Kilmore clear major hurdle
First win at fourth attempt
KILMORE 0-15 BALLYHOGUE 0-14
KILMORE FINALLY laid their semi-final hoodoo to rest as a Tom White ‘65 deep into injury time saw them get over the line against Ballyhogue in their Permanent TSB Junior ‘A’ hurling championship clash at Hollymount on Saturday.
Ballyhogue were left bitterly disappointed, having given their all to get their noses in front for the first time with less than two minutes of normal time remaining, but few would begrudge Kilmore their place in the decider, having fallen short at the last four stage for the past three years.
When substitute Matt Browne edged the Enniscorthy District side ahead with 58 minutes on the clock the impetus looked to be with them, but Kilmore dug deep and Paddy Byrne drew them level before White’s late clincher.
The eventual winners got off to a flying start and threatened to pull away, knocking over five points without reply in the opening ten minutes.
Aaron Goff got them off the mark, Tom Byrne adding three scores and Tom White splitting the posts with a placed ball as they took advantage of a significant breeze at their backs.
However, Ballyhogue managed to cling on to their coat-tails and, with Ronan Minogue accurate from frees and Shane Doyle and Graham Parker chipping in with points, they turned around a very manageable four points adrift at the break (0-9 to 0-5).
Ballyhogue came out with all guns blazing after the interval and pared three points off that lead in as many minutes, with Peter Hughes, Graham Parker and Ronan Minogue (free) all doing the needful.
After Tom White steadied the ship for Kilmore with another placed ball, Ballyhogue dragged themselves back on level terms for the first time with two Minogue frees making it 0-10 apiece by the 39th minute.
Unfortunately for Ballyhogue, the wind subsided somewhat as the second-half wore on and their dogged opponents showed plenty of guts to hang on in there when the tide appeared to be turning against them.
Kilmore managed to eke out a 0-13 to 0-11 advantage by the 54th minute, with Tom White (free), Aaron Goff and the excellent Tom Byrne pointing, and Ronan Minogue striking over a ‘65 at the other end.
Then Ballyhogue slotted over three points in quick succession, through Shane Byrne, the lively Graham Parker, and Matt Browne, to take the lead for the first time in the 59th minute.
A foreboding sense of déjà vu must have been rising in the Kilmore camp, but they dipped into their reserves and Paddy Byrne drew them level with an eye-catching point from the right sideline in the first minute of time added on.
They were then given the opportunity to win it when a degree of panic in the Ballyhogue defence led to the concession of a preventable ‘65 and Tom White made no mistake, squeezing the placed ball between the posts to fire his side into the final against Glynn-Barntown.
Kilmore: Barry Sinnott; Denis Kenny, Stevie Cousins, Shane Goff; Conor Moore, Tommy Cousins, Daithí Moore; Tom White (0-6, 5 frees, 1 ‘65), Páraic Reville (0-1); Aaron Goff (capt., 0-2), Cristóir Reville, Robert Cousins; Aaron Kielthy (0-1), Tom Byrne (0-4), Noel Casey. Subs. - Paddy Byrne (0-1) for Casey (20), Philly Sutton for Cousins (34).
Ballyhogue: Niall Maher; Shane Fenlon, Eddie Galavan, Fionn Rochford; Seán Ring, Seán Rochford (capt.), Colm Parnell; Graham Parker (0-3), Shane Doyle (0-1); Peter Hughes (0-1), Shane Byrne (0-1), James Parle; Shane Roche, Denis Leacy, Ronan Minogue (0-7, 6 frees, 1 ‘65). Subs. - Enda Minogue for Roche (44), Matt Browne (0-1) for Hughes (55), Kevin Ring for S. Ring (59).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).