Hurlers Win Q/F

Post date: Sep 02, 2013 10:4:1 PM

Edenderry 2-10

Ballinamere 1-11

Edenderry deservedly edged out Ballinamere in this fiercely contested battle in a windswept Killeigh on Sunday morning last. The Reds with the aid of the strong breeze powered into the game and blitzed the Ballinamere men in the first half. However steely resolve and tactical astuteness was required to ensure Edenderry held on in the second half to make it through to the Semi-Final stages again in 2013.

The game started with blistering pace and Edenderry tagged 1-3 in the first 10 mins with Ballinamere chipping in with 0-3. A cracking goal from Jason Carey set the tone with Cillian Farrell (2) and a youthful Jack Gormley adding the well taken points from play. A purple patch between the 10th and 20th minute saw the Reds add 5 points to the Ballinamere 1. The evergreen duo of Cillian (1) & Sean Óg (3) Farrell dominating the exchanges. The heavily strapped Eoghan ‘Cashman’ Kelly chipped in with one to leave the scoreline 1-08 to 0-04 after 20 mins. The fizzle went out of the Edenderry play and some mis-directed balls in the last 10 mins left the sizable crowd wondering had the Reds put enough on the board with the aid of the wind, but up stepped Shane Kelly to bag a goal just before the break to give Edenderry a 9 point advantage at half time – Edenderry 2-08 Ballinamere 0-05.

Edenderry found the going tough playing into the wind and the scores dried up entirely. However stout defending and some great goalkeeping from Derek Egan kept the Ballinamere men out and reduced them to shots from distance. Stephen Guing replaced Derek Kelly just after the break and his fresh legs helped with the work around the middle, aiding Paul & Ger Hanlon and James Coffey. Making most of the wind and good free taking Ballinamere reduced the lead to 3 as they hit 1-3 within the first 10 mins of the second half. Edenderry were struggling to keep the scoreboard ticking but a free from Cillian Farrell helped stem the tide on 12 mins.

As the game entered the final ten minutes it was all to play for, Edenderry introduced an extra defender when Enda Bagnall came on for Full Forward Jason Carey. In a tense finish a converted ’65 left 2 pts in it before Cillian Farrell pointed Edenderrys second score of the half to leave just a puck of a ball in it with 3 mins to go. There was relief all round when a rasper of a shot from the big Ballinamere full forward blazed over the bar in the final minute. Edenderry hung on to record a great victory over last years finalists.

The now progress to the Semi-Final and will face either Crinkle, Seir Keirnan or Kilcormac/Killoughey – the draw will be made on Tuesday night at the Co. Board meeting. Well done to Jimmy, Adrian & Noel for getting the team primed for this win. From Derek Egan, through Peter Manley, the veterans Cillian & Sean Óg Farrell along with the brothers Eoghan and Shane Kelly this team battled hard and is unfair to single anyone out they all excelled.

TEAM;

D. Egan, J. Geraghty, J. Merrick, C. Carey, J. Coffey, G. Hanlon, S. Óg Farrell (0-3), P. Hanlon, J. Gormley (0-1), E. Kelly (0-1), D. Kelly, C. Farrell (0-5), J. Carey (1-0), S. Kelly (1-0)

S. Guing for D. Kelly, E. Bagnall for J. Carey, J. Carey for J. Gormley.