Deserved Draw After Rip Roaring Game
It was edge of the seats stuff at Croke Park on Saturday last as Ballysaggart and Kickhams of Creggan played out a thrilling draw after extra time. The final score Ballysaggart 5-12 to 2-21 for the Antrim representatves was perhaps just reward after over eighty minutes of thrill-a-second hurling. Even though inexperienced at this level, Ballysaggart went into this game as favouritesbut in the end it was their sheer willpower and determination that got them the draw and another "bite of the cherry" having looked beaten with just seconds remaining. Talk about excitement. It was a magnificent performance from two extremely committed teams. The conditions at Headquarters were cold and miserable. Dark clouds lent to murky afternoon which got darker as the game progressed. Both teams were evenly matched in the opening minutes as Ballysaggart were first on the scoreboard when Kieran Bennett, Shane Bennett and Darren Meagher set Stephen Bennett in for a first point. Conleth Mulligan levelled for Kickhams within a minute. Points from Ronan Walsh and Daniel Devine for the deise were cancelled out by points from Conor and Oran McCann for Antrim. The opening goal of the game came as early as the eight minute as a foul on Ballysaggart corner forward Ronan Walsh saw Stephen Bennett's free billow the net. Undaunted Creggan came back with a brace of points from Conor McCann and Kieran Rice. The Antrim side saw their defence breached for a second time in the 17th minute as Ronan Walsh placed Shane Bennett for the first of his three goals 2-3 to 0-5. Ballysaggart took control for the following fourteen minutes and thanks to the accuracy of Stephen Bennett they crept 2-6 to 0-6 ahead. Indeed it could have been more had not an effort by Stephen Bennet been ruled out as Ronan Walsh was caught in the square. In the 29th minute Kevin Rice had a point for Creggan before goal number three came for Ballysaggart. A foul on Shane Bennett saw brother Stephen drift a ball into the goalmounth and with Ronan Walsh lurking the sliotar ended up in the Antrim net. Referee Christy Brennan called for half time and no doubt Adrian Maher and his fellow selectors would have been very happy with the Waterford performance. In the conditions a nine point lead 3-6 to 0-6 looked like a mountain for Antrim to climb.
Waterford were first on the board in the second half as Stephen Bennett pointed. The pendulum began to swing a little for Creggan in the following eight minutes. Oran McCann pointed and in the 36th minute a shot from Kevin Rice was parried by Saggart keeper Matty Meagher only for Conor Small to latch on and goal 3-7 to 1-8. Shane Bennett added a point for Waterford but two points from Oran McCann and one from Conor McCann saw just three between the sides 3-8 to 1-11. Creggan were beginning to exert pressure in the middle of the field and were winning clean puckouts. Stephen Bennett pointed a free in the 49th minute but the Ballysaggart citadel fell a minute later as a foul on Conor Small yielded a penalty which Conor McCann blasted to the net. A solitary point between the sides and no doubt Creggan were gaining in confidence. Ronan Walsh had a Ballysaggart point but almost immediately substitute Matthew Nelson replied in kind for Creggan. It was magnificent stuff. Both teams of heroes and we wondered "could it be extra time?". a Stephen Bennett free was short and cleared as Oran McCann did likewise. The final play of this intriguing game saw Conor McCann point a free in the dying seconds to bring the game to an added twenty minutes.
Extra time was no less exciting as Creggan took control with Oran McCann slotting over two points. Was the game slipping away from the Waterford champions?. A number of efforts at goal from Ballysaggart dropped into the grateful hands of Creggan keeper Brendan Prenter. Two minutes before the break a Shane Bennett effort carried all the way to the net and Saggart were back in front 4-10 to 2-15. However the McCann brothers with a point apiece saw Creggan ahead 2-17 to 4-10 as the opening period elapsed. Again it was Creggan who opened brightly in the final period as James Carey and Rory McCann added points. No doubt the huge Ballysaggart following could see a fall at the final hurdle. Kenneth Cashell pointed but Kevin Rice added one for Creggan. Kieran Bennett pointed as Ballysaggart tried everything to close the gap. Kevin Rice again added a point for Creggan. One last chance. A free to Ballysaggart. Kieran Bennett from midfield dropped the sliotar into the square and up popped Shane Bennett to clip the ball to the net. A draw. Another episode. Both teams certainly deserved another chance after what was a magnificent game of hurling. Bring on the replay and let's hope the authorities see fit to play it in Croke Park. It's the least these two magnificent teams deserve.
After the match one could see the palpable relief in the faces of Ballysaggart mentors, players and supporters and I for one believe that the experience gained from this day will ultimately carry them through. You know what you have to do.
Allianz National Football League
Waterford Senior Footballers collected their opening point of the current league as they held Tipperary to a 1-9 to 0-12 scoreline at Clonmel on Sunday last. Niall Carew and his management team made one change to the starting lineup as JJ Hutchinson came in for Tommy Prendergast. Following defeat to Clare in the opening round league game it was important for the Deise to get a positive result . The Premier county already had a win on the board following a very impressive victory over Carlow. Although Waterford scored first it was tight throughout the opening half with the teams level on a number of occasions in the opening twenty minutes. A foul on Liam O'Lionain before the break saw a Paul Whyte penalty converted and the impetus was with Waterford who led 1-4 to 0-5 at the break. The home side edged ahead 0-9 to 1-4 inside ten minutes of the restart and were 0-10 to 1-5 as the clock passed the fifty minute mark. However at the end a gallant Deise effort was rewarded as they levelled through Whyte (total 1-5) to copperfasten a draw and their first point of the series. The management of both teams could be reasonably happy with the point gained as the game never reached the heights expected. The Deise have a short break before facing Antrim on 2nd March.
Hurlers In Semple Stadium
The Waterford team to face Tipperary in the opening round of the Allianz National Hurling League goes along the generally anticipated lines. Stephen O'Keeffe of Ballygunner will fill the number one spot with fellow clubman Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives from Carrigtuohill and Passage star Noel Connors. The outer line sees Stradbally dual player Michael Walsh in the pivotal centre back berth with Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan) and Philip Mahony (Ballygunner) completing the line. At midfield Kevin Moran (De La Salle) and Shane O'Sullivan (Ballygunner) will keep the engine room ticking while the front six are Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater), Paudie Mahony (Ballygunner), Jake Dillon (De La Salle) Maurice Shanahan (Lismore), Shane Walsh (Fourmilewater) and Brian O'Sullivan (Ballygunner). here's wishing manager Derek McGrath, his fellow selectors and his team all the best as they set out on the National stage.
Lismore Camogie In All Ireland Final
Sincere congratulations to Lismore who reached the All-Ireland final at the weekend. With star forward Aoife Hannon very much to the fore the Deise ladies defeated Leitrim 0-11 to 2-3. They now face Ballyhale Shamrocks in the final. Once again well done ladies and very best wishes.
