Askamore leave it late
ASKAMORE SCORED five unanswered points in the last four minutes plus added time to edge past Oulart-The Ballagh in Monamolin on Sunday and move closer to a quarter-final spot in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship.
Trailing by 0-15 to 0-13, Podge Byrne fired over his second point in three minutes to halve the deficit in this Group A game before substitute Ted Kinsella levelled with a free from his own ‘65. With the intensity ratcheted up, Askamore were suddenly purring.
Another Kinsella free from tight to the right touchline gave the Ballyroebuck boys their fourth lead of the evening. P.J. Nolan hit the target from long range as normal time expired and Kinsella put the seal on a vital victory in added time with his third dead-ball.
Earlier, Askamore were lucky to be even in with a chance of their late show. Oulart-The Ballagh started much the brighter and really should have had a few firsthalf majors. They were leading by a Craig Davitt point when they twice went close.
Anthony Storey beat Brian Hayden, only for Patrick Nolan to stop the ball crossing the line, and then a minute later Pad Mythen saw his shot saved by the Askamore stopper.
Oulart-The Ballagh were leading by 0-5 to 0-4 when Cormac Finn’s pull ran, almost in slow motion, across the face of goal and inches wide.
Yet they still took a 0-7 to 0-6 lead in at the interval. Mythen scored three of those points while Martin Hayden and Conor Levingstone picked up a brace apiece at the other end of the field to set up an intriguing second period.
With scores from Shaun Murphy, Storey and Nolan all on the board within three minutes of the re-start, Oulart-The Ballagh’s lead swelled to 0-10 to 0-7. Yet, in a topsy-turvy game, Askamore registered the next five straight with P.J. Nolan notching a pair.
Those five scores in seven mintues were followed by none in the next ten for the Gorey District club. At the other end Oulart-The Ballagh got on a roll, eventually taking a two-point lead into the last five minutes.
It wasn’t enough and they now have to beat Ballygarrett in their last fixture to ensure a last eight spot. Meanwhile, a win or draw will be enough for Askamore, although there are scenarios where a loss will suffice.
Askamore: Brian Hayden; David Travers, Frank Lancaster, Patrick Nolan; James Lancaster, Tommy Devereux (0-1), Tom Kavanagh; Tom Hayden, P.J. Nolan (0-4); Conor Butler (0-1), Conor Levingstone (0-3, 1 free), Tom Byrne (0-2); Podge Byrne (0-2), Colm Buttle, Martin Hayden (0-2). Subs. - Frank Boggan for T. Hayden (51), Billy Nolan for Buttle (51), Ted Kinsella (0-3 frees) for Butler (55).
Oulart-The Ballagh: Michael O’Dowd; Kevin Sinnott, Richard Doyle, Ian Storey; Colin Sunderland, Dennis Morton, David Rossiter; Gary Murphy, Darren Nolan (0-3); Niall Redmond, Shaun Murphy (0-2), Anthony Storey (0-3); Cormac Finn (0-2), Peadar Mythen (0-4, 3 frees, 1 ‘65), Craig Davitt (0-1). Subs. - Seán Murphy for Davitt (46), James O’Toole for Rossiter (60+1).
Referee: Paddy Brady (Ballygarrett).