Attack, attack attack as big guns battle it out in Thomastown
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League
Round 2
O’Loughlin Gaels 5-15 Shamrocks Ballyhale 6-22
Goals, goals. Goals. Eleven majors to be exact were shared between O’Loghlin Gaels and Shamrocks Ballyhale at a packed Thomastown last Sunday. The South Kilkenny side edged the green flag raising contest 6-5 in a hugely entertaining round 2 fixture in the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League. Despite a second week of Ruarc Sweeney majors, Niall Shortall was the top goal-getter as he got the better of Loughs netminder Stephen Murphy on five occasions as Mark Aylward’s charges ran out 10-point winners in a great game of hurling for the many neutrals in attendance. Both sides will no doubt look to tighten things up defensively, over the next few weeks, but this game was certainly worth the admission. Due to the large crowd trying to make their way into the ground, throw-in was delayed by some ten minutes.
When play eventually got underway, it was Shamrocks that came out of the blocks quickly and were raising a green flag inside the first minute. Darragh Corcoran did well and sent a searching delivery into the Loughs defence where Niall Shortall picked up possession before turning his marker Jack Lawlor and racing towards goal. The pacy attacker had the composure to bat his shot into the ground and beyond opposition netminder, Stephen Murphy. Shortall was causing problems early and a foul on the corner forward gave TJ Reid his first score of the afternoon in sunny Thomastown.
Brian Hogan’s charges got off the mark on 4 minutes, thanks to a splendid effort from distance courtesy of Fionan Mackessy. Shamrocks Darragh Corcoran responded with a booming effort of his own, this lad has that quality in his locker. From the restart, Mark Aylward’s side pounced again, and Richie Reid showed his accuracy from about ‘50 out. One of O’Loughlin’s rising stars, Ruarc Sweeney fresh from his round 1 hat trick, turned Joey Holden before popping the ball over the bar. The men in green claimed the puck out and the ball was worked to Greg Kelly who split the posts for a tidy score.
The quality scoring continued, this time half back Evan Shefflin let fly from deep inside his own half to push the Shamrocks lead out to 4 points on eight minutes. TJ then sent over his second placed ball effort of the afternoon before the second goal of the game arrived. This time Ronan Corcoran sent in a diagonal ball which Niall Shortall got onto and with a couple of flicks of the wrist he controlled the sliotar before batting it; tennis style to the net, Shamrocks now 8 points to the good. The St John’s Park side needed a score and centre forward Jamie Ryan got his sides 4th of the day. Eoin Cody then escaped the clutches of Mikey Butler to run onto the ball before striking over for the first of his two points. Again, Shamrocks won the restart, and young Jake Mullan sent over a lovely point for his first of the day. A brace of free’s courtesy of Conor Kelly and a booming one from Fionan Mackessy reduced the arrears to seven points, but TJ slotted another placed ball following a throw ball. Young Shamrocks defender Killian Ryan was then penalised for too many steps, and Conor Kelly punished the error. O’Loughlin’s registered the next two scores, a classy effort from Robbie Buckley and another free from Conor Kelly. The next two scores showcased the long-distance shooting of both sides. First up was Richie Reid but the second one was unbelievable, former Kerry star Mackessy unleashing a serious effort from his own ‘21.
Shamrocks 5-point lead was about to be reduced to two, and it was that young man Sweeney that showed his eye for goal. Some neat build-up play from Jamie Ryan and Jack Nolan saw the ball worked to Ruarc Sweeney, who steadied himself before blasting past Dean Mason. From the restart, O’Loughlin’s turned their opponents over and Conor Kelly notched a score from play. TJ then split posts from out wide just ahead of a nice effort from Cian Byrne but then came a third goal of the game for the menacing Niall Shortall. Jake Mullan did well, battling to win the ball near the endline and the youngest of Clan Mullen played a ball across the goal, which Stephen Murphy got something on, but not enough to prevent Shortall from pouncing. The hard-working Brian Cody then rifled over a fine point just ahead of the short whistle from referee David Hughes to leave Shamrocks five ahead at the interval.
When the teams returned for the second period, Shamrocks had made one change, Michael Barron replacing Conor Phelan, meaning Richie Reid dropped into the half backline, while Liam Barron moved to midfield. O’Loughlin’s started the half at a blistering pace, and again Ruarc Sweeney was the menace that was doing the damage to Mark Aylwards team. Greg Kelly lobbed the ball in, and Sweeney reacted and flicked the ball beyond Dean Mason to the net, leaving just 2 points between the sides. Just when everyone was marveling at the young O’Loughlin players fifth goal of the league, he made it six, turning his man before firing home, Brian Hogan’s men now leading the round two contest for the first time by the bare minimum. The next score was crucial, and it came from one of the most experienced players on the pitch, Richie Reid, after he had been found expertly by his keeper. Then came a score which many thought was debatable to say the least, but David Hughes said yes and TJ was happy with that outcome as the South Kilkenny side retook the lead.
A Fionan Mackessy foul on livewire Niall Shortall gave TJ an opportunity to add to his tally which he duly did. Conor Kelly did likewise for OLG after Jamie Ryan was halted illegally. Brian Cody and Richie Reid then combined to give Jake Mullen a chance, and the whippet split the posts from out wide to highlight his emerging talent at senior club level. Conor Heary then came on, replacing Robbie Buckley, and this added something to the O’Loughlin’s side. Intercounty star, Eoin Cody then fired over his second point of the game, despite the attention of Mikey Butler, Shamrocks three to the good.
Not content with 2 majors to his name, Ruarc Sweeney then equaled last week’s feat when he was well set up by Conor Heary before firing to the net; the game deadlocked once more after goal number seven of the afternoon. The response from Mark Aylward’s team was instant, again; fast ball played to the dangerous forwards, and this Jake Mullen put on the burners, before burying his shot past Stephen Murphy. The goal crazy game continued to deliver in the form of a fifth major for the current county champions and a fourth for the hugely impressive Shortall. Darragh Corcoran worked the ball to Killian Ryan who arrowed his pass into the danger zone. Niall Shortall ran onto it and despite not appearing to have the sliotar under his full control, he managed to poke it home, despite the best efforts of Stephen Murphy. Shamrocks now 6 clear. Jake Mullen then turned provider and set up Brian Cody for his second of the day in Thomastown.
Conor Heary then split the posts but again the Holden Plant Rentals sponsored side replied with another fine score when Jake Mullan rifled over from a tight angle. The next three scores all came from the men from Páirc na Seamróg, Ronan Corcoran from distance and a brace from TJ as O’Loughlin Gaels found themselves ten points down with full-time approaching. Jamie Ryan fired over but once again the Shamrocks hit back, Darragh Corcoran from way out the park with the game in injury time. With the long whistle approaching, Fionan Mackessy stood over a close range free and struck for goal, but his attempt was blocked but the alertness of captain Paddy Deegan allowed him to finish to the net. From the restart, Shamrocks attacked and unbelievably; Niall Shortall blasted to the net for his fifth goal of the game. Full-time score: O’Loughlin Gaels 5-15, Shamrocks Ballyhale 6-22.
