BRILLIANT BALLYSAGGART ROLL ON TO CROKER
On Sunday last at O'Connor Park in Tullamore the players of Ballysaggart, Waterford Junior Hurling Champions, turned in the performance of their lives to overcome a fancied Calry/St Josephs outfit on a 4-13 to 0-8 scoreline. The village from West Waterford with a population of under three hundred have become one of a very select band of clubs from the Deise to reach an All-Ireland final and indeed the first junior outfit to do so. Fair to say the record of Waterford representatives in National and Provincial Junior competitions has not been as we would like. That said Ballysaggart have proved many of the pundits wrong. The team has displayed superb determination and skill along the way and on Sunday last they had the game more or less wrapped up at half time as they led 3-10 to 0-2 albeit with the aid of the elemants. A biting wind, some little sleet, a spot of sunshine and then more rain. Not weather for the fainthearted and certainly not conducive to hurling but that mattered not a whit to Ballysaggart in the opening half. We must bear in mind that Calry/St Josephs have a formidable record in Sligo and indeed have also had success in their Provincial championship. Founded in 1972 as Calry Gaels they joined St Josephs in 1987 but had to wait until 2005 to win their first Sligo championship. In that year they beat Tubbercurry who had strung titles over the previous decade. The club then went on to win six of the next eight senior county titles as well as collecting two Provincial Junior titles on the way. Whatever way one looks at it a formidable record facing Ballysaggart.
DANGEROUS OPENING
The first minute saw the Sligo champions on the attack and it took a terrific save from Ballysaggart keeper Matty Meagher to deny Kevin Gilmartin what look a goal chance. With that surprise out of the way the Deise lads began to carry the attack to the opposition. Leading three points to one after ten minutes the conditions were being unhelpful to the players. Up front for Ballysaggart the Bennetts Stephen and Shane along with Ronan Walsh were causing untold danger at every opportunity. Indeed it appeared as though Ballysaggart were going for the jugular early as Stephen Bennett with his first free had a goalbound effort deflected over by Sligo keeper Charlie Madden. With the other semi-final having been completed both teams were aware that a Croke Park decider was on offer against Antrim side Creggan Kickhams who won their tie against Warwickshire outfit Fullen Gaels on a 2-10 to 1-8 scoreline.
The Calry defence was breached in the 13th minute as Shane Bennett got through to goal and see his side 1-7 to 0-2 ahead. In the 25th minute the Sligo defence was breached for a second time as a 65 metre free from Stephen Bennett was touched to the net by Shane and the mountain was getting higher for the Connaught champions. Kenneth Cashel added two points. Kieran Bennett was driving Ballysaggart forward from midfield and in the 29th minute Stephen Bennett eluded the Sligo defence to slip the ball to the net. Leading 3-10 to 0-2 at the break it looked game set and match for a Croke Park appearance for Ballysaggart however, there was still a second half to be played and no doubt Calry/St Josephs would come out with all guns blazing.
DRAMATIC RESTART
The Sligo team were aware that a quick start in the second half was vital for them to close the gap and endeavour to keep them in this game. That however was not the case. Within a minute of the restart Stephen Bennett played Ronan Walsh through and goal number four was on the board. Keith Raymond had two points for Calry and Ronan Cox and Noel Treacy added two more. Time was slipping by however and the magnificent Ballysaggart defence was holding firm. There was no way back for the Sligo lads and in the final five minutes substitute Michael Harney and Stephen Bennett closed out the scoring and Ballysaggart courtesy of a 4-13 to 0-8 scoreline were safely through to the All-Ireland final which takes place in two weeks time.
This has been a magnificent year for the rural club outside Lismore. They have worked hard at underage and now they are reaping the rewards for all that work. Each and every player gave a man-of-the-match performance and the lads must now prepare for a visit to the cauldron that is Croke Park. They have come a long way but the year is not yet finished. One thing these lads from Ballysaggart have certainly shown --- they will be a force in the Intermediate grade in 2014.
All the best wishes of this column in the upcoming "red Letter Day".
ANTHONY WALSH
Colligan clubman Anthony Walsh was elected treasurer of the Munster GAA Council at Convention on Saturday night. Waterford now has a representative at the top table of GAA in the Province and there is no doubt having spent many years as Secretary of the Western Board the Deise man brings a wealth of experience to the position.
