By Jimmy Walsh.
Photographs by Catherine Power and ANO.
Windgap eventually emerged with a comfortable-looking 3-27 to 3-11 victory over Cloneen in this first-round JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior Hurling Championship knockout clash at Jenkinstown on Saturday. However, the final margin did not tell the full story of an entertaining and at times highly competitive contest, particularly during a thrilling opening half when the momentum swung dramatically from one side to the other.
Both clubs entered the game determined to put recent first-round disappointments behind them, and there was an obvious hunger on both sides from the opening whistle. There was also an interesting subplot to the contest, with both teams managed by former Windgap colleagues Phillip Lonergan and Matthew Enright. The game was played in excellent conditions on a superb billiard-table surface, while the surrounding Conahy Shamrocks facilities, including their new wall ball, astro-turf and parking area, were bathed in warm sunshine.
Windgap faced a light breeze towards the city end, and it was Cloneen who opened the scoring when Eoin Regan converted an early free. Windgap responded in style. Billy Power pointed a free before Jack Doyle added two further scores following good work from Adam O’Shea to put the south Kilkenny side 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after just three minutes. The pace was fast and the exchanges robust, with neither side prepared to concede an inch.
Regan converted his second free before Cloneen struck for the opening goal. Brian Cahill supplied the assist, setting up Michael Doyle from a Garry Delaney puck-out, and Doyle made no mistake as Cloneen moved 1-2 to 0-3 ahead. Windgap responded with a point from Conor Doyle, but Michael Doyle was soon celebrating again. Just three minutes after his first goal, he found the net for a second time when a direct, route one ball caused problems in the Windgap defence. The green and white-clad Cloneen supporters were now enjoying themselves as their side moved four points clear, 2-2 to 0-4, with only nine minutes played.
Windgap refused to panic. Two points followed, although Brian Cahill managed to reply with a single for Cloneen, leaving the score at 2-3 to 0-6 after 12 minutes. Then came Windgap’s most productive spell of the first half. They began to find greater space in attack and hit 2-4 without reply, apart from a single response from Brendain Buggy. The goals were particularly well constructed. Adam O’Shea turned provider for Jack Doyle for the first, before O’Shea himself got on the scoresheet with Windgap’s second goal.
Suddenly the complexion of the game had changed completely. Windgap were now 2-10 to 2-4 ahead after 20 minutes and looked to have seized control. Regan won and converted another Cloneen free, while Billy and James Power added points for Windgap as they stretched their advantage to 2-12 to 2-4.
Yet Cloneen were not prepared to allow the game to drift away from them. Their tackling, harrying and blocking became increasingly effective and two points from Brian Cahill and Padraig Cooney reduced the deficit. Then came one of the most dramatic scores of the opening half. Regan was presented with a 20-metre free and, with the Windgap goalmouth packed with defenders, he drove the ball through the crowded goal line and into the net. What had been a seven-point Windgap advantage was suddenly reduced to just two, with Cloneen trailing 2-12 to 3-7.
The pendulum had swung yet again. Billy Power steadied Windgap nerves with a point before the interval, leaving the sides separated by three points at the break, 2-13 to 3-7. It had been a hugely entertaining first half, with both teams showing enough attacking quality to suggest that the second period could be equally dramatic.
Cloneen made the brighter start to the second half, with centrefielders Padraig Cooney and Thomas Ryan winning a free from the throw-in. Ciaran Cooney converted and suddenly it was a two-point game, 2-13 to 3-8. On reflection, however, that was as close as Cloneen would get. Windgap gradually took control around midfield and began to pile on the pressure. Seven unanswered points followed, although they were accompanied by as many wides, as Windgap moved 2-20 to 3-8 ahead approaching the final quarter.
Cloneen continued to threaten and Eoin Regan twice went looking for the goal that could have transformed the contest. On one occasion, after another free had been advanced to the 20-metre line, Regan went for goal. On another, his mazy run towards the Windgap defence looked certain to create danger before William Phelan produced a timely block to deny him.
Francie Ward reduced the deficit with a pointed midfield free, but Windgap finished strongly. Padhraic Foley, Sean Purcell, Conor Doyle, substitute Michael Power, Billy Power and Jack Doyle all contributed points as Windgap added seven further scores, while Cloneen could manage just two late points from Eoin Regan frees.
The decisive third Windgap goal came after another verbal exchange, with the subsequent free advanced to the 20-metre line. Windgap took full advantage, finding the net with what was effectively the penultimate score of the contest. It put an emphatic gloss on the final scoreline of 3-27 to 3-11.
The margin, however, gave an unbalanced appearance to a contest that had been anything but one-sided for long periods. Cloneen deserve considerable credit for the way they competed, particularly during the opening 35 minutes when they twice established strong positions and showed excellent resilience after Windgap’s two-goal burst.
For Windgap, the victory represents valuable progress in the knockout championship, but there will also be plenty for them to reflect on. Their scoring return was impressive, yet the number of wides and the spells when Cloneen were able to turn the momentum will provide food for thought.
Ultimately, though, Windgap had the greater strength in depth and finished the contest with authority. After a first half full of twists and turns, they finally secured their place in the next round, while Cloneen can take encouragement from a performance that, for much of the afternoon, suggested they were more than capable of competing at this level.
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Bearna na Gaoithe; Eoin O’Shea, Peter Landy, Willie Phelan, Sean Foley, Pat Power, Séan Purcell 0-2, Darragh O’Shea, Killian Enright, Pat Grace, Billy Power 1-9, 1-6 frees, James Power 0-1, Jack Doyle 1-6, Conor Doyle 0-5 Adam O’Shea 1-1, Padraic Foley 0-1, Subs; Michael Power 0-2, Sean Barron, Séan Power, James Purcell.
Cloneen; Gary Delaney, John Kelly, Brian MacDonald, Gearoid O’Neill, Ciaran Cooney 0-1, Harry Roche, Malachy Flaherty, Francie Ward, Padraig Cooney 0-1, 0-1free, James Love, Brian Cahill 0-1, Ashley Kerr 0-1, Michael Doyle 2-0, Eoin Regan 1-9. 1-9 frees, Brenainm Buggy 0-1. Subs: Phillip Roche, Ronan Lynch, Dean Shortall. An réiteoir Anthony Barcoe
