Headen and Costigan star as Ballypickas power to vital victory
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Ballypickas 2-25
Trumera 0-9
BALLYPICKAS got their Laois Shopping Centre IHC campaign back on track after cruising past Trumera in Ballypickas on Thursday night. A simply stunning second half from the home side blew Trumera away to record a crucial win which should guarantee them a quarter-final place.
Conor Headen and Callum Costigan were superb throughout the game with their two goals in the second half firing them to victory.
The first half was even enough as there was only two points between the teams at half time, but Trumera failed to come out in the second period as they faded badly with their championship hopes on the line.
Both teams would trade points on two occasions in the first eight minutes with Dylan Lalor and Conor Headen hitting a brace each as it was nip and tuck in the early stages.
Niall Sinnott then fired Trumera into the lead with two brilliant frees, but Headen and Conaire Gee would level matters soon after.
Dion O'Connor and Headen would trade blows once again as there was no separating the sides in the opening twenty minutes.
Trumera went ahead once more in the 22nd minute through Caolon Murphy and it would be the last time they would lead in this encounter.
The home side hit three points in a row through Headen, James McWey and Daire McWey to put them into the lead for the first time.
Sinnott and Headen traded points before half time as Ballypickas led 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.
The brilliant Conor Headen hit the first point of the half with a brilliant effort, but Trumera responded through Ruaidhri Kavanagh, and it looked like the second half was going to be like the first half.
But Ballypickas had other ideas and ran riot from then on in. They found another gear and produced a stunning performance when everything was on the line.
Callum Costigan sparked the scoring spree with a brilliantly taken goal which was followed up by points from Conaire Gee and Fionn O'Sullivan.
Trumera then nearly had a goal against the run of play midway through the half, through Ruaidhri Kavanagh as he ran past three or four defenders, but his shot rocketed off the crossbar, and it was cleared.
From then on, it was total domination with Costigan and Headen adding two more points to their collection as they looked to put the game to bed.
MJ Lalor then got in on the act hitting two brilliant points from play, his first probably been the best point of the game.
Callum Costigan was now playing with confidence hit over another point before a moment of brilliance from Conor Headen who scored a brilliant individual goal to finish the game as a contest.
Costigan and James McWey then added further points as there was no let up from the home side as Trumera were struggling all over the field.
Conaire Gee who was excellent from midfield got another before McWey and sub- Christian Concannon also grabbed two more points.
The man of the match Conor Headen had the last say of the game hitting the last three points of the game to keep Ballypickas championship hopes alive.
SCORERS:
Ballypickas: Conor Headen 1-11 (0-8fs), Callum Costigan 1-3, Conaire Gee and James McWey 0-3 each, MJ Lalor 0-2, Daire McWey, Fionn O'Sullivan and Chrisitian Concannon 0-1 each.
Trumera: Niall Sinnott 0-3 (fs), Dylan Lalor and Ruaidhri Kavanagh 0-2 each, Caolon Murphy and Dion O'Connor 0-1 each.
BALLYPICKAS: Noel Concannon; Tim Cass, James Hennessy, Colin Rowan; William McDonald, Aaron O'Dea, Michael Downey; Fionn O'Sullivan, Conaire Gee; Daire McWey, MJ Lalor, James McWey; Conor Headen, Ben Freeman, Callum Costigan.
Subs: Kieran Bowe for D McWey (50m), Christian Concannon for Costigan (53m), Eoin Carter for McDonald (56m), Colin Kinsella for Gee (61m).
TRUMERA: Finian O'Connor; James Kirwan, Donnchadh Dowling, Garoid O'Neil; Caolon Murphy, Darragh McSpadden, Jack Mulhall; Evan McSpadden, Niall Sinnott; Joe Coogan, Dion O'Connor, Ruaidhri Kavanagh; Rhys Murphy, John O'Connor, Dylan Lalor.
Subs: Cathal Brophy for O'Connor (50m), Shane Callaghan for Murphy (54m).
Referee: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)
