Oulart send signal
Champions capture league crown
OULART-BALLAGH GLYNN-BARNTOWN 2-22 0-20
TURNING IN a fine second-half performance, Oulart-The Ballagh ensured that they returned to winning ways by seeing off a determined Glynn-Barntown challenge in this entertaining Enniscorthy Electrical Wholesale All-County Hurling League Division 1 final in Bellefield on Sunday.
It was an important result for the reigning Senior champions having lost their opening round championship. And that second-half display demonstrated that even without their inter-county players, they are now carrying sufficient strength in depth to justify their tag as still strong contenders to retain their title.
Glynn-Barntown contributed to an excellent opening 30 minutes with some fine passages of hurling.
They had their foot firmly planted on Oulart-The Ballagh’s throat for a large spell and few could argue when they went in at the interval with a three-point cushion, which could have been greater with a little more coolness in front of goal.
Oulart-The Ballagh endured the first-half pressure so it was always going to be interesting to see how they would respond on the resumption. It was roles reversed in that second period as Oulart-The Ballagh got their tails up, although Glynn-Barntown met the challenge through the third quarter, at the end of which they trailed by one point.
Still, Oulart-The Ballagh managed to step up the tempo of their game, spraying the ball through the open spaces which in turn led to some excellent scores. As a result they pulled away from their opponents, who lost their discipline which led to the concession of crucial scores through the closing ten minutes.
After Billy Dunne (free) and John Leacy had exchanged opening points, the sides were still deadlocked (0-4 each) after eight minutes.
The hurling was fast and furious as both sides strove to take the initiative, but it was still stalemate at the end of the opening quarter (0-6 each).
Points from Leacy and Daire Barron led the Glynn-Barntown charge, while two from Peter Murphy and a further Tommy Storey effort kept the eventual winners in contention.
While Leacy’s points from placed balls were contributing to the Glynn-Barntown tally, Oulart-The Ballagh managed to remain in the hunt through efforts from Tomás Dunne, Dessie Mythen and Garrett Sinnott, but Glynn-Barntown led by 0-14 to 0-11 at the interval.
Glynn-Barntown extended their lead to four points within one minute of the re-start courtesy of a Leacy free, but a Rory Jacob pointed free, followed by an effort from play from the same player, settled the side’s challenge.
After an Alan Cowman effort pushed Glynn-Barntown back into a three-point lead (0-16 to 0-13) after 35 minutes, they were maintaining their challenge.
However, it was following this that Oulart-The Ballagh began their charge, with Tommy Storey sending a rising shot over the bar when he should have goaled, followed by points from Rory Jacob (free), Billy Dunne (free) and Garrett Sinnott to give them a 0-17 to 0-16 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Goalkeeper P.J. Carley excellently saved a Martin Og Storey attempt at the expense of a ‘ 65 that Jacob pointed.
Having stretched into a 0-19 to 0-17 lead, the crucial first goal arrived nine mninutes from the end when Billy Dunne capitalised on a breaking ball inside the defence to find the net.
Oulart-The Ballagh held their composure through the tense closing ten minutes, with substitute Murtha Doyle goaling one minute from the end to secure the league title, and their opponents unable to find a way past netminder Conor O’Leary in a highly-charged finish.
Oulart-The Ballagh: Conor O’Leary; Anthony Roche, Dennis Morton, Barry Kehoe; Ian Storey, Keith Rossiter, Kevin Sheridan; Billy Dunne (1-3, 0-2 frees), Rory Jacob (0-7, 4 frees, 1 ‘65); Des Mythen (0-1), Tommy Storey (0-2), Peter Murphy (0-2); Martin Og Storey (0-2), Garrett sinnott (0-2), Tomás Dunne (0-2). Subs. - Murtha Doyle (1-0) for T. Dunne (45), Michael Jacob for Roche (47), Darren Nolan (0-1) for Mythen (50), Eamonn Murphy for Murphy (56).
Glynn-Barntown: P.J. Carley; Barry Doyle, Pádraig Donnelly, Shane Codd; Kevin Crean (0-1), Craig Doyle (0-1), Rowan White; John Leacy (0-8, 5 frees, 1 ‘65), Brendan Doyle (0-1); Rioghan Crosbie (0-1), Alan Cowman (0-1), Michael Doyle (0-2); J.J. Doyle, Jack Brazzill, Daire Barron (0-3). Sub. - Gary Moore (0-2) for Brazzill (20).
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).