Dramatic finish sees Dromina take title
Dromina 3-7 Ballyhooly 1-12
THERE was high drama at the conclusion of this Hibernian Hotel JAHC final at Buttevant on Sunday evening.
Both sides had a goal in injury time. Ballyhooly had the aid of the stiff breeze in the first half. Dromina opened the scoring when David Jones pointed a free following a foul on Donal O’Shaughnessy. Diarmuid Linehan forced an early ‘65 for Ballyhooly that Jerry O’Connor converted. Kevin O’Callaghan saved from Jake Mehigan before Ballyhooly had points by Jake Mehigan and Jerry O’Connor (free) as they led 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes.
The first goal came in the 15th minute when David Jones worked well with Diarmuid Buckley as Jones took the return pass and goaled. Dromina had the ball in the net but by Paddy Hassett but the score was disallowed following a square infringement. Ballyhooly levelled when a foul on Fergal O’Connell produced a fine pointed free by Jerry O’Connor. Ballyhooly had two wides with Jerry O’Connor edging them ahead from a free. Brian Buckley chipped in with a neat Dromina point.
In the closing moments Darragh O’Reilly worked well for James Roche who pointed. In injury time Dromina worked a good movement by David Jones and Michael Naughton that led to a Diarmuid Buckley point as the sides were level for the 4th time at half time 1-3 to 0-6.
On the resumption Dromina did well. Ger Hayes was very prominent at centre back with team captain Brian Bowles very solid at full back. Brian Buckley gave them the lead with a point. Ballyhooly had the sides level for the 5th and last time when Diarmuid Linehan and Fergal O’Connell worked well for Denis Kiely who pointed. The winners hit the front soon after, good play by Pat Hayes led to a fine goal by Brian Buckley. Kevin O’Callaghan landed a long range pointed free and Dromina were 2-5 to 0-7 clear. Ballyhooly moved James Roche to midfield with Diarmuid Linehan also operating as an extra midfielder. Jerry O’Connor (free) and Diarmuid Buckley with points made it 2- 6 to 0-8. Diarmuid Buckley moved to centre back for Dromina.
The best score of the game came in the 40th minute when Richard Morrissey placed Jonathan Jordan who made it 2-7 to 0-8. Ballyhooly got on top they held Dromina scoreless from the 40th minute till injury time.
In this period Ballyhooly played very well with Darragh O’Reilly, Cathal O’Keeffe James Roche, Denis Kiely and the Linehan brothers doing very well. They cut into Dromina’s lead with well taken points first by Diarmuid Linehan. They forced a 25 metre free in the 44th minute. James Roche’s attempt at goal was saved and cleared. Diarmuid Linehan with a good solo run picked out Denis Kiely who pointed 2-7 to 0-10.
In the 54th minute Jerry O’Connor with another free left just two between them. The lead was down to a point in the 60th minute when O’Connor pointed another free. In a last ditch effort Sean Linehan and James Roche worked a good movement along the wing to Darragh O’Reilly who soloed through and parted to Denis Kiely who offloaded to Emmet O’Riordan who found the net and put Ballyhooly in front 1-12 to 2-7.
Four minutes into injury time Dromina forced a difficult free on the 21-metre line. David Jones’s powerful effort was saved on the goal line with the rebound coming out to the well placed Pat Hayes who goaled from the rebound in a crowded goalmouth. Ballyhooly had one final attack to secure a replay but Dromina defence held firm and they were winners by the narrowest of margins.
After the game Barry Aherne Board Chairman presented the Hibernian Hotel sponsored cup to the winning captain Brian Bowles in the presence of a large Dromina following. Brian Buckley was ‘named man of the match’. DROMINA: K O’Callaghan 0-1f, M Finn, B Bowles, B Naughton, P Hassett, G Hayes, J Jordan 0-1, B Buckley 1-2, P Burke, M Naughton, D Buckley 0-2, D Jones 1-1 (0-1f), P Hayes 1-0, D O’Shaughnessy, J Finn. Subs: R Morrissey for M Naughton, J Delee for D O’Shaughnessy, K Hayes for J Finn, J O’Shaughnessy for M Finn, J O’Connor for P Burke.
BALLYHOOLY: P O’Connor, C O’Keeffe, D O’Brien, F Linehan, P Ahern, S Linehan, D Linehan 0-1, M Hanrahan, D O’Reilly, J O’Connor 0-7 (6f, 1 ‘65’), J Roche 0-1, D Kiely 0-2, S Roche, F O’Connell, J Mehigan 0-1. Subs: F McGrath for M Hanrahan, S Murphy for S Roche, E O’Riordan 1-0 for J Mehigan (inj) J Dowling for F O’Connell.
REFEREE: Justin Murphy (Castletownroche)