McGurk Architects SHC semi-final: Ballinascreen 2-14 Lavey 1-09
A disciplined and tenacious defence was the platform which propelled Ballinascreen to their first senior county hurling final in ten years.
Not for the first time in this years hurling championship, league results were turned on their head.
With the experienced and talented Sean McBride to lead them, the successes of numerous talented minor teams came to the fore in St Colm’s bid for a first hurling crown since the 30′s.
Their focus was evident from the outset as Lavey struggled to contain the Screen men as they raced to a 0-05 to 0-01 lead after 10mins.
With Conal O’Kane and Paddy Henry ever accurate from frees, a penalty miss by Lavey’s Paul Hearty would prove crucial as Screen pressed to gain a four point half time lead.
It was a lead they would not relinquish in a second half in which a Dean Flanagan goal in the 43rd minute put clear daylight between the teams. With Ryan Farren seeing red for two bookable offences minutes later, Lavey’s hopes of a comeback all but vanished.
To their credit Lavey showed battling qualities of their own cutting an 11 point deficit to 7 with five minutes remaining.
With Conor McSorley rock solid at the heart of the Screen defence, the result never looked in doubt.
The final acts of the game saw Dean Flanagan whip a low shot to the net and ace marksman Conal O’Kane fire over his eighth free of the game, sending Ballinascreen into the decider and 60mins from making history.
Ballinascreen: Garbhan Brunton; Ciaran Conway, Conor McSorley, Conor McKenna; Phillip McGlade, Michael Bradley, Hugh Pat Kelly; Sean McBride (0-01f), John McCloskey; Cahan Murray (0-01), Dean Flanagan (1-01), Conal O'Kane (0-08f); Aaron Kelly (0-01), Neil Bradley (1-01), Paul Cleary (0-01)
Lavey: Cathal O'Loane; Caolan McGurk, Shane Lagan, Ryan Farren; Colm Dillon, John Darragh, Dermot O'Neill; Michael Drumm, Sam Dodds; Caolan O'Boyle, Paul Doherty (0-01), Paddy Henry (0-05f); Colm Murphy (0-01), Paul Hearty (1-00), Kevin O'Neill (0-01)
Jarlath Shaw (0-01) for Paul Doherty (40 mins)
Eamon McGill for John Darragh (45 mins)
Referee: Alan Nash
http://www.mcgurk-architects.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment