Maher and Bergin combine to help county champions Clough-Ballacolla get off the mark

The reigning Laois Shopping Centre SHC champions, Clough-Ballacolla, had endured a somewhat difficult July. They were well beaten by Camross in the ACHL Division 1 league final and then Rathdowney-Errill triumphed over Clough-Ballacolla in round one.

However, as champions tend to do, Clough-Ballacolla bounced back in round two against The Harps. Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher scored a hat-trick and top-scored for them, while Stephen Bergin also scored two goals for the comfortable victors.

Clough-Ballacolla 5-26

The Harps 3-17

Clough-Ballacolla started the game on the front foot by rushing into an early advantage. Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher was to the fore for the three in-a-row champions, as he opened his account with three points.

The Harps responded with scores through Ciaran Comerford and Podge Delaney. While the two Stephen’s for Clough-Ballacolla, Maher and Bergin, grabbed the next couple of scores, The Harps remained competitive.

Ciaran Comerford slotted over a free and full-forward James Duggan also got off the mark with a delightful score out near the far sideline. Then two goals went in in the space of a minute at either end of the pitch.

For the Clough-Ballacolla goal, Cillian Dunne found the onrushing Stephen Maher who drilled to the net. Then straight from The Harps puck-out, they worked the ball inside to Cody Comerford and he crashed home.

The Harps drew level after that when James Duggan landed his second point. The two teams traded scores after that, as The Harps remained very competitive in the first quarter.

Stephen Bergin and Robbie Phelan raised white flags for Clough-Ballacolla, while Cathal Murphy and James Duggan delivered scores for The Harps. Clough-Ballacolla’s second goal was the big difference in the first half though.

The Harps failed to clear their lines and inside and were ruthlessly punished by Clough-Ballacolla’s star man, Stephen Maher. He volleyed the ball home soccer-style to put his side back in front in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

While The Harps managed to get the next score through James Duggan, Clough-Ballacolla hit six points without reply to gain a healthy cushion.

Stephen Maher, Robbie Phelan, Jordan Walshe (two) and Stephen Bergin (two) all landed points for the county champions during this period. Bergin’s scores were beautiful. He fired them over from both the left and the right-hand side under immense pressure.

While Ciaran Comerford ended The Harps’ drought through a point from a placed ball, Stephen Bergin replied with his third score for Clough-Ballacolla. The Harps did finish the half well enough though to give themselves a small chance heading into the second-half.

Cathal Murphy and Ciaran Comerford (free) raised white flags for The Harps. Stephen Maher landed the last point of the half though to leave his side 2-15 to 1-11 ahead at the break in Portlaoise.

What little chance The Harps still had was completely wiped out at the start of the second half. An Eoin Corby point for Clough-Ballacolla was followed by their third goal.

The Harps got their short puck-out all wrong and Stephen Bergin buried the opportunity that presented itself. That goal was followed by more Clough-Ballacolla points, as Cillian Dunne and Maher added to the momentum.

The Harps managed to get on the scoreboard for the second-half through Ciaran Burke but that was met with Clough-Ballacolla’s fourth goal. It was Stephen Maher who scored his hat-trick as well, as the Laois Senior hurler continued to show his class.

Ciaran Comerford and Stephen Maher swapped points from frees before Clough-Ballacolla were reduced to fourteen men. Midfielder Jordan Walshe, who had played well in the first-half, received a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.

Ciaran Comerford continued to knock over the placed balls for The Harps but Clough-Ballacolla were ruthless in front of goal. This time it was Stephen Bergin who raced through to bury goal number five and his second individual one.

The Harps were a long time beaten at this stage but had no other option but to continue to ply away. Ciaran Comerford, James Duggan and substitute James Lappin landed points, while Podge Delaney and Duggan also grabbed consolation goals.

Clough-Ballacolla now face Rosenallis in their final group game, while The Harps face another daunting task. They take on the red-hot Rathdowney-Errill in their last group fixture.