Oulart-the-Ballagh 3-12 Clough-Ballacoola 2-11:OULART-THE-BALLAGH had to dig deep to hold off a magnificent Clough-Ballacoola challenge at Wexford Park yesterday.
Six points up at half-time, Oulart conceded 1-2 to the Laois champs inside the opening three minutes on the resumption which set up a gripping second half.
Clough-Ballacoola were strong and physical, but also brought a delightful brand of hurling to this game and they put in a storming finish as they drove the Wexford champions back on defence.
Oulart-the-Ballagh substitute Paul Roche came to his side’s rescue as he beat away two William Hyland 20-metre frees on 40 and 47 minutes, while home keeper Ben O’Connor dived low to foil a late Damien Bergin goal attempt in additional time.
The Laois champions finished with 13 players as two of their substitutes, Alan O’Flaherty and Willie Dunphy, were red carded late on by referee David Hughes.
Oulart got off to a great start with a fine goal from Eoin Moore. Michael McEvoy opened the visitors’ account, but the Wexford champions continued to make the running, adding points through Stephen Doyle, Michael Jacob and David Redmond to stretch 1-4 to 0-1 clear after just 10 minutes.
A splendid goal from Michael McEvoy reduced the deficit, but Oulart added points through Eoin Moore (free), Shaun Murphy, Darren Nolan and Moore to lead 1-8 to 1-2 at the interval.
Within two minutes of the restart, Clough’s Willie Dunphy flicked a Willie Hyland cross to the net and Hyland (free) and Michael Dunphy added points to cut the deficit to one (1-8 to 2-4).
Garrett Sinnott pointed after 35 minutes and then set up wing-back Shaun Murphy for a splendid goal. Moore tagged on a 39th-minute free to make it 2-10 to 2-4.
Willie Hyland’s 21-yard free was deflected over by Roche before Rory Jacob cut through for a fine goal and Oulart led 3-10 to 2-5, with 19 minutes remaining.
But points from Hyland and Stephen Maher sparked the Laois comeback and John Delaney’s pointed 70-metre free made it 3-11 to 2-11 before Moore’s insurance free saw Oulart safely home.
OULART-THE BALLAGH: B O’Connor; A Kavanagh, K Rossiter, B Kehoe; S Murphy (1-1), D Stamp, L Prendergast; M Jacob (0-2), D Redmond (0-1); D Nolan (0-1), G Sinnott (0-2), S Doyle (0-1); E Moore (1-4, 0-3 frees), F Cullen, R Jacob (1-0). Subs: N Kirwan for Cullen (18 mins); P Roche for Nolan (35 mins); D Mythen for Kirwan (48 mins), A Kenny for Doyle (57 mins).
CLOUGH-BALLACOOLA: D Hanlon; J Delaney (0-1, free), D Maher, J Doyle; T Delaney, B Duggan, C Coonan; S Hanlon, B McEvoy; T Delaney, M McEvoy (1-2), S Maher (0-3); D Bergin, W Hyland (0-3, 0-3 frees), M Dunphy (0-1). Subs: W Dunphy (1-1) for T Delaney (24 mins); A O’Flaherty for B McEvoy (42 mins).
Referee: D Hughes (Carlow).
