Abbeydorney win replay with minimum fuss

COUNTY SHC ROUND 1 REPLAY

IN a contest which rarely lived up to expectations, given the pulsating nature of the drawn encounter one week ago, Abbeydorney with a strong second half display easily saw off the challenge of a Crotta combination which never really fired on all cylinders last Sunday.

Perfect playing conditions prevailed, but, the quality of the hurling was at times pretty sub standard with scores from play largely being at a premium.

O’Dorney, did pick up the pace of proceedings from the outset of the second half, and, once they had opened up a significant lead they were always in control thereafter with Crotta largely reduced to sporadic attacks, as the encounter drifted to its enevitable conclusion from the end of the third quarter onwards.

A Shane Nolan free pointed Crotta into a first minute lead, but O’Dorney who relocated full forward Brian O’Leary as a third midfielder to good effect shot two early wides.

Jordan Conway for Crotta was off target with a goal chance which went across the face of the goal in the fifth minute with O’Dorney responding with a goal of their own almost immediately at the other end when Cathal Dower was dispossessed in the act of shooting in front of goal, but, in the ensuing play the sliothar subsequently trickled over the goal line with James O’Connor appearing to get a slight final touch.

Certainly a setback for Crotta who kept in touch courtesy of another Shane Nolan free. He was denied of a goal by a good save from the O’Dorney goalkeeper Brian O’Donovan, and with Michael O’Leary punishing a poor clearance for his first point from play O’Dorney retained their lead (1-1 0-2) to the end of the opening quarter.

However Crotta were level by the 20th minute with Shane Nolan from a free and Jordan Conway with a fine individual effort levelling matters.

Thereafter Cathal Dower and Shane Nolan exchanged pointed frees to leave the encounter deadlocked (1-2 0-5) at the interval, but it was a half which didn’t produce any real individual highlights apart maybe from Aidan Healy’s defensive endeavours.

Neither side were capable of creating scoring chances on a consistent basis and when opportunities did arise the finish was particularly poor with 21 wides, (12 by Abbeydorney) being registered over the hour.

ODorney restarted with an extra spring in their step, and, four unanswered points, three from play, put them firmly in the driving seat within five minutes of the restart, and while four points is never a significant lead in hurling, in this particular game given Crotta’s lack of a scoring spread and Shane Nolan finding it difficult to get the better of Aidan Healy, Crotta were always facing a difficult task thereafter in their efforts to reduce the deficit.

Four points (1-7 0-6) still separated the sides coming up to the end of the third quarter, but a goal from James O Connor with a pretty emphatic finish in the forty fourth minute after both Brian and Brendan O’Leary had been involved in the build up consolidated ODorney’s situation even further, who were by that stage dominant in all sectors with the O’Leary’s Michael, Brendan, and Brian, forming a pretty solid platform around the midfield sector.

Tom Cronin did his utmost to revitalise a fading Crotta challenge, but, with such as Stephen O’Connor defending with a lot of determination, ODorney were well equal to any late response from Crotta.

Shane Nolan did register two further points from play for Crotta, but, with Michael O’Leary cancelling these scores with a brace at the other end, and PJ Keane converting a third goal after substitute Ronan O’Donovan had featured in the approach play it put the final seal on O’Dorney’s victory with a performance which wasn’t exactly out of the top drawer, but, was notable for the energy and the industry which they brought to bear on proceedings in the second half.

Significant also that they scored three goals and had seven different scorers. Apart from Shane Nolan, Crotta had just two other scorers, contributing one point apiece, and, in such circumstances they were always likely to be battling against the odds.

They will certainly need to improve if they are to get the better of Lixnaw in their efforts to remain in the Championship in the next round.

Abbeydorney for their part will face Kilmoyley and while they will enter the fray as underdogs they have the capability of making it quite difficult for the defending champions who beat them (2-10 0-6)in round two of last year’s competition.