Buggy drives Bergin’s boys to semi victory
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Electric Ireland Al-Ireland MHC Semi-Final
Kilkenny 2-23 Clare 2-20 (AET)
FBD Semple Stadium, Sunday June 16th
Kilkenny will face-off against neighbours Tipperary in this year’s Electric Ireland Minor Championship Hurling Final, having got the better of the Banner after extra-time in Thurles last Sunday. Goals from Conor Holohan, the lively Ollie O’Donovan, 0-13 from the classy Jake Mullen and a POTM effort from Erin’s Own’s Kevin Buggy saw the young Cats prevail in sunny Semple stadium.
Niall Bergin’s side opened the scoring in Thurles with an early free from the influential Jake Mullen, after Clare corner-back Darren Moroney was blown-up for a throw ball by Antrim referee Colm Cunning, but inexplicably the young Cats would hit ten wide’s over the next 15 minutes of action in Semple Stadium. The Banner then registered what would be the first of four majors in the second of the minor semi-finals to be played last weekend. A long ball into the Noresiders defence was caught nicely by Sean McNamara and the Clooney-Quin player sent a similar ball into Paul Rodgers.
The Scariff No.14 took the catch before turning his marker and heading for goal. Rodgers struck for goal but was denied by a decent save from Mooncoin’s Jake O’Doherty in the Kilkenny goal, but the sliotar was picked by Conor Ralph who swiveled before striking past the helpless O’Doherty. Some wayward shooting followed by those in stripes before Brian O’Connell’s charges struck and raised the second green flag of the game. Patick Finneran played a ball towards Liam Murphy and luckily for him, his marker, Oisin Henderson slipped as he turned to challenge the Clare corner man. The O’Callaghan Mills man cut in from thr right before batting his pass to Paul Rodgers who rifled past the advancing Cats keeper to push the Banner into a five-point lead with just 6 minutes on the clock.
Kilkenny were then handed a chance to half the deficit when they were awarded a penalty. Ollie O’Donovan turned his man and powered toward the Clare goal. As he went to strike the ball, full-back Sean McNamara slid out and upended the John Lockes man. Referee Cunning immediately signaled penalty. The Clooney-Quin player also picked up a yellow card for his troubles. Jake Mullan stepped up and struck his penalty wide of the Clare post, a let-off for the team leading.
Another Kilkenny wide followed before Clare’s James Cullinan sent over a booming effort from his own half to edge his side further ahead. Liam Murphy then set up Harry Doherty for a lovely point, The former’s flick allowing the Clarecastle player to split the posts. Further wides for Niall Bergin’s outfit arrived and when Kevin Buggy was turned-over, Clare captain Harry Doherty fired over a cracking point to give the Banner a commanding 8-point lead with almost twenty minutes played.
The Cats broke their horrible sequence of wides with a nice point from captain Bill McDermott who benefited from a quality pass by Carrickshock’s Mikey Rohan as the black and amber doubled their tally in the semi-final. Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Jake Mullan then notched his second point of the game, again as a result of the referee penalising Clare for an illegal hand pass. The next point was a Banner one, and a nice one. Patrick Finneran collecting the ball before turning and firing off his right side to the delight of the Clare supporters.
Bill McDermott then showed more of his leadership qualities when he picked up the ball and fought his way towards goal and batted over a point, despite the attention of several Clare defenders. Then came a big score in the opening half for the Cats. Dicksboro’s Louis Raggett who had entered the fray as a blood sub for Glenmore’s Jack Dollard, played a searching ball towards his forwards. Bill McDermott appeared to flick the ball towards the on rushing Conor Holohan who showed great pace to surge through the centre of the Clare defence before batting past Matthew Crotty, Kilkenny now just 3 behind with 25 minutes on the clock.
Brian O’Connell’s side then worked a couple of good scores to settle themselves. Paul Rodgers gave a nice off-load to the supporting Harry Ralph who split the posts from close range. The same player notched the next point also, this time from much further out as the first half was brought to a close with Clare 5-points to the good, 2-6 to 1-4.
