Happy Hogues
Backs shine in bad weather
BALLYHOGUE 2-3 M’TOWN-C’DOCKRELL 2-1 BALLYHOGUE GOT the better of a fantastic defensive battle to take the New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 5B shield in a wet and windy St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.
While the game, to some extent, was spoiled by the weather, both sides still managed to produce performances full of heart and defensive soundness. There was very little to choose between the teams, with maybe a little bit of experience dragging Ballyhogue over the line in the end.
The first-half was an exhibition of superb defending. The half-time score of 0-1 each pretty much says as much. The hooking, blocking, and throwing the body on the line was all top notch in that period.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a fizzed point from Cathal Roche on the left of goal. However, Ballyhogue hit back three minutes later when Liam Doyle popped over from close range.
That heroic defending continued, with the last line getting involved in the 20th minute when Ben Asple, in goal for Ballyhogue, made a fine save from Fionn O’Leary. Almost immediately at the other end, Liam Doyle shot wide.
The 0-1 each deadlock continued until the sixth minute of the second-half when Leigh Whelan’s ball in was collected by Tobias Redmond. The dangerous attacker worked a yard of space and sent a rocket to the top corner of Craig McDonald’s net.
Not to be outdone, Marshalstown responded in the 37th minute. This time Ryan Quigley emerged from a ruck with the ball, drove in on goal and finished low past Asple between the sticks. The sides were deadlocked once again at 1-1 apiece.
Cathal Roche sent a shot narrowly wide a minute later but the Farmleigh boys couldn’t get their noses in front. A second goal, this time from a low Tommy Kennedy finish after strong work by Eamon and Liam Doyle, gave them a lead they would never relinquish.
A Kennedy free, followed three minutes from time by a lovely Redmond score, increased the advantage to 2-3 to 1-1.
Dean Franklin drilled home another Marshalstown goal in added time but it was too little, too late as referee Seamus Whelan’s whistle went on the resumption.
Ballyhogue: Ben Asple; Adam Broaders, Ben Harrington, Connor Rodgers; David Hennebery, Martin Doyle, Conor Dawson; Eamon Doyle, Leigh Whelan; Tommy Kennedy (capt., 1-1, 0-1 free), Tobias Redmond (1-1), Alan Doyle; Liam Doyle (0-1), Evan Murphy, Tiarnan Cleary. Subs. - Odin Doyle for Cleary (35), also Shane Furlong.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell: Craig McDonald; Peter Lacey, David Kinsella, Shane Roche; Adam Somers, Danny Byrne, Tadhg Dunne; Ryan Quigley (1-0), Jack Whyte; Michael Ivers, Noah Kearney, Cathal Roche (0-1); Fionn O’Leary, Dean Franklin (1-0), Ryan McLoughlin. Subs. - Jack Morris for Dunne (35), Naoise O’Leary for S. Roche (50+1), Dylan Bolger for F. O’Leary (50+1), also James Byrne, Evan Quigley.
Referee: Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).