By Jimmy Walsh
The fourth round, JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior Hurling League derby game between the unbeaten league leaders John Lockes and down the table, two pointers Windgap took place in Thomastown on Sunday afternoon. The general opinion around, was to get the game played, and everyone through without injuries for the knockout campaign ahead.
With Windgap’s playing in excellent conditions, against the slight breeze that was denoted by the tricolour flying downriver into the Brownsbarn goal, Jack Doyle set up the games first attack, before Tomás Roche pointed the Locke’s ahead following a pass from Paddy O’Brien. The games first turning point, followed immediately, as the referee’s attention was called back by an umpire to two players entangled on the ground. It saw Windgap’s Shane Doyle get his marching orders after just four minutes. His sides response was positive and instant, as Billy Power pointed a sixty five after a Sean Purcell free was deflected out. A Jack Doyle point followed after a long ball through William Phelan and Adam O’Shea had set it up. With the wides total, at four to one against Windgap, Billy Power made amends as he spotted a goal chance from twenty five metre free and took it to see Windgap 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after twelve minutes.
A pointed free by Tomás Roche (who went on to add twelve points) reduced the lead, before two pointed Windgap frees saw the scores at 1-4 to 0-2 at the quarter way stage. They drew an immediate response as Tomás Roche was first to a breaking ball and set up Ollie O Donovan to goal 1-4 to 1-2. After Windgap’s Jack Doyle won a sideline puck and pointed under pressure, his teammate Willie Phelan made a goal saving interception before Tomas Roche and Zak O’Halloran reduced the lead to 1-5 to 1-4 after twenty minutes.
In the free flowing play Séan Purcell who went on to play a very prominent role in the game pointed a free from behind his own sixty five and one from Billy Power extended Windgap’s lead to 1-7 to 1-4. A reply from a Lockes free brought two Windgap points after Pat Grace was fouled and Padhraic Foley hit one off the sideline, 1-9 to 1-5 after twenty five minutes. The play to the half time break appeared to reflect the Callan sides numerical advantage as they got the upper hand by scoring four points to two as Tomás Corcoran added two frees, one after a throw ball were penalized and Ciarán Phelan and Ollie O’Donovan contributed with assists by Ryan Bergin and Owen McGrath. In between Séan Purcell pointed another long range free, after steps were penalized and Adam O’Shea and an impressive Billy Power set up Padhraic Foley for a goal chance, that ended in a point to leave the half time score at 1-11 to 1-9.
Basking in the sunshine, as over a hundred young hurlers pucked about, Windgap were the first side back out as Jack Doyle pointed to stretch their lead 1-12 to 1-9. The expected numerical and energy sapping tide, looked to be on the way as Tomás Roche had tied the sides at 1-12 apiece thirty five minutes. Two fine responses, one by Padharic Foley, who later retired injured, and Pat Power for Windgap were nearly negated, as the Lockes full forward line combined to strike the post and a resultant free left it at 1-14 to 1-13 after forty minutes. In response a brace of Windgap points from a free and Jack Doyle were balanced by a Callan free and Ryan Bergin as the three quarter way stage was reached at 1-17 to 1-5 with the game still very much in the balance. As the tricolour danced a jig, blowing up and then down the field, theexcitement grew on one side, as it looked like Windgap’s battle to hang in, was holding up with the scores at 1-19 to 1-17. Then the ground erupted, with Windgap’s second goal after a Billy Power pass set up Michael Power and was added to by a Killian Enright point 2-20 to 1-14 with eight plus minutes to go. Five minutes later the excitement had swung around as a Lockes goal by corner back Adam O’Sullivan and a pointed free saw the scores at 2-20 to 2-16 and Windgap’s tiring legs were being really tested. With a nice spell of injury time expected, Killian Enright lifted the siege for Windgap with a brilliant solo, jinking, player evading run and a point 2-21 to 2-16. The remaining minutes saw Michael and Billy Power add points before the former was red carded after a clash as he followed a long dropping ball into Brian Doheny’s square.
What was expected to be a dead rubber game, turned out to be an intriguing clash as Windgap’s back division held strong against the numerical odds and the entire team hunted from pillar to post for an inspiring brace of league points as John Lockes stayed online as the table toppers and the favorites for a coveted league final place.
The sides were Bearna na Gaoithe; Eoin O’Shea, Peter Landy, Willie Phelan, Sean Foley, Pat Power, Séan Purcell 0-2frees, Darragh O’Shea, Killian Enright 0-2, Pat Power, Billy Power 1-11, 1-8frees, Pat Grace, Adam O’Shea, Padraic Foley 0-3, Conor Doyle, Jack Doyle 0-4, Subs; Michael Power 1-1, Sean Barron, Darragh Doyle.
Séan Locha: Brian Doheny, Danny Carey, Jack McDowell, Adam O’Sullivan 1-0, Denis O’Sullivan, Micheal Lynch, Tony Delaney, Paddy O’Brien, Ciaran Phelan 0-1, Eoghan Lynch, Owen McGrath, Ryan Bergin 0-1, Ollie O’Donovan 1-1, Tomás Roche 0-12, 0-8 frees, Zak O’Halloran 0-1, Subs; Conor Brett. Réiteoir David Hughes. An scór deireanach from St. Johns Park Bearna na Gaoithe 2-23 John Lockes 2-16
