Clough/Ballacolla make it four from four with win over Portlaoise

Clough/Ballacolla 1-23 

Portlaoise 0-12 

CLOUGH/Ballacolla maintained their perfect start to the ACHL Division 1 campaign with a comfortable victory over Portlaoise in Ballacolla on Saturday evening.

Although the opening half was competitive, with just five points separating the sides at the interval, the home team took firm control after the break to run out 14-point winners. Kevin Hyland netted the only goal of the game in the 49th minute, though the result was already beyond doubt by that stage.

Portlaoise made the brighter start, registering the first two scores of the contest. Gary Bergin opened the scoring following neat build-up play involving Brochan O’Reilly and Sean Culleton, before Davy Delaney set up Cormac Keegan for another point straight from the puck-out.

Clough/Ballacolla quickly found their rhythm, however, and responded with six unanswered points to move into the lead, one they would not surrender. Impressively, those scores came from six different players, with Mark Hennessy, John Coonan, Cormac Hogan, Kevin Mulhall, Colm Brennan and Ronan Broderick all on target.

Culleton stopped the momentum with a pointed free for Portlaoise, but further efforts from Coonan and Hyland (free) ensured Clough/Ballacolla held a five-point cushion by the 17-minute mark.

The sides then traded scores, with Eoin O’Connor and Cathal Duggan raising white flags for Portlaoise, while Coonan and Brennan continued to keep the scoreboard ticking for the hosts. Portlaoise briefly reduced the gap to three through Culleton and Cian Dowling Byrne, but Clough/Ballacolla finished the half strongly.

A goal chance for Brennan was well saved by O’Reilly and turned over the bar, while Mulhall and Brian Corby added further points. Culleton slotted another free in response, but Clough/Ballacolla still led 0-13 to 0-8 at half-time.

Culleton opened the second half scoring with another placed ball, but Clough/Ballacolla soon began to assert themselves. Coonan and Brennan (two) combined for three unanswered points, stretching the advantage once again.

With Culleton struggling from placed balls, Rigney assumed free-taking duties for Portlaoise, but Clough/Ballacolla were now in full control. A decisive spell saw them rack up 1-4 without reply to put the game beyond reach.

Hyland contributed two frees during this period, while substitutes CJ Brennan and Chris Rafter also got on the scoresheet. The game’s only goal arrived shortly after a fine save by O’Reilly, but Hyland reacted quickest to the rebound and finished to the net.

Rigney added a free for Portlaoise, but Clough/Ballacolla continued to dominate proceedings. Late points from Coonan, Padraigh Brennan and Hogan further extended their lead approaching the final whistle. Ronan O’Sullivan came off the bench to register a late consolation score for the visitors.

Portlaoise will look to respond when they face Abbeyleix in Round 5, while Clough/Ballacolla aim to continue their winning run against Borris-Kilcotton.

SCORERS:

Clough/Ballacolla: Kevin Hyland 1-3 (0-3fs), John Coonan and Colm Brennan 0-5 each, Kevin Mulhall and Cormac Hogan 0-2 each, Mark Hennessy, Padraigh Brennan, Chris Rafter, CJ Brennan and Ronan Broderick 0-1 each.

Portlaoise: Sean Culleton 0-4 (0-3fs), Cormac Rigney 0-2 (fs), Eoin O'Connor, Cathal Duggan, Cian Dowling Byrne, Ronan O'Sullivan, Gary Bergin and Cormac Keegan 0-1 each.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Emmet Saunders, Darren Maher, Lochlainn Conway; Brian Corby, Ronan Broderick, Cormac Hogan; Padraigh Brennan, Kevin Mulhall; Colm Brennan, Sean Corby, Joe Corby; Mark Hennessy, John Dwyer, Kevin Hyland.

Subs: John Coonan for J Corby (4m, inj), Gary Whelan for Hennessy (39m), CJ Brennan for Mulhall (39m), Chris Rafter for S Corby (50m), Eoin Duggan for Dwyer (54m).

PORTLAOISE: Brochan O’Reilly; Frank Flanagan, John Mark Foley, Eoin O’Connor; Ross Brennan, Cormac Rigney, Chris Lynch; Conor Raggett, Dean Lynch; Cormac Keegan, Sean Culleton, Gary Bergin; Cathal Duggan, Cian Dowling Byrne, Davy Delaney.

Subs: Jamie Keenan for Keegan (ht), Conor Ging for Foley (Blood 39-44m), Conor Ging for Brennan (57m), Ronan O'Sullivan for Delaney (57m).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney/Errill)