Dromina keep their hurling league hopes alive

Dromina 1-14 Ballygiblin 0-15

DROMINA kept their hopes of a knockout place in the Cavanagh’s Fermoy Div 1 HL very much alive when a late rally saw them overcome Ballygiblin on Saturday evening in Ballygiblin.

In a keenly contested encounter both teams were quick into the action and by the sixth minute they were level at 0-2 each. Ballygiblin found scores easier to come by at this stage with Cathal O’Mahony very impressive in the full-forward line.

O’Mahony (2) and Mark Keane were on target by the 14th minute as the home side moved 0-5 to 0-2 in front. Dromina responded when Diarmuid Buckley pointed from long range and this was followed by a great point from a sideline cut by Davy Jones that closed the margin to the minimum 0-5 to 0-4.

The remainder of the half saw Ballygiblin shade matters. Mark Keane pointed two frees before he turned provider for Cathal O’Sullivan to split the posts from a difficult angle in the 21st minute. Scores were at a premium from here with Davy Jones and Cathal O’Mahony trading a point each as Ballygiblin held a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

On the changeover both teams were again quick into the action with Diarmuid Buckley, Dylan Reidy-Price, Pat Hayes, Cathal O’Mahony, Mark Keane and Davy Jones on target for their respective teams by the 41st minute 0-12 to 0-8.

Over the next couple of minutes Dromina clawed into their opponents lead. Kevin Hayes and Johnny Delee worked well for Michael Naughton who sent over with Davy Jones also scoring a great point after he won possession from a puckout by their keeper Kevin O’Callaghan.

Mark Keane had a point for the home side before Dromina got back on level terms in the 48th minute when Davy Jones made no mistake from the penalty spot after Pat Hayes was upended in the square 0-13 to 1-10.

In a close finish both teams added a point before Ballygiblin hit the front in the 54th minute when Dean Barry pointed from distance. Dromina regrouped very well and they finished the better side.

Pat Hayes was denied a certain goal when the Ballygiblin keeper Christopher Noonan made a great save off his line. Nevertheless, Dromina had the momentum at this juncture.

Luke Morrissey had the sides level when he pointed from a very tight angle from out near the sideline in the 57th minute and they followed with a point from a free and a ‘65’ by Davy Jones before the final whistle to emerge victors by a two point margin.

DROMINA: K O’Callaghan, J Jordan, B Naughton, M Finn, D Carroll, K Hayes, L Morrissey 0-1, D Buckley 0-2, P Burke, R O’Keeffe, G Hayes, R Morrissey, M Naughton 0-2, Davy Jones 1-8 (1-0 pen. 0-3f. 0-1 ‘65. 0-1 s/l) Darragh Jones Subs: J Delee for D Jones, J O’Connor for M Finn, P Hayes 0-1, for R O’Keeffe, J O’Shaughnessy for R Morrissey

BALLYGIBLIN: C Noonan, E Burke, F Herlihy, G Carroll, B O’Gorman, B Coffey, J Mullins, D Barry 0-1, L Finn, C O’Sullivan 0-1, A Donegan, S O’Sullivan, C O’Mahony 0-6, M Keane 0-6 (0-4f) D Reidy-Price 0-1 Subs: P Seymour for G Carroll, T Molan for M Keane

REFEREE: Bernard Kiernan (Ballyhooly)