Ballyhooly go down in appalling conditions

Dromina 3-14 Ballyhooly 1-17

Goals at crucial stages helped Dromina maintain their unbeaten start to the Cavanagh's of Fermoy Division 1 HL when they picked up their third victory from as many games played to date when they accounted for Ballyhooly on Friday evening in Ballyhooly. Played in dreadful weather the howling wind made playing conditions very difficult.

Ballyhooly played with the aid of the gale in the opening half and this was reflected on the scoreboard early on when Brian Lombard (3), Dylan Collins, Seamus Roche and Darragh Whelan reeled off points that moved them 0-6 to 0-1 in front by the 10th minute. The home side were unable to push on from here and instead it was Dromina that quickly steadied the ship. Mark Buckley, Conor Shanahan and Jonathan Jordan impressed in the key half backline sector, as they cut off the supply going into the Ballyhooly inside forward line.

Dromina came thundering back into the tie in the 13th minute when a great solo run by Christopher Dunne set up Jack Morrissey who netted from a tight angle - 0-6 to 1-2. The sides were level moments later when Christopher Dunne pointed a free and they hit the front in the 17th minute when Mark Buckley and Charlie Hayes linked up well to set up Brian Buckley for a point. The lead was short-lived with Brian Lombard getting his second point from a sideline cut a minute later, that levelled proceedings at 1-4 to 0-7.

The remainder of the half was keenly contested with scores from Brian Lombard (3), Kieran Cagney, Christopher Dunne and Davy Jones who traded points by the 26th minute. Dromina struck for their second goal on the stroke of the half-time whistle when Brian Buckley finished to the net from close range. Ballyhooly completed the scoring in injury time when Eoin Twomey soloed through to send over to leave two points between the teams, with Dromina holding a 2-7 to 0-11 lead.

On the changeover, despite the heavy underfoot conditions, both teams battled hard for supremacy. Brian Lombard (2), Brian Buckley and Christopher Dunne exchanged early points as Dromina maintained their cushion. The home side upped their efforts again. Brian Lombard sent over a free, before he picked up possession from a good pass from Fionn Hess in the 40th minute that forced parity.

Aided by the elements in this half, Dromina shaded matters from here on. Davy Jones scored a fine point from out near the sideline, before good work by substitute Liam Barrett in the 44th minute resulted in Brian Buckley scoring his side’s third goal as they moved 3-10 to 0-15 clear. At the other end, Ballyhooly came close to cancelling out the Dromina goal when Eoin

Twomey was denied by a good save by the Dromina keeper, Eoin Finn.

In the last quarter, Dromina added four points. Ballyhooly also added two more points before the end with Brian Lombard getting their goal from a free in injury time, but it was not enough with Dromina emerging deserving winners.

Ballyhooly: Cian Murphy, Fintan Linehan, Eoin Sykes, Jeff Gowen, Mark Burdett, Eoghan Buckley, Dylan Collins 0-1, Eoin Twomey 0-1, Seamus Roche 0-1, Diarmuid Linehan, Peter Ahern, Fionn Hess, Fergal O'Connell, Brian Lombard 1-13 (1-6f, 0-3 '65', 0-2/s/l), Darragh Whelan 0-1. Subs: Darragh O'Reilly for Fergal O'Connell, Dan Cooney for Peter Ahern (inj).

Referee: Maurice Farrell (Newtownshandrum).