Carroll’s class leads the way as Emo outclass Ballyfin
Emo NS who won the Division 2 Hurling final at the Cumann na mBunscol finals in Laois Hire O'Moore Park Photo: Alf Harvey.
Emo NS 2-7
Ballyfin NS 0-6
DAN Carroll was the main man as Emo claimed the Division 2 Hurling Championship title. The tigerish forward scored all bar one point of his side's total in a stunning display. Ballyfin, led by the excellent Liam Meade, played their part in a thrilling final that they were unlucky to lose.
There was very little between the teams early on as Carroll opened the scoring for Emo and Meade replied for Ballyfin. The close nature of the game continued as we approached the tenth minute with Meade pointing only for Eoin O'Connell to reply for Emo.
Meade's third point from distance regained the lead for Ballyfin but then Carroll was fouled and pointed his own free to make things all square. He then went on a strong run through the Ballyfin backline, beating two defenders along the way before finishing an absolutely brilliant goal.
Carroll added a free before Meade struck back with his fourth consecutive point from distance. But Carroll brought the half to an end with another free to give Emo a four-point lead, up by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.
Sean Lynch cut Ballyfin’s deficit to three when play resumed with Meade then making it a two-point game with a well-struck free.
Emo went almost 15 minutes without a score but finally got one and it was massive. Sean T Crowley lofted in a ball which Carroll caught, swivelled past his man, and buried a shot into the bottom corner of Danny Burke’s net.
Carroll slotted two more frees towards the end of the game to claim glory for a battle-hardened Emo side.
Emo NS: Dan Carroll 2-6, Eoin O'Connell 0-1.
Ballyfin NS: Liam Meade 0-5, Sean Lynch 0-1.
Jack Gleeson, Paddy Lynch, Michael McGrath, Charlie Merriman, Eoin O’Connell, Seán T Crowley, Tommy Murphy, Robin Mitchell Leavy, Dan Carroll.
Subs: Liam Malone, Ross McMahon.
Danny Burke, Scott McEvoy, Séan Lynch, Craig O Shaughnessy, Oisin Horan, Liam Meade, Senan Conlon, Brian Keating, Finn Twomey.
Subs: Geordan Thompson, Killian Thompson, Sean Bell, Oran Noctor, Daragh Dowling, Sam Heffernan, Cormac O’Rourke, Luke Fitzgerald.
