Ballyduff are back in the big time

COUNTY SHC SEMI-FINAL

WITH relative ease Ballyduff comfortably booked their place in the final at the expense of a most disappointing Abbeydorney combination in the first of the two semi finals last Sunday afternoon.

Central to their success was the scoring input of both Jack Goulding and Padraig Boyle, but, in essence it was a collective effort from a defensive unit which never really afforded Abbeydorney any real time or space in which to manoeuvre being quite compact, disciplined, and composed throughout. Ballyduff also had a midfield pairing which was extremely industrious, offering support in all sectors of the pitch.

Abbeydorney by contrast, despite a lot of effort never really functioned with any real flow, or purpose, for a prolonged period and, were playing catch up from a very early stage in proceedings. They really only played in fits and starts with Ballyduff by contrast being a lot more economical and consistent.

O’Dorney lined up with Kieran Dineen in midfield, which was surprising given the influence he exerted from the pivotal centre half-back berth in their win over Kilmoyley in the previous round.

They went in front in the very first minute with a point from Brian O’Leary, and indeed, had chances to increase their advantage before Ballyduff responded with four unanswered points inside the opening five minutes.

Padraig Boyle with a pointed free opened their account and Jack Goulding added to it with a hat-trick of points from play, all converted with clinical efficiency. With Paud Costello dominant at full-back Ballyduff dictated the trend of proceedings using the width of the pitch to great effect with a lot of diagonal deliveries into both corners.

A superb save from Brian O’Donovan denied Gary O’Brien of a goal in the tenth minute and with Padraig Boyle bringing his own personal tally to three points and Barry O’Grady on target also, Ballyduff had opened up a five-point gap, 0-7 to 0-2, by the end of the opening quarter.

With Padraig O’Grady prominent and influential at centre half-back, Ballyduff with numbers swarming the player in possession limited the input and impact of such as Michael O’Leary quite a lot, and while Brian O’Leary and Darragh O’Brien were seen to good effect at varying intervals for O’Dorney, Ballyduff had a better shape about them and a superior level of positional play.

Padraig Boyle continued to impose his considerable presence on proceedings up front and converted five more points, three from play, throughout all of the third quarter to leave Ballyduff comfortably in front at the end of the opening half – 0-13 to 0-3.

It was a scoreline which fairly reflected their dominance throughout all of the opening half with a performance which was sharper, smarter, and notable for some superb individual scores.

Abbeydorney by contrast were tentative and lacked a cutting edge in attack reflected by the return of just two points from play during that opening thirty minutes of play. One expected a response from Abbeydorney and some sterling clearances from Aidan Healy at the outset of the second half promised hopes of a revival.

They introduced two substitutes who added a bit more pace to their attack, but, relocated Kieran Dineen at wing-forward where he was always going to find it difficult to influence matters.

Michael O’Leary had a goal chance, but, his rising shot went just outside the post, and really Abbeydorney needed a goal to revitalise their challenge. Instead, it was Ballyduff who largely put the issue beyond doubt when Padraig Boyle expertly made a connection to Mikey Boyle’s probing delivery in the sixth minute for the game’s only goal.

Credit Abbeydorney for maintaining their momentum with Eoin Egan’s defensive endeavours and Michael O’Leary’s wholehearted efforts keeping their challenge intact. But, with Ballyduff 1-15 to 0-7 in front the end result had a certain air of inevitability about it.

Abbeydorney did have a few goal chances in that second half, including a penalty shortly after the Ballyduff goal, but PJ Gorman effected a good save, and indeed came to Ballyduff’s rescue with a few more to deny O’Dorney of that much needed goal.

But, such was Ballyduff’s control in all sectors that they were always able to add on a few scores whenever their dominance was threatened. Jack Goulding with supreme confidence and elegance added to his own and his side’s spiralling tally of scores with twelve points separating the teams at the end of play.

Having lost the opening round to Kilmoyley by 2-18 to 0-18 Ballyduff will now face the same opposition in their quest to claim their twenty fifth title. Certainly the return from injury of some key players such as Paud Costello, Padraig Boyle and Daniel O’Carroll has increased their effectiveness considerably, and having conceded just three goals and scored eight in their four outings to date they will undoubtedly look forward to the decider with a great deal of confidence.