By Jimmy Walsh
In the second round, of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior Hurling League, Windgap faced Graiguenamangh in excellent conditions in the ever-developing Tullougher complex in Brownstown on Sunday afternoon. The game saw both sides seeking a league restart after their first-round defeats to Piltown and John Lockes.
In a very even and competitive game, it saw the sides level on nine occasions, and for the eight time at 0-8 apiece, by the twenty-fifth minute. It saw Billy Power open the scoring when he pointed Windgap ahead from a free and Stephen Kinsella equalised from another.
With Graig creating the majority of the chances including a Jack Ryan goal one, they saw Windgap more often; the point ahead, as Windgap’s Billy Power with five points, Sean Purcell, Adam O’Shea, Jack Doyle with one apiece, and Graig’s Sean Hamilton three, Michael Bolger three, and Stephen Kinsella two, all kept the relative points umpires busy.
The first real gap appeared when Michael Bolger, Pierce Balanchfield, Sean Hamilton who also had a goal chance and John Ryan off the sideline hit four points on the trot for the Barrowsiders, to lead by eleven points to eight after twenty-eight minutes.
After Billy Power got one back for Windgap a late exchange of points saw Billy add his seventh, and Stephen Kinsella reply, as the half-time score of 0-12 to 0-10 reflected the scoring opportunities; as Graig had five of their six forwards on the scoreboard and also struck eight wides to Windgaps four.
The second half opened with a rare shower that caught the spectators off guard, as unused umbrellas and coats were left resting in car boots. It also dampened the cross-field breeze as the sides exchanged points through Adam O’Shea and a Stephen Kinsella point after a free was brought well forward.
With the Graig men striking three further wides, the game was back in the melting pot after forty-three minutes, as Billy Power, and Jim Power from a narrow angle added points to leave the sides tied for the ninth time at 0-13 points apiece after forty-three minutes.
After Billy Power had a half-goal chance for Windgap following good work by James Culleton and Jack Doyle, the Graig men hit another golden patch, scoring a second four points without reply. They came in just over five minutes through Jack Ryan from a line-ball pass, Ivan Bolger, Steven Kinsella and Sean Hamilton to lead by seventeen points to thirteen. This proved to be the game’s turning point and provided a solid cushion as Billy Power and Stephen Kinsella, Jack Doyle and Joe Dowling with a mighty effort, and then Stephen Kinsella and Billy Power traded points to bring the score to 0-20 to 0-16 with only injury time to play.
In the end, the final score was another Stephen Kinsella point that reversed the county league result, guaranteeing Graiguenamanagh their first league points by 0-21 to 0-16 when an reiteoir Eoghan Kenny, called time.
For Graiguenamanagh Stephen Kinsella, Richard Foley, and Sean Hamilton led the way in an excellent all-round team performance, as Billy Power, with ten points, tried hardest for Windgap.
As the sides face a two-week break before their respective 3rd round games, Windgap who face John Locke’s, will be hoping that some of their three injury-enforced changes will be available, whilst Graiguenamagh will be buoyed up with their win as they face Slieverue. An scór deireanach Gráig na Manach 0-21, Bearna na Gaoithe 0-16.
Bearna na Gaoithe; Eoin O’Shea, Peter Landy, Willie Phelan, Sean Foley, Pat Power, Séan Purcell 0-1, Darragh O’Shea, Killian Enright, Padraic Foley, Billy Power 0-10, 0-6 frees, Jack Doyle 0-2, James Culleton, Jim Power 0-1, Adam O’Shea 0-2, Zak Kennedy. Subs; Darragh Doyle.
Graig na Managh: Colin Bolger, Owen O’Brien, James Meaney, Kian Murphy, Joe Dowling 0-1, Richard Foley 0-1 free, Cian O’Shea, Ivan Bolger, Ted Dunne, Terry Dreelin, Jack Ryan 0-1, Steven Kinsella 0-9, 0-5frees, Michael Bolger 0-3, Sean Hamilton 0-4, Pierce Blanchfield 0-2. Subs: Sean Walsh, Shamie Kavanagh, Conor Hoolan, Sean O’Grady. Reiteoir Owen Kenny
