Ballyfin cruise past Clough-Ballacolla to secure Junior ‘C’ Hurling final place

Ballyfin will contest this year’s Laois Shopping Centre Junior ‘C’ Hurling final after a routine win over Clough-Ballacolla in this evening’s semi-final played in the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

An early goal from Glen Connolly coupled with nine points from the hurl of John Joe McHugh put Ballyfin well on their way to victory.

Ballyfin 2-15

Clough-Ballacolla 0-5

Ballyfin got off to the best possible start as Paul Finn teed up Glen Connolly to rattle the back of the Clough-Ballacolla within the first 60 seconds of the contest. Dylan Kelly raised the game’s first white flag for Ballyfin before they were awarded a penalty.

Clough-Ballacolla goalkeeper Jimmy Rea fouled Finn in the square as McHugh stepped up to strike the penalty, Rea was equal to his effort however to keep his side in the game early on.

Mick Harrison got Clough-Ballacolla’s first score with a free before Ballyfin asserted their dominance with four scores without reply. Dermot McGill pointed well from half-back as McHugh slotted over another two points. Midfielder Alan Strong pushed his side into a seven-point lead as it looked like Ballyfin had that extra yard on their opponents.

Harrison and McHugh traded frees with Harrison pointing his third of the game soon after. Ballyfin would end the half with another spell of four points unanswered as three points from McHugh (one 65’) and Connolly gave them a healthy 10 point lead at the interval.

Sean O’Rourke got the second-half underway with a fine score from play. The next piece of action saw Clough-Ballacolla reduced to 14 men as half-time substitute Sean Byrne was shown his marching orders by referee Michael Cleere.

This all but ended the game as a contest as Ballyfin continued to raise white flags for the remainder of the match. McGill fired over his second of the contest while McHugh pointed another two frees. Ballyfin’s second goal would follow as two substitutes combined. Kevin O’Rourke found Paddy Hyland, who made no mistake in raising a green flag.

The game ended with three more points, two for Clough-Ballacolla off the hurls of Cian Mezzapella and Kayne Kavanagh while McHugh ended Ballyfin’s scoring in the game. Ballyfin running out 16-point winners in the end and they throughly deserved it. Richard Downey was immense in the full-back line for the victors as he cleared everything that came near him.

Ballyfin will face Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe in the final after they got the better of Clonaslee St Manman’s in tonight’s other semi-final. That game is down to be played on Friday September 8.