Senior Hurling League
Division One
Naomh Éanna 3-13 Ballygalget 2-19
Wednesday 8 July
Brendan McTaggart reports from the Hightown Road
Ballygalget produced a remarkable second half on Wednesday evening that saw the Down men overturn an eight point half time deficit into a three point win and condemn Naomh Éanna to relegation.
It was an evening where the stakes were high on the Hightown Road with the home side knowing that nothing other than a win would see them ply their trade in Division Two next year and at half time, Naomh Éanna were well placed. Two first half goals from Joe Maskey went a long way to building an eight point advantage and in truth, it should have been more.
Ballygalet were a team transformed after the restart however, led superbly by Marc Fisher and second half goals from Daniel Toner and Oisin Coulter, they reeled in the Naomh Éanna advantage.
Fisher would finish top of the scoring charts for the ‘Galget with all but one of his eight points coming from placed ball – all in the second half, while they had nine different scorers on the evening. Tim Prenter and Shea Pucci impressed throughout while the introduction of Oisin Coulter and Dara Pucci had a major say on the outcome of the game.
Naomh Éanna will undoubtedly look at this one and wonder how they contrived to let it slip from their hands. Yes, Ballygalget started the second half like a different team but Niall O’Connor’s 44th minute penalty put three between the sides going into the final quarter. They never took advantage or built momentum from that score however, recording just two more points after the second half water break as Ballygalget pushed for home.
The home side made the brighter start to the contest, scoring four points in the opening six minutes with two coming for Ballygalget. Niall O’Connor with the opening two points of the game while a brace from Cormac Jennings (one free) were answered with scored from Jordan Doran and Michael Dorrian.
Naomh Éanna were well on top but a run of poor wides and a half chance for goal going off target from Manus Mullan looked to derail any chances of extending their advantage. Cormac Jennings and Daniel Toner exchanged frees before the opening goal of the game in the 14th minute. Malachi McGibbon delivering the ball long into the corner were the sliotar was met by a galloping Joe Maskey. The Naomh Éanna man had plenty of work to do but he rounded his marker and made no mistake having made up the ground to Eoin Clarke’s goals.
Ruairi Donaghy’s first of the evening gave Naomh Éanna a six point half time lead and on the balance of the play before the first half water break, that was the least the home side deserved.
The second major came soon after the restart half way through the half and in similar fashion to the first goal. This time it was Eoin Conlon who delivered the sliotar for Maskey and while it took a couple of attempts, he made no mistake to put nine between the sides.
The sides went tit for tat for the remainder of the game with the visitors reducing that Naomh Éanna lead to eight before the short whistle.
To say Ballygalget were a different team in the second half might be the understatement of the season. Marc Fisher took over the free taking responsibility and had the white flag raised twice inside the opening two minutes of the restart before Prenter split the uprights.
Eoin Conlon registered Naomh Éanna’s opening score of the second half but the sides would be tied before the home side would register another score as Ballygalget upped their intensity levels.
A brace of points from Fisher (one free) preceded a Daniel Toner goal in the 37th minute. The ‘Galget taking advantage of some indecision in the Naomh Éanna defence while Eoin Pucci fired over with his first touch after his introduction less than a minute prior.
Ruairi Donaghy and Fisher (free) swapped scores before the home side were awarded a penalty for a foul on Christopher Roberts inside the square. The chance owed much to the brilliance of Maskey to keep the sliotar alive but Matthews had no choice with the young Naomh Éanna forward clearly impeded. Niall O’Connor stepped up to take the resulting penalty and found the back of the net despite Eoin Clarke going the right way.
A brace of wides from Ballygalget looked to further dent their challenge going into the second half water break but they continue to punish any errors by Naomh Éanna and added to the mounting pressure on the home side. Toner (free) and Ruairi Donaghy swapped scored before Ballygalget scored their second major in the 52nd minute. Shea Pucci delivering a sideline ball into the danger area where Coulter despatched the sliotar to the back of the net to tie the sides.
A pointed Fisher free in the 55th minute gave Ballygalet the lead for the first time in the game and while Cormac Jennings split the uprights with his third free of the evening and fifth overall, it was the home sides last score.
The Down men hit three points unanswered with a brace of frees from Fisher and Ben Teggart adding his name to the list of scorers.
Naomh Éanna pushed for goals and had the sliotar ball in the back of the net after a scramble that saw Christopher Roberts fire home. Referee Matthews had blown his whistle having played advantage and seemingly that advantage lost before Roberts struck home, much to the dismay of the home side.
A heartbreaking end to the league campaign for Naomh Éanna who will have to dust themselves down ahead of the senior championship in a little under five weeks time while Ballygalget live to fight another day and a play-off date with whoever finishes second in Division Two.
TEAMS
Naomh Éanna starting XV: Niall McGivern; Ronan Eager, Diarmuid Maguire, Aaron Quinn; Eoin Conlon, Cian O’Connor, Ciarán McAllister; Oisin Ó Cuinn, Malachi McGibbon; Manus Mullan, Cormac Jennings, Ruairi Donaghy; Killian Jennings, Joe Maskey, Niall O’Connor
- Subs: Christopher Roberts for K Jennings (27), Cormac McCann for M Mullan (52)
- Scorers: J Maskey 2-00; C Jennings 0-5 (3fs); N O’Connor 1-2 (1-00 pen); R Donaghy 0-4; E Conlon 0-2
Ballygalget starting XV: Eoin Clarke; Michael Toner, Ciaran Watson, Caolan Coulter; Ben Teggart, Marc Fisher, Brook Byers; Cormac Coulter, Tim Prenter; Jordan Doran, Shea Pucci, Cathal Coulter; Daniel Toner, Michael Dorrian, Owen McDermott
- Subs: Eoin Pucci for M Dorrian (37), John McManus for C Coulter (52), Dara Pucci for J Doran (45), Oisin Coulter for O McDermott (53)
- Scorers: M Fisher 0-8 (6fs, 1’65), D Toner 1-2 (2fs), O Coulter 1-00, M Dorrian 0-2, T Prenter 0-2, B Teggart 0-1, C Coulter 0-1, J Doran 0-1, O McDermott 0-1, E Pucci 0-1
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
To see more of Brendan’s photos from the game, click on the link below…..
https://myalbum.com/album/4yqf6ZaGp7xTbm/?invite=e52c1260-9008-4351-a765-16cd8528aad9