COUNTY minor Adrian Cleere was the toast of Ballingarry on Friday evening last when his well-taken point, almost five minutes into 'stoppage' time, gave his side a dramatic victory over neighbours and titleholders Killenaule, in a high-scoring round of the South senior hurling championship in Fethard.
After three victories on the trot, Killenaule went into this game happy in the knowledge that their place in the knockout stage of the championship was guaranteed. However, mindful of the fact that Ballingarry, after a poor start to the season, neede
d a victory to keep their championship hopes alive, the champions were intent on upholding their pride, and meeting the challenge with stern resistance.
As matters transpired the sizeable attendance were treated to most extraordinary game between two great rivals, crammed with drama and incident and played in a most sporting fashion.
It surely fitted the 'game of two halves' tag. With the sides level, Killenaule 0-7 Ballingarry 1-4, after twenty three minutes, the floodgates opened and the men in maroon and white peppered the champions net no fewer than three times.
They chalked up a whopping 3-4 in the last seven minutes of the first half, without reply, to lead by a massive thirteen points at the interval (4-8 to 0-7). Ten minutes into the second-half they looked set to coast to a comfortable victory on a 4-11 to 0-9 scoresheet, but, for whatever reason, perhaps complacency, they lost the momentum, and the wind-assisted champions firmly regained the initiative.
Over the remaining twenty-five minutes (five minutes of stoppage time included) of a cracking contest they outscored Ballingarry by a massive 2-10 to 0-3, their second goal from Tony Doyle in 62nd minute (4-13 to 2-19) bringing them on level terms in a gripping finale. With the clock ticking away, and a draw on the cards, Ballingarry won a free close to the sideline approximately 65 metres from the Killenaule goal.
Deadly marksman Seanie Cahill launched a high ball into the goalmouth, but Killenaule broke up an attack and Kenneth Cleary swept the ball clear.
However, county minor Cleere gained possession and struck a perfect shot under pressure to clinch a memorable victory for his side.
Both teams started without a number of key players due to injuries, and the fact that some of the younger members of each side were exam-tied. The sides were level on 0-3 apiece at the end of the first quarter, before wind-assisted Ballingarry, who had wasted a number of scoring chances, moved in front after Seanie Cahill hammered home a 'penalty' goal.
Killenaule fought back and were on level terms by 23rd minute thanks to a point from a free by Tony Shelly (1-4 to 0-7). In a twinkling, the game took a dramatic turn. Seanie Cahill pointed a free, and in 24th minute excellent corner-forward Michael Ivors finished the ball to the net, after a good movement involving Jack Fennelly, Adrian Cleere, and Ian Ivors.
Donal Shelly added a good point, and with Killenaule reeling from the impact, impressive full-forward Adrian Cleere crashed home a rebound after Gerry Kennedy had saved well from Ian Ivors in 29th minute. The Killenaule defence got no time to recover and the bombardment continued, Michael Ivors setting up Adrian Cleere for his second goal, and when busy Ian Ivors, and Seanie Cahill (free), added injury time points to leave their side 4-8 to 0-7 ahead at the break the game looked to be over as a contest.
Ballingarry continued to rule the roost for most of the third quarter, their entire defence solid, with Gerry Fitzgerald having an excellent game, and Tommy McGrath also getting in a great deal of work. Nigel Cleere did a power of work too. They should have put the issue well beyond the reach of the champions.
But just when the game seemed to be ambling into the last quarter, Killenaule got a new lease of life after Damien McCormack struck a good point. Gradually, and alarmingly for Ballingarry, they took control, and after three points on the trot, they received a magnificent boost when Joe Caesar, who had an excellent game all through and finished with 1-4, ran into attack and cracked to the net a cross from Paul O'Dwyer.
Killenaule attacked in waves, their defence to a man working hard with Declan Fanning getting in relieving clearances, Peter Kennedy also featuring strongly, and Tony Doyle, and county senior Pat Kerwick leading the attack. Doyle finished the hour with 1-3 to his credit, and Kerwick took four sweet points form play.
With five minutes to go Killenaule had the deficit cut to four points, and Ballingarry can thank full-forward Adrian Cleere, who scored an impressive total of 2-2, for shooting an important point against the run of play. The champions were on a roll, however, and after adding 1-2 (Doyle the goal scorer) in the last three spine-tingling minutes to level the pegging (4-13 to 2-19) it looked as though they had secured a draw. However, Adrian Cleere had other ideas when the chance arose, and, he gave his side a victory they had craved for.
Killenaule who were left to rue conceding the goals before the interval took consolation from their fightback of herculean proportions. Seanie Cahill who got some great scores from frees, contributed 1-8 of the winners total. while Donal Shelly worked hard. Tony Shelly also took some fine scores from frees at the other end, while Niall O'Dwyer set up couple of scores, and Paul O'Dwyer grabbed two nice points from play for the titleholders.
Ballingarry- J Logue; T Donovan, Gary Fitzgerald, G Ivors; D Norton, T McGrath, Gerry Fitzgerald; N Cleere (0-1), S Cahill (1-8); D Shelly (0-1), JP O'Brien, I Ivors (0-1); M Ivors (1-0), A Cleere (2-2), J Fennelly. Subs introduced- P Ivors, A Cleere (0-1), E Cahill.
Killenaule- G Kennedy; S Browne, P Codd, D Ryan; P Kennedy (0-1), D Fanning, J Caesar (1-4); T Shelly (0-4), M O'Donnell; M Farrell, T Doyle (1-3), P Kerwick (0-4); D McCormack (0-1), N O'Dwyer, P O'Dwyer (0-2). Subs introduced- K Browne, K Cleary.
Referee- N Cosgrove.
