Late goal turns Division 1 HL tie in Ballygiblin’s favour

Ryan, Lee O’Shea, John Cronin and Cillian Good most effective. Their early dominance was reflected when racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. As the half went on Ballygiblin quickly settled. Joseph O’Sullivan reeled off a number of frees before Cathal O’Sullivan set up Shane Cahill for the first of their three goals in the 23rd minute and it helped Ballygiblin overturn a four point deficit at one stage in the game to lead at the interval by 1-5 to 0-6.

In a closely fought second half both teams set out their intentions from the offset. Cathal O’Sullivan with a free for Ballygiblin moved them three clear. However, Doneraile were back on parity soon after when a delivery by Ian O’Brien was finished to the net by Sean Hannon. Over the next couple of minutes they were also level at 1-7 and 1-8 apiece when Christopher O’Keeffe, Cathal O’Sullivan, Lee O’Shea and Killian Dollian swapped points. At this stage Doneraile were showing the greater urgency.

In the 43rd minute a clearance out of the full back line by Shane Ryan was broken down on the edge of the square by Sean Hannon with the well placed Garry Sweeney on hand to finish to the net from close range. Further pressure saw Doneraile force the Ballygiblin backline to concede a number of frees that Cillian Good pointed from in the 48th and 50th minutes as the home side moved into a five point lead 2-11 to 1-9. Ballygiblin to their credit showed great battling qualities in the closing stages. Aidan Donegan was denied a goal scoring chance when the Doneraile keeper Conor Curran made a great save off the line.

Ballygiblin made amends soon after with Pat Molloy breaching the Doneraile defence for a well taken goal that suddenly cut the gap to a point 2-12 to 2-11. In a dramatic finish Doneraile still looked like holding on for victory when Mark Reid set up Ben Cronin for a point in the 58th minute.

Then came Ballygiblin’s late surge that turned the tie in their favour. Cathal O’Sullivan had a point from a free before another free by O’Sullivan at the end of normal time was finished to the net by Shane Cahill 3-11 to 2-12. Doneraile had a late point by Cillian Good but it was not enough with Ballygiblin emerging close winners.