Clough/Ballacolla set up a Leinster semi-final meeting with Ballyhale Shamrocks
Cormac Hogan (Clough/Ballacolla) shakes off the attention of Castletown-Geoghegan's Jack Gallagher Photo: Denis Byrne
Clough/Ballacolla marched on to the semi-final stage of the Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship after a two-point victory over Westmeath champions Castletown-Geoghegan in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.
It was a titanic tussle between the sides that saw momentum shift on a number of occasions throughout the contest but ultimately Clough/Ballacolla showed the mettle and desire that has led them to victory in five of the last six Laois Senior Hurling Championships.
The prize for victory is a marquee semi-final clash with Kilkenny champions Ballyhale Shamrocks in Nowlan Park on Sunday week and Sunday’s game was a brilliant warm up for what awaits them.
Though he made an effective cameo in the Laois SHC final three weeks ago, there was no sign of Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher on the field on Sunday and Clough/Ballacolla’s injury woes were worsened with the news that Jordan Walshe was forced to pull out with an injury just minutes before throw in.
Stephen Bergin led the scoring for the victors with nine points along the way, but Willie Dunphy's two goals in the second half went a huge way to driving Willie Hyland's charges to victory It was in intense battle with plenty of ferocity and tough tackling which added to the contest as there were also a magnitude of brilliant scores.
The visitors trailed for much of the first half before making a late charge before the break to take a three point lead.
Their lead was quickly cancelled out early in the second half with Dunphy's first goal coming five minutes after the restart and things only got worse for Castletown-Geoghegan when Peter Clarke was red carded for a foul on Joe Corby.
Dunphy's second goal soon followed and though the visitors brought Clough/Ballacolla right down to the wire, the home side held on for the win.
Clough/Ballacolla made a flying start to the game with a quick trio of scores, opening with a Stephen Bergin free in the third minute followed by two excellent points from captain Aidan Corby and Lee Cleere after he made a marauding run up field.
The visitors came battling back well with Morgan Gavigan firing from play before a brace of scores from the talismanic Niall O'Brien, on a free and one from play.
Momentum shifted back in favour of the hosts midway through the half with two Bergin frees putting them ahead and a second from Cleere, this one a long range effort before a fourth free from Bergin to put four between the teams.
Tempers were starting to rise across the pitch with a couple of minor flashpoints, culminating in a slight ruckus after an Eoin Doyle foul on Jack Gallagher which resulted in yellow cards for the pair and also Niall O'Brien for his involvement.
Castletown-Geoghegan came back the stronger of the pair after the break as they hit the next five scores in succession.
David O'Reilly struck from play before a quarter of O'Brien scores, two quick frees before one from play out the field and another free to round it off in a brilliant display of striking.
A last minute addition to the Clough/Ballacolla starting 15 was Robbie Phelan who had to take Jordan Walshe's place before throw in and he made his mark with a well taken score to stem the flow of the visitors.
Despite Phelan's score, the momentum stayed behind Castletown-Geoghegan as they hit the last three scores of the half, two from O'Brien frees and an outstanding Jack Gallagher effort from play to make it 0-11 to 0-8.
Again Clough/Ballacolla started brilliantly from the off with early points from Bergin and Cillian Dunne before Willie Dunphy found the net after latching on to a high ball in towards the square from Cormac Hogan to take back the lead.
After the teams traded a couple of scores disaster struck for Castletown-Geoghegan when Peter Clarke was issued a red card when he ran into the head of Joe Corby midway through the half.
Their woes were compounded when a shot from Cathal Dunne trickled back to the feet of Dunphy who lashed in his second goal of the game.
The visitors remained in contention with scorers from O'Reilly, O'Brien and Mick Heeney, with a reply from Bergin in the mix.
Substitute Mick Heeney continued to cause problems as he slotted three from play after his introduction and long with points from O'Brien, the visitors were starting to take hold as they got to within a point with three minutes left to play.
Clough/Ballacolla held their nerve however and a couple of late frees along with an excellent score from play by Padraigh Brennan they march on to the semi-finals.
Stephen Bergin 0-9 (0-8fs, 0-1 65), Willie Dunphy 2-0, Lee Cleere and Cillian Dunne 0-2 each, Robbie Phelan, Aidan Corby and Padraigh Brennan 0-1 each.
Niall O'Brien 0-11 (0-9fs), Mick Heeney 0-3, David O'Reilly 0-2, Conor Murphy, Morgan Gavigan, Jack Gallagher and Peter Clarke 0-1 each.
Cathal Dunne; Joseph Pearson, Darren Maher, Eoin Doyle; Lochlainn Conway, Lee Cleere, Diarmaid Conway; Aidan Corby, Cormac Hogan; Mark Hennessy, Robbie Phelan, Kevin Mulhall; Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Bergin.
Joe Corby for Doyle (ht), Padraigh Brennan for Hennessy (51m), Brian Corby for Phelan (55m).
Ciaran O'Brien; Aaron Glennon, Naoise McKenna, Johnnie Bermingham; Shane Clavin, Jack Murphy, Peter Murphy; Morgan Gavigan, Peter Clarke; Aonghus Clarke, Conor Murphy, Liam Varley; David O'Reilly, Niall O'Brien, Jack Gallagher.
Mick Heeney for Gavigan (45m), Dean Slevin for Murphy (45m).
Adam Kinahan (Offaly)
