quick brace of points before Kevin Dooley pointed a '65' for Ballyskenach-Killavilla.

Then with 12 minutes left Drumcullen scored their third goal when Michael McGrath worked his way through and fired to the net. He later had another effort disallowed for overcarrying. Peter Hogan and Kevin Dooley pointed late frees for Ballyskenach-Killavilla with Joe Kelly getting one in response for Drumcullen as they celebrated their victory.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

DRUMCULLEN: Barry Connolly; P.J. Bracken, Daire Boyd; Liam Kelly, Donal Mahon, John Troy; Brian Pardy, Kevin Fleury; Mark Kennedy, Joe Kelly, Colm Gath; Fiachra Dooley, Michael McCarthy. Subs. Jay Hynes (for Fiachra Dooley), Patrick Carroll (for Colm Gath), Shane Kelly (for Liam Kelly), Fiachra Dooley.

BALLYSKENACH-KILLAVILLA: Kevin Dooley; Peter Hogan, Sean Ryan; Kyle Hanamy, Brian King, Padraic Kennedy; Martin Murphy, Sean Dooley; Brian Bergin, Tadhg Maher, Chris Murphy; Dan Coonan, Kevin King. Subs. Shane Kealy (for Brian Bergin), James Dooley (for Dan Coonan), Colin Siu (for Padraic Kennedy), Ronan Middleton (for Sean Ryan), Conall Dooley (for Chris Murphy).

REFEREE: Ciaran Groome

MAN OF THE MATCH

He may only have played the first half but Colm Gath was the big difference between the sides. In that 30 minutes he scored 2-5, 2-3 from play, and his class made him stand out in this contest. His burst of speed resulted in the first half and his eye for the posts was decisive in Drumcullen's win.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Drumcullen took control of the game in the opening minutes and Colm Gath's fourth minute goal set them on their way. He scored 1-3 without reply in the opening seven minutes and Drumcullen's lead was never seriously threatened thereafter.

REFEREE WATCH

Ciaran Groome refereed the game well. He handed out yellow cards when needed and was always in control of the game, which was played in a good spirit.

WHAT’S NEXT

This game brings the conclusion to the season for both sides with Drumcullen crowned champions.

VENUE WATCH

Clareen hosted the game well. There were plenty of stewards on duty to handle traffic and parking beforehand and everything ran smoothly. The pitch was in good condition after the good dry spell.

STATISTICS

Wides; Drumcullen 11 (6 in first half) Ballyskenach-Killavilla 11 (4 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Drumcullen 3 (Fiachra Dooley, Kevin Fleury, Daire Boyd), Ballyskenach-Killavilla 2 (Chris Murphy, Ronan Middleton).

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Drumcullen; Colm Gath (2-5, 0-2 frees), Michael McCarthy (1-0), Kevin Fleury (0-2), Donal Mahon, Brian Pardy, Mark Kennedy, Joe Kelly (0-1 each).

Ballyskenach-Killavilla; Peter Hogan (1-1, frees), Brian Bergin (0-2, 0-1 free), Kevin Dooley (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 '65'), James Dooley (0-1).