Munster/all Ireland junior b hurling
Munster junior b hurling semi final Sunday December 13 at 2pm in newtownshandrum st Marys rathkeale (limerick) play whitegate of clare.
Match Report
Ballinacurra forced to dig deep for victory Ballinacurra 0-12 St Brendan’s Ardfert 1-7 Declan Barron Reports Ballinacurra made the long journey to the North Cork border to take on Ardfert in the Munster Junior “B” hurling championship sponsored by the Killeedy club in West Limerick, played at the splendid home of Munster champions Newtownshandrum. Conditions were excellent apart from a strong wind and the odd shower, but this is December and only the determined play hurling at this time of year. Ballinacurra have been waiting over three months for this game and in the opening half that lack of competitive action showed. Even playing with the strong wind the village side found it difficult to get any rhythm going. That was in part due to the strong tackling Kerry side that were taking no prisoners, but also to poor shooting from the Ballinacurra forward who too often went for long range efforts carried wide in the wind. Ballinacurra did open the scoring with a neat point from Scott Richards, but if they thought that the flood gates would open, they were very much mistaken as the St Brendan’s side showed that they too were up for the match. They might not have has as much skill as Ballinacurra, but what they lacked in that department, they more than made up for in honest endeavour, even if they did stretch the rules on more than one occasion. St Brendan’s did in fact hit the front on 12 minutes with midfielder Damien McCarthy striking home a goal. That score showed Ballinacurra that St Brendan’s were dangerous opponents and each time they advanced against the breeze they looked threatening with full forward Philip Healy and team captain Declan Raggett very dangerous in possession. Ballinacurra had most of the play with Scott Richards adding further points either side of a Brian Sigerson attempt for a goal. Denis McCarthy too got in on the scoring act and by half time Ballinacurra had hit the front as they led by 0-8 to 1-3. Before the game started Ballinacurra were forced to make changes with both Kevin and Steven O’Brien along with Mossie Stack out injured, with Trevor Costigan, Tony Connolly and Vincent O’Sullivan coming into the side. Indeed Vincent O’Sullivan was in the thick of the action along with Ian Cahill, Dave Fitzmaurice and Damien Daly as Ballinacurra battled hard to control the match. In the second half St Brendan’s with wind assistance closed the gap with a Philip Healy point, but Ballinacurra upped their work rate considerably. Scott Richards with his 5th point of the afternoon and Brian Sigerson edged Ballinacurra further ahead, but St Brendan’s were working hard also. They came up against a rock solid full back trio for the village as they put up a barrier in front of Mark O’Sullivan. As the half move on Ballinacurra retained their two points advantage after sub Bill O’Connell had pointed for Ardfert. Scores were now at a premium as the exchanges heated up with yellow cards shown to Keith Dinneen and Ian Cahill. It was now a fight to the death as St Brendan’s sought equalising scores. They forced a 65 which Healy pointed to again close the gap to the minimum. Brian Sigerson came close to a goal for Ballinacurra at one end while at the other side Ballinacurra lived dangerously at times as a few balls whizzed outside the post. Time was now running out as Scott Richards again left two points between the sides, but this was a dangerous lead as St Brendan’s peppered the posts with Philip Healy landing another 65. The game was now in injury time but in typical fashion, when the need was greatest Cillian Harty again came up trumps winning a crucial free which Scott Richards converted. That score proved enough as from the puck out the final whistle sounded and Ballinacurra had dug out a hard fought but fully deserved victory. Full marks to St Brendan’s as they has a few sweet hurlers with Danny Casey, Declan Raggett, Christopher O’Connor and keeper David Wallace impressing. For Ballinacurra it was a great team effort but special mention to Cillian Harty, Steve Kane, Vince O’Sullivan, Brian Sigerson and Scott Richards as they pulled through in the finish. Full marks to Newtown and Killmeedy for the arrangements as Ballinacurra playing in their new jerseys got their Munster campaign off to a winning start. Ballinacurra: S Richards: 0-7, B Sigerson 0-3, D McCarthy and D Daly 0-1 each St Brendan’s: D McCarthy 1-0, P Healy 0-5, B O’Connell and D Raggett 0-1 each St Brendan’s: D Wallace, S Deady, M Casey, J Jeffers, D Casey, C O’Connor, E Ferris, D McCarthy, L O’Sullivan, J Halloran, L O’Connor, K Dinneen, T Wallace, P Healy and D Raggett. Subs used S Skinner and K Moran. Ballinacurra: M O’Sullivan, T O’Meara, T Richards, S Kane, K O’Callaghan, I Cahill, D Fitzmaurice, V O’Sullivan, T Costigan, D McCarthy, S Richards, D Daly, T Connolly, B Sigerson and C Harty. Blood sub T O’Leary. Referee: John McGrath, Limerick