Division 1 Status preserved
July 10, 2019
Last night in balmy conditions in Killavullen, we just about got over the line and preserved our Division 1 status for next year with a one point win, over Ballygiblin in the latest game in the ultra-competitive Avondhu Division 1 hurling league. Short of a few regulars with holidays, and injuries, and minor game commitments, the management team would have been well pleased with the application on the night, where hard work was the over-riding team philosophy.
We opened the scoring with a free from Liam Cronin, but Ballygiblin responded quickly. Ian O Gorman got our next score but Ballygiblin responded. Eddie Cotter fired over a point from distance, and then Paul O Sullivan and Barry Murphy from play but Ballygiblin pulled back the lead with two quick fire points, the second coming from a free. Eddie Cotter got our next two scores, from distance but interjected between these, was a point for our northern visitors. It was down to a one point lead again, when Ballygiblin got their 6th point, but our forwards were working particularly hard to prevent their backs clearing the back, and we forced a free that Barry converted, when one of their players got isolated in possession, and was penalised for over carrying the ball. Again Ballygiblin replied, to cut the deficit when the referee deemed that a hand pass was not legitimate but we had earned a two point interval lead with a Paul O Sullivan point just before half time to leave the score at the interval 0-09 to 0-07 in our favour.
At the start of the second half, Liam Cronin stretched out our lead to 3 points with a converted long ranged free but Ballygiblin replied with a similar score, Liam got another successful conversion, and then Ian O Gorman scored a nice point, after the newly introduced Liam Fox had gathered a nice ball, and off loaded it in the 10th minute of the half.
Sensing that their Division 1 status was in jeopardy, Ballygiblin upped the intensity distinctly and tried hard for a major score. Their first foray was pushed out for a 65 metre shot, after a bit of a scramble in our goal area but Pa Sheahan and Mike Cronin denied them. They converted the 65 metre shot and registered their 10th point in the 15th minute. They reeled off the next 3 points, their 12th and equalising point from a free, before they took the lead with 10 minutes to go, and the prognosis did not look good for ourselves, our Division 1 status was now hanging by a thread.
Michael Fresh, who excelled at corner back throughout the game, evaded his immediate marker, and sent a delightful crisp pass down along the line to Barry Murphy who fired over a great point to bring us level. It was now the time for Killavullen to show that Division 1 status was worth preserving, and when the very hardworking Noah Butler was fouled, Barry converted. Liam Fox was fouled, and Barry opened up a two point lead, but Ballygiblin cut the deficit to a single point again with another converted free. With possession vital, Ian O Gorman was fouled and Barry converted again to open up a two point lead. Ballygiblin responded with several desperate thrusts, but Mike Cronin pulled out a great save and Gary Lane was alert and cleared the parried shot, Ballygiblin scored a point, and both teams though out on their feet with the heat, finished with a point apiece, our score again from Barry.
The final score was 0-17 to 0-16 and the game was a thoroughly enjoyable affair for the large crowd that came to view.
The team and those that scored were;
- Michael Cronin
- Mike Fresh
- Pa Sheahan
- Gary Lane
- Charlie Lillis
- Billy Norris
- Eddie Cotter (0-03)
- Liam Cronin (0-03F)
- Paul O Sullivan (0-02)
- Noah Butler
- Ian O Gorman (0-02)
- Padraig Looney
- Barry Murphy (0-07, 0-05F)
- Pa Cronin
- Sean Woulfe
Substitutes;
- Liam Fox for Padraig Looney
- John O Regan for Pa Cronin
- Pa Angland for Charlie Lillis
- Pa Cronin for Sean Woulfe
Both teams were grateful to the referee, Brendan O Regan who deputised for another at very short notice.