Veteran Currid leaves Clongeen in the lurch with late goal

BANNOW-B’MITTY CLONGEEN 1-10 0-12

DAVID CURRID pounced for a dramatic winning goal deep into injury time as Bannow-Ballymitty edged out neighbours Clongeen in a tension-filled Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship relegation final in Taghmon on Saturday.

The drama didn’t end there though, as moments later Clongeen were awarded a penalty at the other end.

Goalkeeper Collie Byrne made the long walk forward, but his opposite number, Kevin Doyle, pulled off a fantastic save to see his side over the line.

Clongeen looked the more likely to earn the local bragging rights in the opening ten minutes as they built up an early 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Donal Murphy opened their account, while Shane Cahill contributed their other scores, a couple from placed balls and two eye-catching efforts from play.

However, Bannow-Ballymitty were back on level terms by the 21st minute, with Gary Jordan slotting over two frees and Nicky Doyle, Robert Cogley and Niall Harney all splitting the posts.

Paudie Cahill raced in from the right and slotted over the bar to give Clongeen a 0-6 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

They almost pounced for a priceless goal just over a minute after the turnaround, but Jamesie Rochford’s close-range effort was blocked and the ball was scrambled to safety.

Clongeen managed to stretch their advantage to three, but Bannow-Ballymitty just wouldn’t lie down and two fine Nicky Doyle points in quick succession, followed by a Gary Jordan free, drew them level.

A Jordan ‘65 then edged them in front, but Clongeen looked to be gaining a grip on the game as points from Enda Murphy, Shane Cahill and Ger Foxe helped them eke out a 0-12 to 0-10 lead with less than three minutes of normal time remaining.

Robert Cogley missed a good chance to fire Bannow-Ballymitty in front in the 59th minute when he was fed by Nicky Doyle, but his shot on the turn flew wide of the left upright.

What had gone before might not have been overly high on quality, but the finale more than made up for it as the game ended in a welter of excitement.

When order was restored after a brief flare-up, David Currid struck for the winning goal in the seventh minute of injury time.

Nicky Doyle fizzed a teasing delivery from the left across the face of goal and the experienced Currid was in the right place at the right time to bat the ball to the net.

Less than two minutes later Clongeen were given the opportunity to pull the game from the fire when Jamesie Rochford was dragged down as he made a beeline for goal, and after consulting with his umpires referee John Tobin awarded a penalty.

However, Kevin Doyle stretched brilliantly to stop Collie Byrne’s firm strike and Paul Curtis skewed the follow-up wide of the target.

It was by no means a classic, but that won’t matter one jot to Bannow-Ballymitty as they survived by the skin of their teeth.

Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; Podge McCormack, John O’Leary, David White; Mark Wallace, Art Sweetman, Conor Furlong; Niall Harney (0-1), Nicky Doyle (0-3); David Currid (1-0), Robert Cogley (0-1), Micheál Murphy; Gary Jordan (0-5 frees), Alan Barden, Gary Morton. Subs. - Richie Walsh for Barden, Robbie Mageean for Morton.

Clongeen: Collie Byrne; Danny O’Grady, Anton Stafford, Donal Whelan; Tom Donovan, Donal Murphy (0-1 free), Richard Rochford; Shane Cahill (0-7, 4 frees, 1 ‘65), Ger Foxe (0-1); Paudie Cahill (0-2), Barry Foxe, Paul Curtis; Jim Bennett, Enda Murphy (0-1), Jamesie Rochford. Sub. - Shane Kilkenny for B. Foxe.

Referee: John Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).