Late points see Duhallow advance to fourth round
COUNTY SHC ROUND 3 Duhallow 1-20 Bride Rovers 1-18
DUHALLOW survived a late charge from Bride Rovers to a testing County Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 tussle at a sundrenched Pairc Uí Rinn last Sunday.
At times, the divisional side hit sticky patches yet they held the required endurance and resilience to work through whatever difficulties Bride Rovers presented. Early in the second half, Duhallow looked well placed to secure a win to lead by five points yet entering the closing stages, the operation became an exercise in survival after Rovers drew level thanks to an opportunist goal.
Crucially Duhallow wrestled back control and late points from Kilbrin players Stephen O’Reilly and Shane Crowley decided the outcome to an entertaining contest. Sure, there were times when the quality of play lacked refinement in the searing heat and bumpy surface yet it was compensated by the desire of both sides to remain in the campaign.
In scorching temperatures, Bride Rovers had stormed out of the traps, Daniel Dooley pointing inside 20 seconds, followed up quickly by further points to Barry Johnson and Dooley again. That presented Duhallow with an early test of their composure and in fairness, the response was calm and effective after Mark Ellis pointed from distance.
Though Johnson added a Rovers pointed free, Duhallow were improving, in defence, Ellis along with Lorcan O’Neill and Matt O’Sullivan emerged pillars and launched a series of attacks; Lorcan McLoughlin and Brendan Withers more than held their own in the centre.
And in attack, William Murphy, Seán Howard, Jack Murphy and O’Reilly blossomed. Indeed Duhallow had rode out the early Rovers storm, settling into a rhythm and routine that developed into a positive mode, two points from Howard and another from fellow Dromtariffe clubman Murphy brought parity.
Twice more the sides exchanged scores, Rovers points from Johnson and Michael Collins matched by O’Reilly for a 0-6 apiece scoreline at the close of the opening quarter. In a half of swaying fortunes, Rovers won back the initiative through the positive play of Mike Liddane, Brian Murphy, Shane O’Connor, Dooley and Collins. And with Duhallow prone to fouling, Johnson capitalised on shooting four pointed frees.
However Duhallow took a major step towards victory on a major breakthrough in the 26th min, delightful interplay saw O’Reilly feed Jack Murphy to billow the Rovers net from close range. Now gaining a clear foothold, Duhallow surged forward in menacing attacks, points to William Murphy, McLoughlin and Howard helped secure a 1-11 to 0-11 advantage at the break.
And Duhallow clearly held the upperhand on the resumption, Eoin Sheahan pointed before the divisional side passed up on glorious opportunities to grab a second green flag. Howard forced a teriffic save from Rovers ‘keeper Denny Fitzgerald and from the rebound, Michael Vaughan connected only to pull the ball outside the post.
Though Rovers answered from a Johnson 65 and Cian O’Connor point, Duhallow maintained a solid upperhand from well struck points, the pick of them saw Anthony Nash pick out McLoughlin who fed Vaughan to oblige for a 1-15 to 0-13 grip.
At times , the radar on both sides left much to be desired with wides registered at either end. The heat was telling, Bride Rovers had taken remedial action on the introduction of three substitutes in the 35th min.
Steadily, those fresh legs made a difference, the club side finding new levels of stamina that helped mount a series of raids and a run of points from O’Connor, Johnson and Dooley left the minimum between the pair. With Duhallow under the cosh, they answered with Nash pointing a monster 90 mtr free before adding a second from a shorter distance.
Typical of the Bride men, the game was in the melting pot after Nash turned villian, electing to scoop away Michael Kearney’s effort only into the path of Michael Collins who bundled the slothar over the goal line for the equaliser with just a single minute of regulation time remaining.
Advantage Bride Rovers it appeared yet Duhallow refused to be ruffled, O’Sullivan and McLoughlin combined for O’Reilly to split the uprights. Injury time was played out in a welter of excitement, Nash and Collins struck wides at either end.
Rovers did their best to get back on level terms yet it appeared Duhallow were equally determined to hang on and a last ditch Crowley point sealed the outcome. DUHALLOW: A Nash (Kanturk) 0-2f; K Cremin (Dromtariffe), K Tarrant (Banteer), L O’Neill (Kanturk); D O’Mahony (Castlemagner), M Ellis (Millstreet) 0-1, M O’Sullivan (Castlemagner); B Withers (Banteer), L McLoughlin (Kanturk) 0-2; S Howard (Dromtariffe) 0-5 (3f, 1 ‘65’), W Murphy (Meelin) 0-1, J Murphy (Dromtariffe) 1-2; S O’Reilly (Kilbrin) 0-3, E Sheahan (Kilbrin) 0-2, M Vaughan (Millstreet) 0-1. Subs. S Crowley (Kilbrin) 0-1 for W Murphy (45), S Hehir (Tullylease) for Vaughan (51), C Buttimer (Kilbrin) for Withers (60).
BRIDE ROVERS: D Fitzgerald; M Liddane, D Carr, S Kearney; L Forde, B Murphy, S Walsh; S O’Connor, B Johnson 0-10 (7f, 1 ‘65’); S Glasgow, D Dooley0-5 (0-1f), R Whitty; M Collins 1-1, C O’Connor 0-2, R Prendergast. Subs. J Mannix for Forde (35), M Kearney for Whitty (35), D J Cahill for Prendergast (35), W Finnegan for C O’Connor (60).
REFEREE: M Maher (St. Finbarrs)