Tarrant digs it out for Aghabullogue against shell-shocked Ballinhassig
Aghabullogue 0-14 Ballinhassig 1-10
THE intermediate county hurling championship was very much centre stage in Cork last weekend and two games in the competition were arranged for Éire Óg’s headquarters at ovens on Saturday evening.
The first game involved Aghabullogue and Ballinhassig and the former were expected to be successful with something to spare. They were facing a second choice squad and it appeared likely that they would stamp their authority on the exchanges from an early stage.
The mid Cork side did eventually managed to secure victory but they did not impress in their win which was by the narrowest of margins. The fare served up was mediocre with very little exciting fare produced for patrons and the accuracy of Shane Tarrant from placed balls was the major factor in enabling Aghabullogue to garner the spoils.
The winners were the first to go on the offensive and their first attack yielded a minor recorded by Ian Barry Murphy. They failed to press on however and it was clear that they had a fight on their hands at the end of ten minutes of action when they trailed by 0-3 to 0-2.
Aghabullogue’s position improved subsequently and a point from Paul Ring followed by two from Shane Tarrant had them ahead 0-5 to 0-3 by the 17th minute but Ballinhassig fought back.
A Gavin Sheehan point from play followed by a Daithí O’Donovan point from a free had them on level terms. The first period ended well for Aghabullogue however with two Tarrant points from frees being followed by a Paudie Twomey point from play.
It was anticipated that Aghabullogue would lift their game further when the action resumed but an extra gear was not forthcoming and Ballinhassig were very much in a winning mould when they secured the only major of the match.
Their full-forward Richard Lombard was fouled in the 40th minute when a major appeared inevitable and the resultant penalty was sent to the net by Gavin Sheehan. The minimum now separated the sides and Shane Tarrant’s point from another free at the end of the third quarter was welcomed by Aghabullogue who were now finding it very hard to make progress in attack.
Scores were at premium and eight minutes passed without a change on the scoreboard and Aghabullogue suffered a set back when they were reduced to fourteen players. Sean O’Sullivan departed the playing arena in the 53rd minute as he received a second yellow card.
Ballinhassig could now sense victory and they again got on level terms when David Brennan pointed two frees.
The south East side now had the initiative but they failed to press on during a period that were a number of stoppages for injuries.
A Daithí O’Donovan point did put them ahead but Shane Tarrant’s accurate stick had Aghabullogue on level terms in the 62nd minute and Paul Ring from play was on target a minute later to regain the lead for the mid Cork side.
O’Donovan again tied the scores before Tarrant got the all important winning point for Aghabullogue in the 66th minute. The game did not produce much in the area of attractive hurling but that will not matter to the winners who move on to the third round of the competition while Ballinhassig will be hoping for a change in their fortunes when they line out in their second round encounter.
AGHABULLOGUE: Finbarr Foley, Michael Dennehy, Denis Quinlan, Aidan Barry Murphy, Darren Rooney, Sean Furney, Sean O’Sullivan, Paul Ring (0-3), Matt Bradley, Evan O’Sullivan, Neil Barry Murphy, Cian Furney, Shane Tarrant (0-9, 7f), Paudie Twomey (0-1), Ian Barry Murphy (0-1). Subs: Aodáin Healy for Aidan Barry Murphy, 35, Niall Buckley for Evan O’Sullivan, 58
BALLINHASSIG: Aaron O’Leary, James Reardon, Mark O’Mahony, Joe O’Loughlin, Gerry Holland, Daithí O’Donovan (0-5, 4f), Eoin McCarthy, Aran O’Mahony, Gavin Sheehan (1-2, 1-0 pen), Eoin Lombard, B Lombard, Shane O’Leary, David Brennan (0-3), Richard Lombard, Eanna Heffernan. Subs: Brian O’Sullivan for Shane O’Leary, half-time, Darren Delea for Eanna Heffernan, half-time
REFEREE: Pat Lyons (Bishopstown)