Big first-half key for Oulart
Harriers still seek first win
OULART-BALLAGH FAYTHE HARRIERS 2-23 1-18 OULART-THE BALLAGH did the bulk of the work in the first-half as they beat Faythe Harriers in Bellefield on Sunday to remain perfect in Group B of the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship.
The Leinster kingpins racked up an impressive 2-16 in the first 30 minutes and were able to ease off the gas in the second-half to all-but secure their quarter-final spot with two games to go.
For anyone who saw their league final victory over St. Martin’s, this performance came as no surprise. There might have been an early-season hangover for the Oulart-The Ballagh men in the spring, but the cobwebs have been long since brushed away.
This performance, while almost strong, was a little different in the making. There was more focus on crisp, low balls into the corners for Murtha Doyle and Nicky Kirwan who were constantly out in front, as opposed to the aerial assault that crippled St. Martin’s two weeks ago.
Again the inter-change was a joy to watch, especially in the opening half as the Harriers got torn to pieces like a cheap, knockoff Hugo Boss t-shirt taking its first spin in a washing machine.
The Páirc Charman men have a lot of work to do and not much time to do it. Two wins, against Buffers Alley and Cloughbawn, may well be enough to scrape into the last eight. On the flip side, anything less could just as likely leave the Harriers in a relegation final; it’s that tight in Group B.
After putting three points on the board inside three minutes, Oulart-The Ballagh had to wait until the seventh minute to score again. When it came it was the product of Murtha Doyle forcing the ball towards Garrett Sinnott and resulted in the experienced attacker pulling to the net.
With the light breeze at their backs, the Enniscorthy District club continued to give their opponents the run-around. When Nicky Kirwan got his second of ten points in the 15th minute, his side led by 1-8 to 0-4.
Yet, somewhat fortuitously, the Harriers got a foothold when Richie Kehoe’s long ball was spilled over the goal-line by Conor O’Leary, under intense pressure from Kevin Gore.
Hardly a Faythe fillip though, as it just seemed to make Oulart-The Ballagh even more focused on moving out of sight by the end of the half.
They had motored clear by seven (1-14 to 1-7) when Rory Jacob flew away, off-loaded to Kirwan and he snuck his shot past John Walsh to the net.
Despite trailing by double scores (2-16 to 1-8) at the break, the Harriers had their chances in the second-half. Anthony Roche illegally cleared a Rhys Clarke batted shot off the line early on, resulting in a blocked 20-metre free, before the corner-back made a great save from Lee Chin towards the end of the half.
Yet in general it seemed like Oulart-The Ballagh were happy picking off the odd point - both Barry Kehoe and Michael Jacob got in on the act too. Thanks to five second period scores from Clarke and three from Chin, Faythe Harriers finished within eight but their opponents won’t miss out on much sleep over losing the second-half by ten points to seven.
Oulart-The Ballagh: Conor O’Leary; Anthony Roche, Keith Rossiter, Barry Kehoe (0-1); Michael Jacob (0-1), Tommy Storey, Kevin Sheridan; Peter Murphy (0-1), Rory Jacob (0-1); Martin Og Storey, Des Mythen (0-2), Billy Dunne (0-4); Murtha Doyle (0-1), Garrett Sinnott (capt., 1-2), Nicky Kirwan (1-10, 0-5 frees).
Faythe Harriers: John Walsh; Ross Lynch, David Mooney, Brendan Mulligan; Emmet Keeling, Richie Kehoe (1-1), Alex Lynch (capt.); Stephen Kearney, Nicky Lawlor; Mikey Hanrahan (0-2), Lee Chin (0-4, 2 frees), Colm Heffernan; Pádraigh Farrell (0-1), Kevin Gore (0-2), Rhys Clarke (0-8, 6 frees, 1 ‘65). Subs. - Alan Lynch for R. Lynch (17), Daniel Lynch for Lawlor (31), Ben O’Brien for Heffernan (52).
Referee: John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue).