Clonoulty head for relegation after impressive win over table toppers Holycross

FBD Senior Hurling Championship - Group 1 - Round 3

Clonoulty Rossmore 4-19 

Holycross Ballycahill 2-21

By John O’Shea 

Holycross Ballycahill surrendered their 100% record in the FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Group 1, Round 3 Co. Championship at Boherlahan on Sunday, but still retained top spot. 

They started the game minus the services of Jim Ryan and Bryan O’Mara who were out through injury and also Cathal O’Reilly, Robbie Ryan and Tiarnan Ryan, although the latter three made a second half appearance off the bench. Clonoulty Rossmore were minus the injured Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Ryan (Con) and John O’Keeffe.

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From the throw-in, Clonoulty Rossmore, who had Danny Slattery back in the last line of defence, took the game to their near neighbours and with the exception of a brief period in the opening quarter, they were never headed. Three goals during the opening half helped them to a 3-8 to 0-9 interval lead while also hitting eleven wides during the same period.

Holycross Ballycahill came more into the game after the restart and a goal from Jimmie Lahart on thirty five minutes cut the deficit to three. Robbie Ryan, Cathal O’Reilly and Tiarnan Ryan were introduced around the middle of the half, with the game finely balanced. Clonoulty were given a huge boost with eight minutes of normal time remaining, when a long range free by Stephen Ferncombe, from inside his own half, went all the way to the net off the hand of Ewan Bourke. While Joe Caesar got in for a second Holycross goal on fifty eight minutes, the West champions held out for a fully deserved victory.

Clonoulty Rossmore played with the aid of the breeze, which was blowing away from the dressing room end,  for the opening thirty minutes and went on the attack from the throw-in. However wayward shooting meant that the opening score didn’t arrive until the fifth minute, a converted free from Stephen Ferncombe. Liam Doyle equalised one minute later and Darragh Woods opened his account on ten minutes as the Clonoulty wides built up. Ferncombe and Woods, from placed balls traded scores before Stevie Quinn had the sides level for the third time on thirteen minutes. 

Woods and Ferncombe again traded minors before Clonoulty Rossmore got the opening break on eighteen minutes, when Cathal Bourke pulled first time on a breaking ground ball to rifle past Ewan Bourke.  Two minutes later Clonoulty again opened up the Holycross defence before Mikey Ryan (Winnie) set up Stephen Ferncombe for goal number two from close-in. This gave the West champions a six point advantage, but Holycross replied in triplicate, with minors from Darragh Woods, 2 frees, and one from open play from David Fogarty.

Clonoulty were causing problems to the Holycross defence and Ciaran Quirke crashed home goal number three on twenty seven minutes to restore their six point advantage. Clonoulty went on to hit three of the last four points before the break to lead 3-8 to 0-9. 

After the restart, Holycross Ballycahill were quickly into the action with renewed vigour. Darragh Woods converted two placed balls before Jack Ryan opened his own account with a well taken point. Eoin Craddock replied immediately with a minor before Jimmie Lahart beat Jason O’Dwyer with a low shot to cut the deficit to three on thirty five minutes. Jack Ryan began to dominate the air and this caused problems for the Holycross defence. Ferncombe and Lahart traded minors before Nathan Slattery set up Cathal Bourke for his second point. 

Cathal Bourke came more into the action and this was beginning to reflect on the scoreboard. Ferncombe and Woods continued to be the main score getters, but Robbie Ryan, after being introduced, stretched the Clonoulty defence, while putting over two points in a three minute spell.

With fifty minutes gone Clonoulty still held a three point advantage, 3-15 to 1-18, but Holycross were beginning to make inroads through Lahart and Craddock. With eight minutes of normal time remaining Clonoulty got a huge boost when a long range free by Stephen Ferncombe, from inside his own half went in off the hand of Ewan Bourke for goal number four. Paraic Russell pulled one back but Ferncombe and Cathal Bourke replied on the double. Joe Caesar beat Jason O’Dwyer on fifty eight minutes for a second Holycross major and when Darragh Woods, from a free and Jimmie Lahart put over two minors in quick succession, the deficit was down to two. However in added time Clonoulty saw out the game and finished with two points from a Stephen Ferncombe free and one from open play from Mikey Ryan (Winnie). 

Clonoulty Rossmore; Jason O’Dwyer; Donnchadh Quirke, Robert Doyle, Danny Slattery; Jamie Davern (0-1), Enda Heffernan, Stevie Quinn (0-1); Ronan Heffernan, Nathan Slattery (0-1); Ciaran Quirke (1-0), Stephen Ferncombe (2-8, 1-7f), Jimmy Maher; Jack Ryan (0-2), Cathal Bourke (1-5), Mikey Ryan (Winnie, 0-1).

Subs used: Padraig Carew for Ronan Heffernan (53); Alex Carroll for Stevie Quinn (56), Sean O’Connor for Donnchadh Quirke (62).

Holycross Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke; Jimmie Lahart (1-2), Cathal Barrett, Evan Morris; Jack Ryan, Joe Caesar (1-0), Liam Doyle (0-1); Paraic Russell (0-1), Tadhg Gould; Mikey Nally, Eoin Craddock (0-2), James Doyle (0-1); Luke O’Mara, Darragh Woods (0-11, 0-10f), David Fogarty (0-1).

Subs used: Robbie Ryan (0-1) for James Doyle (41); Cathal O’Reilly for David Fogarty (41); Tiarnan Ryan for Luke O’Mara (47).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)

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