Match Report

Betsy Gray Aspirations Blown Away!

Date Filed: 24 October 2011

Betsy Gray Cup Quarter Final: Clonduff 2-13 Ballyvarley 3-7
Ballyvarley’s senior hurlers saw their hopes of winning the Betsy Gray Cup blown away by the wind in a hotly contested quarter final tie in Hilltown that was decided by three late wind-assisted Clonduff points in the dying minutes of the game. A gale-force wind blowing straight up the field made this a game of two halves and in the end it was Clonduff’s ability to carry the ball and manufacture scores against the breeze that was to prove decisive.

Ballyvarley elected to play with the gale in the first half and with Ciaran Connolly, James McGrath and Paul O’Neill prompting the team forward much of the play was directed towards the Clonduff goal. Three points each from Paul O’Neill and James McGrath gave the Reds the advantage and when Paul O’Neill slammed two frees to the back of the net the omens looked good for the Reds. However Clonduff doggedly battled away and soloing against the wind they were able to carry the ball into the danger area on seven or eight occasions and produced a high return for their efforts. In their first attack John Murphy slotted a free over the bar and in their second he glided another free into the roof of the net. Another major score from the industrious Paddy Brannigan and two more pointed frees from Murphy were hammer blows for Ballyvarley’s cause. A late goal from Peter McConville edged the Reds into a five point interval lead but with the wind strengthening there was a sense that this advantage was not enough.

Half time: Clonduff 2-4 Ballyvarley 3-6

Ballyvarley moved James McGrath back to shore up the defence and the tactic worked as Clonduff struggled to find the scores they needed to advance. Gavin McGreevey, Adam Twohig, Stephen Daly, Thomas Lennon and Michael McKay all came into their own in the second half as they held the Clonduff onslaught at bay. Clonduff found it more difficult to get the scores with the wind and it took them twenty five minutes to chisel out six points to put them in the lead for the first time with only five minutes remaining. However Ballyvarley lacked the ball-carriers to move the ball against the elements and this was to prove their eventual downfall. With four minutes remaining Paul O’Neill knocked over the Reds solitary second half point to level this tremendous cup- tie once again but in those closing minutes long range points from Murray, McCusker and Murphy edged a jubilant home side over the line and into the Cup semi-finals.

Final score: Clonduff 2-13 Ballyvarley 3-7

Cathal O’Neill; Gavin McGreevey, Adam Twohig, Eunan McConville; Stephen Daly, Thomas Lennon, Michael McKay; Paul O’Neill(2-4), Ciaran Connolly; James McConville, James McGrath(0-3), Rory McShane; Peter McConville(1-0), Sean Kennedy, Gerard Lennon, Ciaron Davies, Sean O’Neill