When push came to shove during the last quarter of a rollicking Leinster club hurling final at Nowlan Park yesterday, the students of UCD wilted against the Kilkenny champions.
Graigue-Ballycallan, threatened with the loss of senior status just three years ago, finished stronger - physically, mentally and skillfully - to capture the title in heavy going. UCD failed to raise a flag in the last 15 minutes. Afterwards UCD manager Dave Billings slammed Carlow referee Pat Aherne's performance.
Graigue-Ballycallan's brave fightback after conceding a goal that gave UCD the lead 14 minutes into the second half while playing with the wind, stamped them out as true champions. UCD captain Brian Walton had no doubt about the Kilkenny team's right to the honour. "The true character of Ballycallan came through today and your fighting spirit was duly rewarded," he told the winning dressing-room afterwards.
UCD's effort, after a season that saw them win a first Dublin title in 32 years and progress through a campaign of eight games, was in turn acknowledged by Ballycallan captain and midfielder James Young, who struck a vital point from an angle way out on the right in the closing minutes. "We haven't been given a tougher match in three years," he said.
The condemnation of UCD manager Billings was strong. "Both teams played excellent hurling, it was a credit to them, but it was a pity that the referee's performance did not attain the same level."
Billings went on to give chapter and verse on what referee Pat Aherne did wrong. The pace of the game hotted up in the second half and it was during this period that Ballycallan's drive and general awareness came in to the fore.
Denis Byrne led the way. He started at full forward, despite an injured ankle, and finished with both ankles injured. "I went over on the right one as well. I've had a long hard season and will cherish the turkey and the break. UCD are a fine team. They have got to be if they can leave a player like Sean O'Neill on the bench for so long".
Early on, Rory Moore dominated midfield for UCD, and Stephen Lucey and David Hegarty manned the central defensive spots with huge authority.
It looked good for the students when they were only two points in arrears at half-time, 0-7 to 0-5, having played against the wind. It looked even better for them when they contrived their goal 14 minutes into the second half.
Moore sent in a tentative long shot which was parried away by Johnny Ronan, but it fell into the path of the lurking Brendan Murphy, who rammed the sliotar to the far corner of the net.
Reliable freetaker Jim Byrne stretched UCD's lead to two points, but the Dublin club's impact on the scoreboard ended there. Ballycallan's response was highly impressive.
Top scorer Adrian Ronan let loose and the Hoyne brothers, Michael and John, combined to put Ballycallan back on terms within a few minutes. Ballycallan wisely countered a UCD ploy to shift Brendan Murphy to the wing by letting man of the match Johnny Butler follow him.
Jim Byrne lost his touch with the placed ball and Ronan, forever posing the biggest threat to UCD, hit the post with a piledriver.
Finally, James Young played the perfect captain's role by sending over the lead point. Match-clinching scores followed from Eddie Brennan.
Graigue Ballycallan: J Ronan; J Butler, P O'Dwyer, J Ryall; T McCluskey, T Comerford (0- 1), A Hoyne; J Young (0-1), E O'Dwyer; D Byrne (0-1), J Hoyne (0-1), M Hoyne (0-3); A Ronan (0-5, three frees), T Dermody (0-1), E Brennan (0-1). Subs: D Hoyne for A Hoyne (43 mins), P Hoyne for McCluskey (46 mins), G Cleere for Dermody (59 mins).
UCD: M Lyons; B Walton, S Lucey, C Murphy; H Flannery, D Hegarty, C Everard; R Moore (0-1), D O'Gorman; P Fitzgerald (0-1), J Byrne (0-5, three frees), P Ormonde; M Gordon, B Murphy (1-1), N Murphy. Subs: J Berkery for N Murphy (38 mins), S O'Neill for O'Gorman (40 mins), D Lyng for Gordon (53 mins).
Referee: P Aherne (Carlow).
