Champions emerge victorious in low scoring but entertaining game

Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship Gr A Rd 5 

Clough/Ballacolla 1-20 

The Harps 3-12 

CHAMPIONS Clough/Ballacolla became the first team in Group A to secure their passage to the knockout stages of the Laois Senior Hurling Championship with a two-point victory over neighbours The Harps on Friday evening.

While it was a relatively low scoring game, there was plenty of entertainment for the big crowd that turned out on a chilly Friday evening to watch the clash as there were red cards, penalties and a host of yellow cards in a feisty fixture, though ultimately the experience of Clough/Ballacolla saw them to victory.

The game was somewhat marred by some unsavoury scenes after the final whistle with both sides getting involved in a fracas on the pitch, a culmination of a tense undercurrent that flowed throughout the game.

Stephen Bergin was ultimately the difference maker for Clough/Ballacolla, finishing with a 13 point tally and his free-taking was immense throughout while Lee Cleere put in a very solid shift at centre back and Aidan Corby was involved in some key moments.

The Harps found the net three times in the game including crucial moments at the start of each half, but they failed to make it pay as their ability to raise white flags abandoned them for long periods, something was of little issue to Clough/Ballacolla.

A second half goal from Aidan Corby proved to be decisive as Clough/Ballacolla kicked on from there to hold out for the win.

Clough/Ballacolla took a brief lead early on as Stephen Bergin slotted a free after the throw in, the lead lasted four minutes until Ciaran Comerford was hauled down just inside the box by Diarmaid Conway and Podge Delaney stepped up to fire home the penalty.

James Duggan landed another highlight reel score moments later when he split the posts while on his knees with his back to the posts and The Harps' lead increased to five with points from Delaney and Eoghan Doheny.

The champions recovered well after the initial shock by scoring four of the next five with three from play via Kevin Mulhall, Stephen Bergin and Cillian Dunne along with another from a Bergin free, A brace of frees by Comerford and a second long ranger from Delaney ensured The Harps kept their lead however as the tensions began to simmer slightly across the park.

Bergin was on target again with another trio of frees and Mark Hennessy slotted an excellent score from play as they traded with Comerford, John Brophy and Eoghan Murphy.

Clough/Ballacolla trailed by four points with five minutes left in the half though they were starting to find space a little more freely in the opposition half and they got down to work with a Bergin free followed by two exceptional points by Hennessy and Aidan Corby.

A free from Bergin levelled the game late in the half and he had a golden opportunity to put his side into a three point lead before half time after Mick Lanigan was adjudged to have fouled Cillian Dunne as he attempted to clear his lines but the goalie made amends by saving the penalty to ensure it stayed 1-9 to 0-12 at half time.

There was another dream start to the second half for The Harps when a long ball into the square from John Brophy landed at the feet of James Duggan who couldn't miss.

A trio of frees from Bergin was the reply however to quickly cancel out the goal and in the 40th minute Clough/Ballacolla raised a green flag of their own when Lanigan failed to deal with an attempt at goal from Aidan Corby and it bounced into the net.

The Harps were far from done however as substitute Mark Downey was on hand to roof the ball into the net when the ball popped out of a ruck in the Clough/Ballacolla square in the 45th minute.

Duggan was on target for The Harps with a point, but Bergin again slotted a brace of frees and Willie Dunphy pointed excellently before Clough/Ballacolla were reduced to 14 when Robbie Phelan saw red for a wry stroke on Lanigan after he had a goal chance snuffed out in the 54th minute.

A tennis-style strike over the bar from Downey followed by a Comerford free brought the teams back to level pegging heading into the three minutes of injury time signalled by the referee and The Harps were looking menacing with the extra man.

As menacing as they looked, they couldn't overcome the experience of Clough/Ballacolla as Bergin struck another free and Cillian Dunne got a brilliant insurance score in injury time to seal a massive win.

SCORERS:

Clough/Ballacolla: Stephen Bergin 0-13 (0-12fs), Aidan Corby 1-1, Mark Hennessy and Cillian Dunne 0-2 each, Kevin Mulhall and Willie Dunphy 0-1 each.

The Harps: Podge Delaney (1-0 pen, 0-2fs) and James Duggan 1-2 each, Mark Downey 1-1, Ciaran Comerford 0-4 (0-3fs), John Brophy, Rian Edwards and Eoghan Murphy 0-1 each.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Joseph Pearson, Darren Maher, Diarmaid Conway; Cormac Hogan, Lee Cleere, Brian Corby; Aidan Corby, Kevin Mulhall; Mark Hennessy, Stephen Bergin, Robbie Phelan; Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy, Jordan Walsh.

Subs: Lochlainn Conway for Maher (45m), Padraigh Brennan for Mulhall (48m), Eoin Doyle for B Corby (61m).

THE HARPS: Michael Lanigan; Ciaran Flynn, Cody Comerford, Rory Dunne; Padraic Dunne, Podge Delaney, Hugh Whelan; Daniel Comerford, Eoghan Doheny; Eoghan Murphy, John Brophy, Rian Edwards; Ciaran Comerford, James Duggan, Cathal Murphy.

Subs: Mark Downey for Edwards (ht), Jack Kennedy for Flynn (46m), Ross Deegan for Brophy (51m).

Referee: Kieran Bowe (Rathdowney/Errill)