Kilkenny SHL- Glynn goal helps Clara claim narrow win over Graigue Ballycallan

A Rory Glynn goal proved crucial as Clara claimed a one point victory over Graigue Ballycallan in an entertaining clash in Benettsbridge on Saturday afternoon.

Ballycallan had started the game well but once the Kilkenny underage star grabbed the opening goal of the game, Clara found their groove and while it got close late on it was Jim Lyng’s team that held on for a narrow success as their opponents were made rue a number of missed opportunities.

Graigue Ballycallan raced out if the blocks with placed ball efforts from Aaron McEvoy and Sean Ryan giving them the early initiative.

Clara hit back with a 65 from Conor Hoyne but Ballycallan continued to do all the heavy lifting as Ryan, and Jeff Neary pushed the lead out to four points.

Billy Ryan also had a couple of opportunities at goal that went astray with Clara stopper Kevin Nolan making a pair of great saves.

Clara gradually worked their way into the game via points from Martin O’Connell, Conor Hoyne and Liam Ryan but at the halfway mark of the half it was still Ballycallan dictating matters as they led 0-8 to 0-5.

Clara then hit a purple patch with successive efforts from Conor Hoyne and Paul Cody levelling up matters before they hit the game defining goal when Rory Glynn caught a long delivery into the danger area and after skipping away he blasted a shot to the net.

Glynn and David Barcoe followed up with further points but Ballycallan were still in touch at the break after Sean Ryan and Ryan Corcoran reduced the deficit to two (1-10 to 0-11).

The up and down Senior League Group B affair remained on tenderhooks throughout much of the second half but Ballycallan looked to be timing their run to perfection when four points on the spin between the 46th and 50th minutes left the sides all square going down the stretch,

Sean Ryan was on the end of three of those points with the other via team captain Billy Ryan.

Clara kept fighting though and two points from sub Joe Power saw them retake the lead before Paul Cody landed his fourth of the day from play to make it 1-20 to 0-20 with the final call edging closer.

Eoghan Cahill and Jack Walton got Ballycallan back to the minimum but a crucial missed free from Sean Ryan and a few careless errors meant they ran out of time as Clara claimed a one point victory.

Teams and Scorers

Clara: Joe Power (0-5, 4fs); Rory Glynn (1-2); Conor Hoyne (0-4, 2fs and 2 ‘65’s); Paul Cody (0-4); Matt Kenny (0-1, 1f); Martin O’Connell, David Barcoe, Chris Bolger, Liam Ryan (0-1 each)

Graigue Ballycallan: Sean Ryan (0-8, 4fs and 2 ‘65’s); Ryan Corcoran (0-4); Aaron McEvoy (0-2, 1f); Jeff Neary, Eoghan Cahill (0-2 each); Jesse Roberts, Billy Ryan, Jack Walton, Oisin Egan (0-1 each)

Clara: Kevin Nolan; Conor O’Shea, Shane Staunton, Harry Boyle; Jack Langton, Matt Kenny, Martin O’Connell; Dara Glynn, David Langton; Paul Cody, Rory Glynn, David Barcoe; Conor Hoyne, Chris Bolger, Liam Ryan.

Subs: Joe Power for Hoyne, h-t; Joe Connolly for Ryan, 50 mins; Conor Cody for D.Langton, 60 mins.

Graigue Ballycallan: Sean McGrath; Billy O’Neill, Tom Dunphy, Killian Egan; Colum Prendiville, Stephen Keoghan, Conor Flynn; Jeff Neary, Jack Walton; Sean O’Dwyer, Billy Ryan, Aaron McEvoy; Ryan Corcoran, Sean Ryan, Jesse Roberts.

Subs: Oisin Egan for O’Dwyer, 40 mins; Eoghan Cahill for Roberts, 52 mins.

Referee: Brian Fox.