Kilkenny started the second period with another wide before a free from Matthew Corbett got the scoreboard moving after the interval. Jake Mullen then got the Cats off the mark with a placed ball after Ollie O’Donovan was ‘restrained’ by his marker. From the restart, the same pair combined, with the John Lockes player setting up the Shamrocks forward for a good score. Mullan then won and converted a free from the next passage of play, as Bergin’s boys began to find their feet. Like all things, they seem to come in three’s and the youngest of the Mullen hurling clan fired over this 3rd score on the trot to leave the Cats just two points in arrears.
With momentum building for the Noresiders, Graigue Ballycallan’s Eoghan Cahill replaced Glenmore’s Jason Cody as manager Bergin sought to turn the screw on the opposition. A great take in defence saw the ball worked to Robbie Doherty and the Mooncoin player burst forward before rifling over a lovely point. Clooney-Quin’s Matthew Corbett then notched his second placed ball of the day after Conor Ralph had taken a great catch before being fouled. Darren Moroney eventually picked up a yellow card after his second bout of restraining Ollie O’Donovan. He’s a lucky boy that his previous indiscretion had gone unpunished. Jake Mullen dispatched the resulting free with ease to narrow the gap to just 1 point with 43 minutes gone in Semple Stadium.
Kilkenny deadlocked the game from the restart. Robbie Doherty emerged with the ball and powered forward but was halted illegally and Shamrocks player Mullen split the posts to level matters. Not content with drawing level, the young Cats then took the lead for the first time in the game since the opening minute. Jake Mullen’s sideline cut was executed perfectly and could only be batted away by the Clare keeper. Ollie O’Donovan’s first attempt to strike was blocked, but if at first you don’t succeed, try again and that’s what Ollie did as his shot arrowed towards the net and nestled in the corner of the Banner goal. Bergin’s boys now 3 up with 48 minutes gone in the last four clash.
Clare needed a response and they got it via a placed ball from captain Harry Doherty. The Cats hit back straight away, and it was their captain, Village player, Bill McDermott who struck over a fine point. They notched the next score as well, another placed ball from the rampant Mullen. Once again, The Banner rallied and cut the Cats lead with a long range free from Clarecastle’s Harry Doherty. Robbie Doherty was next to benefit from the hard-working Kevin Buggy’s all-action performance as he collected the ball before firing over a sweet point as the Kilkenny faithful cheered in approval.
The next point came from a Clare sideline cut. The ball was collected by substitute Darragh McNamara, and the Cooney-Quin player rifled over a stunning point from tight to the left sideline to reduce the Kilkenny lead to just 3 points. The Cats then made a double change, with Cian Byrne and Patrick Lacey coming in for captain Bill McDermott and Eoin Brennan. A nice 3-man move between Paul Rodgers, Darragh McNamara and Harry Doherty resulted in the latter sending over a tidy point to leave the Banner trailing by 2 points as the clash entered 4 minutes of additional time.
Clare captain Harry Doherty then converted another placed ball to make it a 1-point as the Clare support turned up the volume a little in Semple Stadium. The Banner were hungry and applied serious pressure to Jake O’Doherty’s restart. Oisin Henderson was harried and hustled, and this saw Liam Murphy emerge with the ball. The O’Callaghan Mills player tried to create an angle for a shot and in doing so was caught high by Jack Dollard. Referee Cunning blew immediately for the free. Harry Doherty delivered again; the sides were level.
Both sides knew that the next score might win it. Kilkenny attacked, courtesy of a fine interception by full-back Larry Phelan. Robbie Doherty gave the ball to Kevin Buggy and the Erin’s Own player struck a fine point to ignite the roar from the stands. Surely the Cats had prevailed? Clare worked the ball down the field, and it looked like Kilkenny had held them up, but the sliotar broke to Paul Rodgers about 45 metres out close to the sideline. The Scariff player turned and struck a cracking effort off his right side, straight over the black spot. Honours even, the next sound was Colm Cunning’s whistle, we were heading for extra time.
When play resumed, Jake Mullen got the first score, again from a placed ball, near on halfway. A fast break out of the Cats defence saw Cian Byrne burst clear of the Clare chasing pack. The O’Loughlin’s player had the presence of mind to give the pass to Jake Mullen who stepped inside his man before shooting over off his left side, a real mirror image of older sibling Adrian. Niall Bergin’s side then tagged on another point and a beautiful one it was too, from distance by midfielder Kevin Buggy. The Cats tails were up, and it really showed. Patrick Lacey picked the ball up way out on the left side. He then showed great movement and balance to shake his man before rifling over from what appeared, an impossible angle.
