Ballyheigue claim Junior hurling title

COUNTY JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Ballyheigue ‘B’ 3-8 Duagh 1-9

HAVING opened up a significant early lead Ballyheigue were thereafter always looking likely winners in the County Junior Hurling Championship final in Abbeydorney last Friday, even if Duagh’s determined input meant that they had to dig deep throughout all of the second half to ensure that their advantage was maintained.

Goals, as always were crucial to the eventual outcome, and the two which Ballyheigue scored within the opening 12 minutes provided them with a substantial scoring cushion. Duagh’s resilience ensured that the contest remained competitive but they didn’t have the same level of resourcefulness in their attack, an, the goal they needed to lift their challenge arrived too late to influence the outcome.

Duagh opened the scoring with a pointed free in the second minute, after John Healy had effected a good save in the Ballyheigue goal from Kevin Quilter. However, the response from Ballyheigue was immediate with Michael Slattery latching on to a long delivery inside the last line of defence and converting clinically for the game’s first goal.

Four points followed from four different players within a six minute spell which opened up a six point gap 1-4 to 0-1 by the ninth minute, and when the outstanding Michael Lucid capitalised with another goal three minutes later, one sensed that the floodgates might open resulting in a somewhat one sided contest. However, points from Michael Kirby, and two from Kieran Lucey, one of which was a superb effort from distance helped to kick-start Duagh’s challenge, and it was mantained by another point from Darragh O’Connor in the 22nd minute.

However, with Jason Griffin effecting some good clearances, Ballyheigue finished the opening half with a flourish, and, Michael Lucid’s inch perfect finish for his side’s second goal, in between points from Michael Slattery and Ned Flahive meant that they retired for the half time break with a commanding three-goal cushion 3-6 to 0-6. It owed much to the input of Michael Lucid and Michael Slattery in attack, both of whose experience and silken skills provided their side with a real cutting edge close to goal.

Duagh restarted with greater urgency with the impressive Kieran Lucey pointing within two minutes of the restart. Territorially the mantained an advantage for a period with Tim Quirke, Darragh O’Connor and Kieran Lucey commanding figures in the pivotal positions. However, scores were very much at a premium with Ballyheigue having lost Michael Slattery through injury noticeably struggling in this respect.

A pointed free from Ger Guerin brought Duagh closer 3-6 0-8, by the end of the third quarter, and, with Ballyheigue struggling to initiate