Premier juniors continue winning ways
Our premier juniors took on Castlemartyr last week in the Red FM league. Castlemartyr had previously won the lower intermediate title in 2020 and the intermediate A in 2021 so we knew they would be tough opposition.
The sides were very evenly matched, and things looked ominous for Ballygiblin early in the second half when Castlemartyr struck for 6 points in the opening 5 minutes to quickly cancel our 2-point lead at half-time. But in typical Ballygiblin fashion we didn’t panic and got ourselves back into the game eventually running out winners on the night. The lads also looked great wearing their new away navy and red kit.
Ballygiblin 1-20 Castlemartyr 1-18
It was the perfect evening for hurling and Dillion Sheehan was unlucky not to open the scoring when after a quick pick up his shot hit the post, but this was followed up with a point from Colin English. We would then score from a free after Shane Beston was fouled at midfield. Castlemartyr had an opening wide before scoring from a free. We then got another from play from Aaron O’Brien who got a lovely point under pressure. Castlemartyr responded with a fine point on the run. We got another from a placed ball after good defensive work from Fionn and Lorcan with Shane getting on the end of the pass to be fouled at midfield.
Castlemartyr then bore down on our goal but Christopher pulled off a save but the ref pulled it back for an early foul which they converted. Ballygiblin leading 0-04 to 0-03 by the 10th minute. Colin then got his second after a good run by Sean O’Sullivan but Castlemartyr were quick to level matters with a free out near the side-line slotted over and another from play. Sean would then earn us another free after causing his man problems after getting on the end of pass from Barry Coffey down the line. Castlemartyr then scored a ‘65 after Christopher made a good save at the post from a tight angle. Both teams were playing nice hurling and it was good open entertaining game. We would again edge in front from a placed ball after Barry found Aaron with a pass and he gave a lovely cross-field pass to Sean who was again fouled. Castlemartyr also found the posts from a free and then capitalised on a mistake in our backs to score from play to take the lead.
We were quick to retain the lead again with Colin causing all sorts of problems from centre forward. Firstly, getting fouled in possession for Joseph to slot over and then getting his third from play after a fine run through their defence. Dillion then got a fantastic point after plucking the puck out from the sky and turning and slotting over. In the last minute of the half we would take our lead to 3 after Castlemartyr looked to be through on a goal, Fionn was at full stretch to make a vital interception with a free man waiting in the inside line for the pass, the ball cleared with Dillion again showing a great hand before been fouled. Castlemartyr would have the last say of the half with a point from play to leave it Ballygiblin 0-11 to 0-09 at half-time.
Castlemartyr started like a train and we had hardly blinked and they had taken the lead with not even 2 minutes on the clock. Their charge continued as they seemed to have free men all over the field and we seemed at sea, they got 3 further points, with fine points from midfield and by the 5th minute they lead 0-15 to our 0-11. We did have a shot from Sean saved before Colin was in on goal and deliberately dragged down for a free in.
Castlemartyr then got another fine point before Sean was fouled for another converted free to leave 3 between the sides. Colin would then level matters on the 12th minute when a long ball into the corner was snapped up by Sean and he held the ball up well while he waited for the cavalry to arrive, he gave a great pass to the on-running Colin and there was no stopping his blasted shot.
We then took the lead when Dillion worked hard and won back possession to slot over his second.
We were playing like men possessed and a great run from Kieran Duggan up the middle and support play from Barry saw Barry taken out as he burst through the Castlemartyr defence and it was an easy tap over for Joseph. Kieran then getting a lovely point from a tight angle before Joseph got another from play after a free out on a foul on Fionn went short but broke to Joseph to take us 4 in front. Joseph would again show his accuracy from frees after James Mullins was fouled when clearing. Castlemartyr finding it hard to penetrate our defence. Eventually getting a pointed free on the 20th minute, 13 minutes after the previous scoring spree. Sean again causing havoc in their defence as he was fouled on the 21st minute after a great turn.
Castlemartyr then got another from play after taking a quick free and they would then get an opportunist goal on the 24th minute when we got caught in possession and the resulting free came off the post and the wing forward was the quickest to react and hit the net to leave only 1 between the sides but it would be their final score of the game.
Sean chopped for a free to push us 2 up. The dying minutes saw Castlemartyr pile on the pressure and we had 2 wides in those minutes as we clung on for the win. Overall a fantastic performance, we didn’t panic in the second half when they had their purple patch and just plugged away and upped our work rate to drag ourselves back into the lead. Great to have 2 wins under our belts
Team: C Noonan, C O’Brien, F Herlihy, L Finn, B Coffey, R Donegan, J Mullins, S Beston, J O’Sullivan (0-13 12F), K Duggan (0-01), C English ( 1-03), D Sheehan (0-02), A Donegan, S O’Sullivan, A O’Brien (0-01). Subs: D Barry for A Donegan, K Roche for C O’Brien, G Pendle for A O’Brien.
NEXT FIXTURE
Red FM Division 3 League Group C – Sunday, 24th April at 12.00 v Glen Rovers in Ballygiblin.
U19S OFF TO A WINNING START
Ballygiblin entered a team in the new U19 county hurling league. We are grouped with Clyda Rovers, Kanturk/Banteer and Charleville. We had our first game last Wednesday night week under lights in Mitchelstown. It was a horrible night for hurling with a very strong wind howling across the field combined with heavy rain showers.
