Shels seal spot in decider
SHELMALIERS’ FIREPOWER in front of goal proved decisive as their three goals helped them to an eventual six-point victory over neighbours Crossabeg-Ballymurn in this Greenstar Under-21 hurling Premier ‘B’ championship semi-final in Ballymurn on Tuesday.
Most certainly it was the goals that decided this game as Shelmaliers hugely benefited, particularly in the closing quarter as this was a period when Crossabeg-Ballymurn took the initiative.
However, the home side’s lack of finishing power in front of goal came back to haunt them, although the Shels still deserved their passage through to the final.
Both sides opened brightly with Ronan Devereux forcing a good save out of ’keeper Adam Howlin inside the opening minute, while Oisín Foley opened the scoring one minute later with a good point.
A strong run and finish from Seán Keane-Carroll levelled the scores, while a sixth-minute Ross Banville pointed ’65 had the visitors in front for the first time.
The home side led by 0-3 to 0-2 when Niall Hearne fluffed a great Shels chance of a goal, delaying his shot which was eventually blocked and cleared, while an Oisín Foley point stretched the opposition into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after eleven minutes.
Points from Liam Rockett and Ross Banville had the sides level at the end of the opening quarter, and one minute later Kyle Roche reacted quickest to a breaking ball after home ’keeper Noel Scallan had blocked a Rockett effort, firing low to the net from close in to give his side a 1-4 to 0-5 lead.
The goal inspired the Shels who continued to press forward through the fine play of Keane-Carroll from midfield, and he created the opening for Conor Hearne to fire to the net from 20 metres, a score that helped his side to a nine-point interval lead (2-10 to 0-10).
The home side opened the second-half impressively through points from Oisín Foley and a Sam Kelly free to reduce the deficit. Following this opening surge, Banville and Kelly went on to exchange pointed frees, but the decisive third goal arrived in the 42nd minute.
Banville won possession out close to the sideline and his speculative lob somehow deceived the outstretched hand of ’keeper Noel Scallan, finishing in the back of the net to give his side what appeared a comfortable 3-12 to 0-10 lead.
The Shels could only manage a further three points for the remainder of the game though, and Crossaebg-Ballymurn took the initiative with points from Sam Kelly to keep them in contention.
The goal they so badly needed failed to materialise though as they were unable to exert any real pressure, leaving the Shels to hold out and go on to the county final against Oulart-The Ballagh.
Shelmaliers: Adam Howlin; Adam Hearne, Aaron O’Neill, Cian Manley; Craig Parker (0-1), Glen Malone, Jody Donohoe (0-1); Aaron Murphy, Seán Keane-Carroll (0-1); Liam Rockett (01), Conor Hearne (1-1), Aodhán Foley (0-1); Ross Banville (1-9, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Niall Hearne, Kyle Roche (1-0). Subs. - Joe Redmond for A. Hearne, Chris Cowman for O’Neill, inj.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Noel Scallan; Evan Kinlough, Paul Larrissy, Stephen Dempsey; Conor Barlow, Paddy Devereux, Rob Byrne; David Kehoe (0-1), Ronan Devereux; James White (0-2), Sam Kelly (0-9, 7 frees), Luke Redmond (0-1); Jack Fortune (0-1), Oisín Foley (0-4), Alex Sludds. Sub. - Eoin O’Connor for Dempsey.
Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).