Clare appeared shell-shocked and needed a score, and they got one from Ballyea’s Dara Kennedy. Kilkenny replied with their next attack. Oisin Henderson went on one of his trademark run’s out of defence and left all in his wake, and having taken a couple of slaps enroute, he was rightly awarded a free which Mullen converted with ease. Then came a really big moment in the semi-final. An off-the-ball incident saw Clare’s Paul Rodgers shown a straight red card for striking Mikey Rohan with his hurl. Referee Cunning conferred with his umpires and the inevitable outcome was confirmed. The first period of extra time was done, Kilkenny up by four.
Just like the first period, Jake Mullen got the scoreboard moving, only this time it was another splendid effort from play, out on the right sideline. Again, a mirror image of senior player, Adrian. Clare were crying out for a score and they got one, a free from way out the park by Matthew Corbett. The Banner’s next score was a carbon copy, Corbett’s placed ball accuracy was keeping them in this clash.
Robbie Doherty then struck a sensational point from long range to push the Cats lead to four points, but again Corbett responded with another placed ball. Louis Raggett then gave a pass to Patrick Lacey and the Dicksboro lad turned and split the posts from almost halfway, a score to crown any game. The Banner roared back down the field and got one back through Jerry O’Connor who did well against two defenders. Clare couldn’t find a way to nick another goal. The final whistle sounded, Kilkenny through to the final where they will face Tipperary in this year’s final. Full-time score in Semple Stadium, Kilkenny 2-23, Clare 2-20.
Scorers for Kilkenny: J Mullen (0-13, 9 frees); O O’Donovan, C Holohan (1-0 each); R Doherty, B McDermott (0-3 each); K Buggy, P Lacey (0-2 each).
Scorers for Clare: H Doherty (0-7, 4 frees); C Ralph (1-2); M Corbett (0-5, 5 frees); P Rodgers (1-1); D Kennedy, J Cullinan, P Finneran, D McNamara, J O’Connor (0-1 each).
KILKENNY: J O’Doherty (Mooncoin); O Henderson (Dicksboro), L Phelan (James Stephens), B Brennan (Erin’s Own); D Barcoe (Clara), J Dollard (Glenmore), M Rohan (Carrickshock); K Buggy (Erin’s Own), E Brennan (Erin’s Own); R Doherty (Mooncoin), B McDermott (James Stephens, capt), C Holohan (O’Loughlin Gaels); O O’Donovan (John Lockes), J Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks), J Cody (Glenmore).
Subs: L Raggett (Dicksboro) for Dollard (12-h-t, blood), Raggett for B Brennan (h-t), E Cahill (Graigue-Ballycallan) for Cody (38), C Byrne (O’Loughlin Gaels) for McDermott (58), P Lacey (Dicksboro) for E Brennan (58), C McEvoy (James Stephens) for Holohan (73), A Clifford (Dicksboro) for Cahill (73). D Behan (James Stephens) for Barcoe (79, inj)
CLARE: M Crotty (Scariff); S Óg Kilkenny (Bodyke), S McNamara (Clooney-Quin), D Moroney (Éire Óg Ennis); R Mulcahy (Éire Óg Ennis), J Cullinan (Ruan), D Kennedy (Ballyea); G Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), M Corbett (Clooney-Quin); P Finneran (Clooney-Quin), T Lohan (Cratloe), H Doherty (Clarecastle, capt); C Ralph (Clarecastle), P Rodgers (Scariff), L Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills).
Subs: R Hayes (Tulla) for Ball (41), D McNamara (Clooney-Quin) for Lohan (45), D Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) for Corbett (52), J O’Connor (Clooney-Quin) for Ralph (53), M Vaughan (Broadford) for Finneran (60), Finneran for Vaughan (66), E Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Kennedy (h-t e-t), Corbett for Finneran (h-t e-t).
Red card: P Rodgers (70+3).
Referee: C Cunning (Antrim).
