Clough/Ballacolla hold off battling Colt-Shanahoe in Premier IHC opener

Laois Shopping Centre Premier IHC Gr B Rd 1 

Clough/Ballacolla 2-21 

Colt-Shanahoe 3-15 

CLOUGH/Ballacolla got their Laois Shopping Centre Premier IHC campaign underway with a three-point win against Colt-Shanahoe in Trumera Wednesday night It was a close battle all the way through, there was never more than four points between the sides as Clough/Ballacolla led by four points at the break.

But Colt-Shanahoe turned the game on its head in the second half as they overturned the deficit to lead by two midway through the second half, but Clough/Ballacolla settled once with John Coonan and Kevin Hyland coming to the fore.

The victors got off to a good start with Kevin Hyland and Gary Whelan pointing to give them a two-point lead early on.

Nathan Dunne registered a first point for Colt-Shanahoe, but Clough/Ballacolla responded once more through a Hyland free and Padraigh Brennan to increase the lead by three.

It was nip and tuck for the next ten minutes as the sides traded scores on three occasions with Nathan Dunne and Dayle Bergin would hit Colt-Shanahoe scores while Hyland with a brace and Sean Corby found scores for Clough/Ballacolla.

Colm Brennan and Padraigh Brennan would hit two in a row to lead by four, but again Colt-Shanahoe responded through Jack Delaney.

The first goal came soon after with a great move ending with John Coonan who found the back of the net for Clough/Ballacolla.

From the puck out Colt-Shanahoe moved the ball up the field to find Paddy Farrell who fired it to the net.

Coonan and Jack Delaney traded points again as the game went back and forth. Colm Brennan and Padraigh Brennan hit further scores as Ballacolla were finishing the half strong.

Nathan Dunne finished the scoring of the half through Nathan Dunne as Clough/Ballacolla led 1-12 to 1-8 at half time.

James Keyes got the second half going with a point while Coonan responded for his side. Colt-Shanhoe weren't going away and would get another point from Dunne.

Cian Moffitt who was sprung of the bench at half time hit the back of the net to level the game 1-13 to 2-10.

Kevin Hyland and Keyes traded points once more but Colt-Shanhoe stormed into the lead with their third goal through Nathan Dunne to leave it 3-11 to 1-15.

Hyland levelled it up with two frees as it was anyone's game with 15 minutes to go. Moffitt would add another point as his side led again.

John Dwyer then would hit a crucial blow with Clough/Ballacolla's second goal of the game to turn the game on its head once more.

James Keyes would cut the lead down to a point as a nail-biting finish insured. Hyland and Coonan hit two in a row to put the gap out to three.

Both sides would then trade points again twice for the final time with Gary Whelan and Padraigh Brennan while James Keyes grabbed his sides points.

This led to Clough/Ballacolla leading by three as they hung on for a crucial win and took a crucial two points with them.

SCORERS:

Clough/Ballacolla: John Coonan 1-5, Kevin Hyland 0-7 (0-6fs), Padraigh Brennan 0-4, Colm Brennan and Gary Whelan 0-2 each, Sean Corby 0-1.

Colt-Shanahoe: Nathan Dunne 1-6 (0-6fs), James Keyes 0-5, Cian Moffitt 1-1, Paddy Farrell 1-0, Jack Delaney 0-2, Dayle Bergin 0-1.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Peter Rafter; Aaron Boyhan, Emmet Saunders, Sean Hayes; Chris Rafter, Kyle Handcock, Paddy Meade; Padraigh Brennan, Ben Delaney; Colm Brennan, Sean Corby, John Coonan; Gary Whelan, John Dwyer, Kevin Hyland.

Sub: Eoin Duggan for Boyhan (10m).

COLT-SHANAHOE: Brian McDermott; Daniel Butler, Niall Brennan, Darren Cuddy; Cullen Kirwan, Colm Kavanagh, Robert Delaney; Dylan Cuddy, Paddy Farrell; Dayle Bergin, James Keyes, Jack Delaney; Ben McDonald, Nathan Dunne, Franky McEvoy.

Subs: Cian Moffitt for Kirwan (ht), Billy Brennan for Cuddy (52m), Darragh Cripps for McDonald (52m).

Referee: Eoin Scully (Camross)