Kilkenny SHL- Roberts goal paves the way for Graigue Ballycallan

A goal from Jesse Roberts coupled with the second half dismissal of Lester Ryan proved the difference as Graigue Ballycallan came out on top in a rather scrappy affair with Clara on Sunday afternoon.

There was never anything much between the sides over the course of the hour but Ballycallan’s slightly better use of the ball saw them seal the two points even if they had to fend off a late Clara rally.

Roberts goal three minutes before the break gave Declan Browne’s Graigue Ballycallan a three point buffer at the interval and it’s a deficit Clara could never quite reel in despite the best efforts for Paul Cody who scored five points from play.

Lester Ryan’s red card when he reacted to an incident with Tommy Ronan and made contact with his opponents helmet rather incensed the former All-Ireland winning captain but Clara can still take a lot from the game as they battled to the end.

The sides were level on no fewer than five occasions throughout the opening half with James Bergin and Aaron McEvoy proving ace on the placed balls while Conor Hoyne, Dara Glynn and Paul Cody pointed from play for Clara as they replied to efforts from Ballycallan’s Billy O’Neill, Sean Ryan and Tommy Ronan.

The game only really opened up when Jesse Roberts showed his strength to break through the Clara defence and fire to the net of the city end in Pairc Sheamuis Stiopháin. That allowed Ballycallan to lead by three at the break and like against Shamrocks a week previous, it was their young players that really came to the fore.

A further brace of frees from McEvoy as well as Tommy Ronan also pointing twice from play gave Ballycallan a 1-14 to 0-12 lead ten minutes into the second period before Lester Ryan was then giving his marching orders.

Ryan Corcoran initially increased the advantage to six but Clara fought back valiantly with a pair of scores from both Liam Ryan and Paul Cody leaving just a puck of the ball in it.

After losing their opening game, Clara were desperate to get some points on the league table and while they aren’t too far way, it wasn’t to be on this occasion with Billy O’Neill and Aaron Brennan securing the win with late insurance scores.

Teams and Scorers

Graigue Ballycallan - Aaron McEvoy (0-8, 7fs); Jesse Roberts (1-1); Tommy Ronan (0-3); Sean Ryan (0-2); Billy O’Neill (0-2, 1f); Aaron Brennan, Ryan Corcoran (0-1 each)

Clara - Paul Cody (0-5); James Bergin (0-5, 4fs); Liam Ryan (0-3, 1f); Sean Carrigan (0-2); Lester Ryan, Dara Glynn (0-1 each)

Graigue Ballycallan - Ciaran Hoyne; Darragh Egan, Conor Flynn, Stephen Keoghan; Colum Prendiville, Tom Dunphy; Billy O’Neill; Jeff Neary, Aaron Brennan; Ryan Corcoran, Tommy Ronan, Sean Ryan; Conor Murphy, Jesse Roberts, Aaron McEvoy.

Subs: Ben Young for Murphy, 46 mins; Billy Ryan for Brennan, 53 mins.

Clara - Kevin Nolan; Dara Glynn, Jack Langton, Sean O’Shea; Martin O’Connell, Shane Staunton, Harry Boyle; Conor Hoyne, Sean Carrigan; Conor O’Shea, Liam Ryan, Paul Cody; Lester Ryan, James Bergin, Chris Bolger.

Subs: Joe Connolly for Langton, 15 mins; Paddy Bolger for Carrigan, 46 mins; Peter Nolan for Glynn, 46 mins; Killian Phelan for Bergin, 50 mins.

Referee- Eoin Maher