| |||
 NEWTOWNSHANDRUM 1-15 BALLYHEA 0-12 Pat Ryan, The Corkman | |||
|
CHAMPIONS for the past two years Ballyhea went uder to Newtownshandrum in the Under-21 (A) HC semi-final at Charleville on Friday evening last.
Ballyhea with the aid of the breeze started well being on top in the forward line and half back sector. An early point by Seán Coleman after good work by Kevin Hanley opened the scoring.
Both sides had wides before James Bowles pointed a free for Newtown. Bowles gave his side the lead after four minutes. Maurice O’Sullivan, who was in excellent form for Ballyhea, added two pointed frees with Seán Coleman having a splendid point that opened up a lead 0-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes.
Further pressure yielded two more Ballyhea points from Maurice O’Sullivan, one from a free, to make it 0-6 to 0-2 after just ten minutes.
Newtown made a number of switches moving their entire full-forward lline to the half-forward section. This worked well and a James Bowles pointed free in the 11th minute was followed by a good point by Cathal Naughton after good work by Eamonn O’Connor, 0-7 to 0-3.
By now Newtown were doing well but then Diarmuid Naughton hit two wides. Dan O’Donoghue, the Ballyhea ’keeper, was called on to save well a number of times in the opening quarter including a great save from James Bowles.
In the 17th minute James Bowles pointed, 0-7 to 0-4. Ballyhea’s Stephen Kelleher and Maurice O’Sullivan were then wide while Newtown’s Cathal Naughton was also off target in the 22nd minute before Newtown’s John O’Connor pointed in the 23rd minute, 0-7 to 0-5.
The all-important goal came a minute later when Cathal Naughton soloed through from midfield along the wing and his cross deceived ’keeper Dan O’Donoghue with the strong sun and found its way to the net.
It was a major boost to Newtown who were now in the driving seat and remained there for the rest of the game. James Bowles followed the goal with another point (1-6 to 0-7).
Ballyhea now switched their wing backs with Liam O’Connor moving onto Bowles and Trevor O’Sullivan onto the other wing to mark Cathal Naughton. James Bowles pointed a Newtown free before Maurice O’Sullivan replied with a Ballyhea free in the dying moments of the half to leave Newtown leading by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break.
For the second half Ballyhea introduced Gavin Morrissey at midfield while Newtown introduced Shane Moran to their attack.
The winners pounced first in this half with a long range free from Fred Young. Ballyhea replied through Seán Coleman and then followed that up with two Maurice O’Sullivan scores, from play and a ‘65’, to cut Newtown’s lead to one, 1-9 to 0-11, after 41 minutes play.
Newtown responded immmediately though and hit three points in four minutes. James Bowles began the mini blitz before Newtown were awarded a close-in free but Bowles’ effort was well saved at the expense of a ‘65’ which was pointed by Fred Young. Pádraig Keane quickly added another point which put Newtown back into a four-point lead, 1-12 to 0-11 after 45 minutes play.
Ballyhea came close to a goal on two occasions but the solid Newtown defence, with Gerdie O’Mahony doing well at centre back, held firm. Ballyhea then had two wides while Diarmuid Naughton was also denied a goal by an excellent save from Dan O’Donoghue. O’Sullivan hit Ballyhea’s 12 point with ten minutes left but in the 53rd minute Stephen Kelleher re-opened up a four-point lead for Newtown (1-13 to 0-12).
James Bowles, with a late point from play and a free, gave the winners a six-point advantage at the final whistle.
On this display Newtown, with six senior players, will be strongly fancied to take this title regardless of who their final opponents will be.
Scorers — Newtownshandrum: James Bowles 0-9 (0-4 frees), Cathal Naughton 1-1, Fred Young 0-2 (0-1 ‘65’, 0-1 free), Pádraig Keane, John O’Connor and Stephen Kelleher 0-1 each.
Ballyhea: Maurice O’Sullivan 0-9 (0-5 frees, 0-1 ‘65’), Seán Coleman 0-3.
Teams — Newtownshandrum: William Biggane; Diarmuid Lane, John Buckley, Willie O’Mahony; Eamonn O’Connor, Gerdie O’Mahony, Frederick Young; Pádraig Keane, John O’Connor; Pat O’Leary, Diarmuid Naughton, Michael O’Sullivan; Cathal Naughton, James Bowles, Stephen Kelleher. Sub: Shane Moran for Michael O’Sullivan,
Ballyhea: Dan O’Donoghue; Martin O’Keeffe, Michael O’Mahony, Hugh O’Leary; Liam O’Connor, Timmy Shanahan, Trevor O’Sullivan; John O’Riordan, Kevin Hanley; Stephen O’Sullivan, John W O’Brien, Edward Rea; Maurice O’Sullivan, Seán Coleman, David O’Riordan. Subs: Gavin Morrissey for Kevin Hanley, Conor O’Riordan for John W. O’Brien,
Referee: Jas Cummins (Glanworth).
| ||
www.newtownshandrum.com | |||