Picky  inspires Clough/Ballacolla to third successive SHC win 

Clough/Ballacolla 1-22 

Camross 1-19 

CLOUGH/Ballacolla made it three wins from three in their Laois Shopping Centre SHC campaign after a brilliant second half to overcome Camross by three points in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Friday night.

Once again Stephen 'Picky' Maher was the leading light for Clough/Ballacolla and once again he turned out to be the difference maker finishing with 13 points to his name and he also created a host of chances for his team.

In a poor first half, littered with wides, the county champions got the scoring going inside the opening minute as Picky Maher made an impact straight away with a point from a free.

Willie Dunphy doubled their lead with a well taken score from play, Camross responded well however and would be soon level.

oin Gaughan nailed a brace of points as the game was 0-2 to 0-2 after six minutes. Willie Dunphy hit another from a sideline while Picky Maher added another free to regain their two-point lead.

The teams then traded points on two occasions, but by that time there was nine wides altogether after 13 minutes.

Picky Maher grabbed the two points for his side as Mark Dowling and Eoin Gaughan replied for Camross.

Cillian Dunne then got in on the act with a point from play, while Maher got another from play near the sideline with an outrageous effort.

Zane Keenan and Tomas Keyes would score two in a row for Camross as Clough/Ballacolla led by a point in the closing stages of the half.

The game then got going near the end with Willie Dunphy and Mark Dowling trading points. Joe Corby then added another point to the Clough/Ballacolla tally.

But Camross got the last score of the half through Liam Delaney as the score at half time was 0-10 to 0-9 to Clough/Ballacolla.

In a way better second half, the victors opened the scoring with two points through Jordan Walshe and Picky Maher.

The first goal of the game came through Mossy Keyes for Camross which sparked an entertaining second period with both teams finding their scoring range.

Clough/Ballacolla responded with a brace from Picky Maher as the Camross defence found it hard to keep him at bay.

Jordan Walshe who had a super second half added another point to get his side going again. Daniel Delaney, who was just off the bench, replied for Camross as it was tip for tat in the second half.

Both sides would then trade points on multiple occasions again as Picky Maher hit the two for Clough/Ballacolla while James Cuddy and Keyes landed two points for Camross to keep them in the game.

Picky and Keyes were at it again as there was only one point between the sides midway through the half.

The victors then hit two in a row through an inspirational score from Jordan Walshe while Dunphy hit another as Clough/Ballacolla were getting on top.

Eoin Gaughan landed another free to keep the scoring going for Camross, before Picky Maher hit another crucial point.

The fatal moment came as Clough/Ballacolla struck for a goal which was excellently taken by Mark Hennessy and it looked like the game was over.

James Cuddy added another score before Picky Maher would hit the last point for Clough/Ballacolla in the 59th minute.

Keyes added another free, before James Cuddy had a brilliant chance to get Camross back in it but his shot went agonisingly wide.

Eoin Gaughan and Ciaran Collier hit the last two scores, but it wasn't enough as Clough/Ballacolla hung on for their third win.

SCORERS:

Clough/Ballacolla: Stephen 'Picky' Maher 0-13 (0-8fs), Willie Dunphy (0-1 sideline) and Jordan Walshe 0-3 each, Mark Hennessy 1-0, Cillian Dunne 0-2, Joe Corby 0-1.

Camross: Tomas Keyes 1-5 (0-4fs), Eoin Gaughan 0-5 (0-2fs), Zane Keenan (fs), Mark Dowling and James Cuddy 0-2 each, Liam Delaney, Daniel Delaney and Ciaran Collier 0-1 each.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Diarmaid Conway, Darren Maher, Cormac Hogan; Brian Corby, Ronan Broderick, Lee Cleere; Joe Corby, Stephen Maher; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan; Stephen Bergin, Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy.

Subs: Colm Brennan for Bergin (45m), Lochlainn Conway for Corby (50m).

CAMROSS: Tadhg Doran; Aaron Carroll, Darragh Duggan, Conor Mortimer; Eoghan Cuddy, Cathal Cuddy, Tom Cuddy; Eoin Gaughan, Liam Delaney; Gearoid Burke, Ciaran Collier, Tomas Keyes; Zane Keenan, Mark Dowling, James Cuddy.

Subs: Darren Drennan for Burke (41m), Daniel Delaney for Keenan (41m), Odhran Phelan for Delaney (57m).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney/Errill)