Gers get vital point
A GOAL with the last puck of the game earned Geraldine O’ Hanrahans the draw that they needed in the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group B in Oylegate on Saturday.
With time almost up, centre-forward Dylan Egan found himself in space and made no mistake to rifle the ball to the net and earn his side a much-needed point and a quarter-final spot.
The opening half was a tight affair with little in the way of scoring action.
After 15 minutes the only score of the game was a point from Oulart-The Ballagh’s Michael Jacob.
During this period Geraldine O’ Hanrahans were forced into three changes due to injuries which certainly did not help their cause.
The remainder of the half saw Oulart-The Ballagh’s Adam Nolan and Cathal Kenny (two) push them further into the lead.
Dylan Egan was keeping the New Ross men in touch from placed balls, and at half-time it was 0-5 to 0-4 to the Enniscorthy District side.
Oulart-The Ballagh began to take control early in the second-half, with the experienced Peadar Mythen and Ben O’Connor hitting good points.
Midway through the second period Oulart-The Ballagh held a four-point lead thanks to another score from the impressive Mythen and a brace from Gary Murphy.
Geraldine O’Hanrahans looked in trouble at this stage but they were given a huge boost in the 48th minute when substitute Jake Byrne’s strike found the net.
Oulart-The Ballagh did not panic though, and points from Mythen and Darryl Gray meant they were ahead by three (0-16 to 1-10) with five minutes to play.
It now looked likely that Geraldine O’Hanrahans were going out, but deep into injury time Dylan Egan picked up the ball and shot to the net after a fine run to snatch a draw.
Oulart-The Ballagh will be kicking themselves as they were the better team for large parts, but the New Ross men never gave up and can now look forward to that quarter-final against Taghmon-Camross.
Meanwhile, Oulart-The Ballagh will face Tara Rocks in their last eight encounter.
Oulart-The Ballagh: Stephen Doyle; Seán Murphy, Nicholas Cullen, Jack Roche; Lar Prendergast, Niall Redmond, Darragh Nimmo; Cormac Finn, Peadar Mythen (0-6, 3 frees); Tomás Dunne, Ben O’Connor (0-3, 2 frees), Adam Nolan (0-2); Cathal Kenny (0-2), Michael Jacob (0-2), Gary Murphy (0-2). Subs. - Darryl Gray (01) for Roche, inj. (47), Craig Davitt for Prendergast (58).
Geraldine O’Hanrahans: Brandon Gardiner; Gerry Cash, Conor Cleere, Michael Cleere; Barry Kelly, Enda Kelly, Matt Crowdle; Jack Foran (01), Diarmuid Kehoe; Ned Connors (0-1), Dylan Egan (1-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Eoin Kelly; Kevin Grangel, Brian Haberlin (0-1), Barry Roche. Subs. Jake Byrne (1-1) for B. Kelly, inj. (10), Danielius Niekis for E. Kelly, inj. (11), Barry Kelly for Roche, inj. (18), Dylan Wickham (0-1) for Connors (38), Connors for Grangel (48).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard).