Ballyhooly defeat Ballygiblin in Division 1 hurling league

Ballyhooly 0-18 Ballygiblin 0-12

BALLYHOOLY got their Division 1 HL campaign off to a winning start when they defeated Ballygiblin on Sunday in Ballygiblin. In a close opening half very little separated the teams.

They were level on seven occasions when James Roche, Shane Beston, Christy O’Sullivan, George Pendle, Gerry O’Connor, Fergal O’Connor and Shaun O’Mahony had points for respective sides by the 28th minute. In injury time Ballyhooly edged in front when good work by Sean Linehan and Freach McGrath resulted in a fine point by James Roche who held a slender 0-8 to 0-7 lead at the interval.

On the changeover despite Shane Beston forcing level with an early point for the home side it was Ballyhooly aided by the stiff breeze that showed the greater urgency in this half. Three rapid points by James Roche (2) and Kevin Kiely moved them 0-11 to 0-8 in front by the 36th minute. Ballygiblin regrouped well and helped by some well taken points by George Pendle (2) and Cathal O’Sullivan they reduced the lead to the narrowest of margins by the 47th minute 0-12 to 0-11.

Try as they might the defending Junior Hurling champions Ballygiblin were unable to get back on parity. Instead it was Ballyhooly who had some fine displays by David O’Brien, Eoin Buckley, Sean Linehan, Seamus Roche, Miceal Hanrahan and James Roche that upped their efforts greatly. James Roche with two frees in as many minutes moved them three clear by the 52nd minute. Moments later the lead was four when Emmet O’Riordan and Gerry O’Connor linked up well to set up the inrushing Miceal Hanrahan for a well taken point.

Further pressure saw them increase their advantage to 0-17 to 0-11 when Kevin Kiely and James Roche were on target. In the closing moments both teams traded a pointed free but there was no denying Ballyhooly victory. BALLYHOOLY: P O’Connor, C O’Keeffe, D O’Brien, F Linehan, E Buckley, S Linehan, P Aherne, F McGrath, S Roche, F O’Connell 0-1, J Roche 0-12 (10f), M Hanrahan 0-1, S O’Mahony 0-1, K Kiely 0-2, G O’Connor 0-1. Sub: E O’Riordan for S O’Mahony,

BALLYGIBLIN: C Noonan, T Molan, B O’Gorman, D Lynch, A Donegan, M Lewis, J Mullins, S Beston 0-2, G Carroll, P Molloy, G Pendle 0-8 (6f), Cathal O’Sullivan 0-1, Christy O’Sullivan 0-1, D Moher, S O’Sullivan. Subs: C O’Brien for D Lynch, T Millea for D Moher.

REFEREE: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth)

PATRICIAN ACADEMY: J Murphy (Mallow), O Carroll (do), N O’Riordan (do), B O’Sullivan 0-1 (Castlemagner), J Hadden (Mallow), C O’Shea 0-1 (Kilshannig), S Merritt (Mallow), K Twomey 0-3 (Kilshannig), E O’Hanlon 0-1 (do), J Dillon 0-3 (Mallow), B O’Shea 0-4 (Kilshannig), E Kelleher 1-1 (Mallow), C O’Sullivan (Kilshannig), C Carroll (Mallow), C Corbett 1-2 (Clyda Rovers). Subs: D Walsh (Clyda Rovers) for C O’Sullivan, K O’Mahony (Mallow) for J Hadden, B O’Connor (Clyda Rovers) for C Carroll.

ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE: M White, M Harrington, B O’Neill, T Murphy, S Downey, N O’Connell, S Andrews, P O’Halloran, S Harrington, S Fenton 0-1, A O’Hare 1-1, P Vaughan, A Sheehy 0-1, C Russell 1-7 (0-4f, 1-0 pen), A Cantwell. Subs: S Aherne for S Harrington, R O’Halloran for P Vaughan, A Hennessy for A Sheehy, F Sheehan for S Fenton, D Fenton for S Downey.