Ballymartle prove to strong for Shamrocks

Ballymartle 1-21 Shamrocks 0-11

(JJ HUrley)

Ballymartle proved far too clinical against Shamrocks in the Ross Oil SE Junior A Hurling Championship at Crosshaven on Saturday.

Ballymartle’s first half performance gave Shamrocks an almost impossible task but they found the target in the second half, but a lack of goal chances didn’t aid their cause.

A positive Shamrocks’ start had seen them take an early lead as they hit the front on seven minutes as Seanán Collins and Andrew Grady secured points to a fine response from an Ken O’ Callaghan score.

Having hit an early series of wides, Ballymartle settled into their task as John McCarthy and Ken O’ Callaghan  had their side leading by 0-3 to 0-2, after eight minutes

With their sights now zoned in on the target Ballymartle were stealing a march as they lead by  0-7  to 0-2 after twenty minutes, with scores Conor Kelleher (2), Niall Crowley and Cian Barry

Shamrocks to their credit continued to stay in the contest but they were unable to make their possession tell as their opportunities went wide of the target or fell short.

The Riverstick outfit had no such difficult as they fired over five unanswered points as McCarthy, Crowley and three points from former Cork minor Leo Hennessy had their side out in front by 0-12 to 0-2 at the break. 

The early period of the second half had both sides swapping points as Cian Barry and Eoin Deasy traded points with Cian Lynch (2).

The Ballymartle keeper, Dan O’ Leary had to be brave as Hitchmough was bearing down on goal but two more points, including a monster free from O’Leary had Ballymartle in the box seat at 0-16 to 0-4 on 41 minutes.

To their credit the Shamrocks lads fought back with points from Hitchmough and Andrew O’ Grady, but Ballymartle were out the gate minutes later, when the outstanding Hennessy fed Barry and he buried the sliotar to the net.

Four Shamrock points to Ballymartle’s three had the sides on 1-19 to 0-10 on 56 minutes, with John McCarthy’s effort the pick of the scores.

With time ticking away, Darragh Scriven fired over, but Ballymartle secured an additional two points thanks to McCarthy and Crowley as Ballymartle secured an all-important two points.

 Scorers for John McCarthy 0-5 (3F), C Barry 1-2, L Hennessy C Kelleher, N Crowley (0-3each), Ken O Callaghan 0-2, D O’Leary, R Sheehan, Jack Deasy 0-1 each

Shamrocks A Grady 0-4 (3F), D Scriven, C Lynch (1F) S Collins (0-2 each), M Hitchmough 0-1

Teams

Ballymartle: D O’Leary; J Butler, R Stewart, D Murphy; A Harte, J Deasy, E Cummins; L Hennessy, K O’Callaghan; C Kelleher, J McCarthy, R Sheehan,; E Deasy, C Barry, N Crowley.

Subs J Costello for L Hennessy (41)

Shamrocks: D Herlihy; G Ronayne, F Herlihy, Kieran May; N Hayes, M Hitchmough, B O’Mahony; A O’Grady, D Scriven; R Barrett, S Collins, J Bartlett; C Lynch, A McCarthy, C Hayes.

Sub C O’Grady for A McCarthy (47)

Brian Coniry, Crosshaven

Shamrock's Captain Andrew O Grady, with his opposite number from Ballymartle Dan O'Leary and referee Brian Coniry