The sides were evenly matched with both defences on top in the first half and scores were hard to come by with some great hooking and blocking on display. Clyda opened the scoring from play after taking a free out by the sideline short and eventually finding the posts. We had 2 early wides as we came to terms with the wind before opening our scoring from a free by Eoin Flynn.
Both teams exchanged points before Clyda again took the lead from play on the 9th minute. We would then go 2 up getting 3 points on the trot. Clyda then had a goal chance on the 20th minute when they bore down on goal but a fantastic save by Michael Roche saw him flick the ball out to the corner and it was eventually cleared. We got our final score of the half on the 21st minute with Clyda dominating the last minutes of the half scoring 3 points, 2 from play and 1 from a free. We had 2 further wides, one after a scramble in the Clyda square eventually waved wide. The sides level at half-time 0-6 apiece.
Clyda took the lead again on the reset and had 3 wides in quick succession before getting a further point from a free inside the 21 as we continued to give away a lot of silly frees. Eoin then pointed on the 13th minute and followed it up with a pointed free to level matters a minute later. Clyda will rue the fact they notched up a further 2 wides before we took the lead on the 16th minute from a free but Clyda cancelled that out as the rain began to fall.
Michael was then called upon again on the 22nd minute when he made a fantastic double save before the ball was eventually cleared down the field and we earned a free on the 21-yard line. With the side level Eoin decided to be cheeky and chance a goal and there was no stopping his bullet to the net. We would finish the last few minutes of the game well as we scored a 65 and a further free as things turned a bit scrappy with a few handbags been thrown at times. Clyda did try and get a goal of their own in injury time dropping both a 65 and free in into the square but our defence were more than capable of dealing with the pressure earning free outs on both occasions. Job done and a win Ballygiblin 1-11 to 0-09. Overall not a great night for hurling but the lads worked hard all over the field and stood up when needed to earn the win.
Team: M Roche, G O’Donoghue, S O’Doherty, T Kent, C Luddy, R Donegan, A Barry, S Kenneally, E Geary, D Sheehan, J Connolly, D Conroy, J Hennessy, E Flynn (1-11, 1-09F), S O’Brien. Subs: C Walsh for D Sheehan, K Cotter for R Donegan, C Burke for S O’Doherty, R O’Sullivan for J Hennessy, J Luddy for G O’Donoghue.
NEXT FIXTURE
U19 County League – North 1 – Group 2 – Wednesday, 20th April v Charleville at 19.00 in Charleville.
JUNIOR CS SUFFER DEFEAT
Our junior Cs lost their rescheduled division 3 game against Clyda Rovers in very windy and cold conditions in Mourneabbey last Sunday morning. The management decided to start any players that didn’t start in the last game against Fermoy giving everyone an equal opportunity to impress. There was first starts for Sean O’Connell, Padraig Finn, Jack Hennessey and Colin Brenock.
Ballygiblin 1-05 Clyda Rovers 0-12
We won the toss and decided to play with the advantage of the strong wind in the first half an advantage we unfortunately never utilised. We then lost Kevin Bowler to an injury within minutes and he was replaced by Shane Doyle. It took us 10 minutes to get our first score and only point from play from George Pendle. Clyda got the next 2 points before George put a free over to level it.
Clyda then got a pointed free in the 24th minute but again George was on hand to point another placed ball for us. Clyda had the last say of the half with another point to leave the score after a poor half Ballygiblin 0-03 to Clyda 0-04. Scoring only 3 points and notching up over 6 wides meant we were up against it as we faced into the wind in the second period.
We started the second half brightly with the lads upping their game and on the 5th minute Noel Fitzgerald who came on at halftime rattled the ball to the net to put us 2 up. Clyda were strong
though and weren’t long getting things back level with the space of a minute, pointing an easy free and then winning the resulting puck out to slot the ball back over the bar. George again pointed from a free but by the halfway mark Clyda had it level 1-04 to 0-07.
Unfortunately for us Clyda got the next 4 points on the trot and although George pointed another free on the 27th minute it would be our final score of the game. Substitute Diarmuid Noonan was unlucky in the dying minutes to not level matter with a goal when there was a scramble on the goal line. With only minutes to play Clyda got their final point from long range to leave the sides Ballygiblin 1-05 to 0-12.
Overall, a disappointing result especially only scoring one point from play, on the day Clyda were just that bit stronger than us and the windy conditions didn’t help our cause.
Team: M Roche, S O’Connell, L Finn, C O’Brien, J Lewis, K Bowles, A Barry, J Crotty, K Roche, G Pendle (0-05 4F), D Lynch (capt), P Finn, J Hennessy, D Sheehan, C Brenock. Subs used: D Noonan, A Donegan, S Doyle, S O’Dwyer, G O Donoghue, N Fitzgerald (1-0).
NEXT FIXTURE
Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 3 league – Saturday, 23rd April v Ballyclough at 19.00 in Ballygiblin.
CORK GAA
We would like to wish Mark and the Cork hurlers all the best in the opening round of the Munster Championship on Sunday v Limerick. Come on the Rebels.
HAPPY EASTER
We would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter.