Banagher College's dreams of place in All-Ireland Final dashed by Blackwater CS

Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Paddy Buggy Cup Semi-Final

BLACKWATER CS LISMORE 0-11

BANAGHER COLLEGE 1-5

BANAGHER College's dreams of All-Ireland glory in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling B Paddy Buggy Cup came to an end when they went under to Blackwater Community School of Lismore in a competitive All-Ireland semi-final played in very difficult conditions at Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny on Saturday.

In a low scoring game, the Waterford side showed greater sharpness in the second half to edge away from their opponents and claim their place in the All-Ireland final in two weeks time.

It was a disappointing end to the campaign for Banagher College but they gave it their all and were battling all the way to the final whistle, pressurising the Lismore goals in search of an equalising goal when the final whistle eventually sounded more than 10 minutes into injury time.

The game was played in terribly difficult conditions. The weather of the previous days had left the pitch very soft and then a diagonal crossfield wind made things more difficult. There was torrential rain in the ten minutes up to half time which made any kind of fluent hurling almost impossible and it was no surprise that scores were scarce in that opening period, which ended 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Blackwater.

Ironically the best spell of weather of the day came during the half time break when the sun came out while teams were in the dressing rooms but fortunately the rain held off for most of the second half but the wind continued to prove problematical.

Banagher College had to line out without their captain Shane Rigney following his red card in the Leinster Final and his absence was certainly felt by the Leinster champions. They played into the diagonal wind in the first half and weathered the first half storm – literally – to trail by only a point at half time and they looked to be in a reasonably good position at that stage.

However they struggled to get productive ball into their forward line in the second half as Blackwater began to take control of the game. Three unanswered points increased their lead to four points 12 minutes into the half but Banagher then got a lifeline with the game's only goal midway through the half to leave just a point in it. However they were unable to build on that and although a point still separated them going into injury time, three quick points for Blackwater were enough to seal their place in the decider.

Banagher put everything into the game but they were unable to get their forward unit moving as fluently as they did in previous games. The conditions certainly played a part in that but a strong Blackwater unit also contributed to it. They were strong and physical and closed down the Banagher dangermen well.

Having struggled themselves in the first half, Blackwater played much more cohesively after the break. The attacked well, using a short passing game very effectively and that led to a number of their second half points. Joint captain Joseph O'Keefe led the way for them from midfield and he was their most influential player from the very start, contributing three points from play.

Banagher fought hard and Ruairi Kelly, Eric Rigney and Mark Kilkenny all worked extremely hard in defence. Luke Bowe and Paul Cannon put in a big effort around the middle while in attack Niall Flannery and Daragh Scully were most effective.

Tomas Ahern, Tadhg Duffin and Jake Henley impressed in the Blackwater defence, Joseph O'Keefe excelled in midfield while in attack Ben Cummins, Adam Cummins and Ben O'Sullivan carried most threat.

Blackwater almost got the perfect start after just a minute when Ben O'Sullivan flashed in a shot which came back off the post. They did take the lead a minute later through Joseph O'Keefe and doubled that after six minutes with an Adam Cummins point.

Banagher College eventually got their first score after 11 minutes when Daragh Scully pointed a free and they were level after 13 minutes when Michael Boylan scored a good point from an angle on the left.

Blackwater regained the lead when Joseph O'Keefe made a great run through and popped over a point. Having missed a couple of earlier frees, Ben Cummins did find the target after 27 minutes as the pouring rain made it very difficult for everyone. Ricky Fitzsimons grabbed another point for Banagher which meant they went in trailing by 0-4 to 0-3 at half time.

Two minutes after the break Tadhg Duffin got on the end of a move to shoot a Blackwater point and nine minutes later James Hickey added to that. Straight from the puck out Joseph O'Keefe won possession and returned the ball over the bar again and Blackwater had a four point lead, 0-7 to 0-3.

Banagher got back into the game after 14 minutes when Niall Flannery made the important run and as he closed on goals he appeared to have lost possession under pressure but the ball ran loose and Daragh Scully pulled the loose ball to the net to leave just a point in it again. They were unable to add to that as Blackwater defended well and over the next 17 minutes the sides only managed a single point each, both frees from Ben Cummins and Daragh Scully respectively. Then with the game in injury time Ben Cummins added another free, the foul for which saw Banagher's Robert Duffy receive a red card. He quickly added a point from play and another free to put them four clear. Daragh Scully cut in back to three again eight minutes into added time from a free and although they tried to launch another attack in search of an equaliser, it came to naught and it was Blackwater who were celebrating at the end.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

BLACKWATER CS LISMORE: Billy Murphy; Jack Twomey, Tomas Ahern, Conor Lynch; Tadhg Duffin, Jake Henley, Joseph McDonnell; Callum McCarthy, Joseph O'Keefe; Charlie Lineen, Adam Cummins, James Hickey; Ben O'Sullivan, Ben Cummins, Stephen Murphy. Subs. Shane Barry (for Stephen Murphy, 33 mins), Conor Henley (for James Hickey, 66 mins).

BANAGHER COLLEGE: Eanna Mulhare (St Rynagh's); Daire Daly (St Rynagh's), Ruairi Kelly (Lusmagh), Eric Rigney (St Rynagh's); Lee Hogan (Lorrha), Mark Kilkenny (Kiltormer), Robert Duffy (Lorrha); Luke Bowe (Lusmagh), Paul Cannon (St Rynagh's); Harry Grant (St Rynagh's), Niall Flannery (St Rynagh's), Michael Boylan (St Rynagh's); Ricky Fitzsimons (Birr), Aaron Molloy (St Rynagh's), Daragh Scully (St Rynagh's). Subs. Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha) (for Harry Grant, 41 mins), Liam Donoghue (Lorrha) (for Niall Flannery, 45 mins), Paul Cahalan (Lorrha) (for Ricky Fitzsimons, 52 mins), Daniel Healy (St Rynagh's) (for Lee Hogan), Ricky Fitzsimons (for Luke Bowe, 63 mins).

REFEREE: David Hughes (Kilkenny).

MAN OF THE MATCH

Blackwater midfielder Joseph O'Keefe was the best player on the field. From the very start he had an impact, scoring the first point of the game, and he continued to contribute strongly around the middle of the field, winning valuable possession and driving forward at the Banagher defence with great effect. It was from one such run that he was fouled that led to the Banagher red card. He was the only player on the field to score more than once from play.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There was no real individual moment but the period after half time in which Blackwater scored the first three points without reply seemed to instil greater confidence in them and although Banagher did hit back with a goal, Blackwater were in the groove they were able to pull away again and claim their place in the final.

REFEREE WATCH

In difficult conditions it wasn't an easy game to referee but David Hughes did well. He penalised both sides a number of times for overcarrying and attempted to let play flow as much as possible in the conditions. He flashed a number of cards, most of which couldn't be argued about, but he did incorrectly book Niall Flannery on the word of a linesman as it was one of his colleagues who flung away the hurley of a Blackwater player and not Flannery.

WHAT’S NEXT

It's the end of the season for Banagher College while Blackwater CS progress to the All-Ireland Final on March 16^th.

VENUE WATCH

After all the poor weather the pitch was very soft and unfortunately there was no cover to protect the spectators from the driving rain in the first half. The surrounds of the pitch where the supporters were gathered were quite mucky as well. The supporters from both sides, particularly the students, did add to atmosphere. There was a scoreboard in operation but with Fenians and Cuairteori listed as the two teams it wasn't clear who was who on the board.

STATISTICS

Wides; Blackwater CS 4 (4 in first half) Banagher College 2 (0 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Blackwater CS 3 Banagher College 3

Red Cards: Blackwater CS 0 Banagher College 1 (Robert Duffy)

THE SCORERS

Blackwater CS; Ben Cummins (0-5, 0-4 frees), Joseph O'Keefe (0-3), Adam Cummins, Tadhg Duffin, James Hickey (0-1 each)

Banagher College; Daragh Scully (1-3, 0-3 frees), Michael Boylan, Ricky Fitzsimons (0-1 each).