Shamrocks 2-12, Ballinhassig 0-16
Shamrocks battled to the win in the HL on Thursday night in Shanbally. For long spells, it looked like Ballinhassig would win but Shamrocks just would not go away and put themselves into every challenge and eventually capped a marvellous comeback win 2 late points to get the vital 2 league points.
Ballinhassig played with the very strong breeze in the first half but Shamrocks were up for the fight. The half time score read Ballinhassig 0-9, Shamrocks 0-5; this gave Shamrocks a fighting chance turning to play with the (decreasing) wind. There were a lot of good performances in that half with Michael O’Neill very tidy in goal, Fionn Herlihy playing a lot of ball at centre back and Sean Andrews showing well up front.
Ballinhassig enjoyed a good 15 minutes into the wind after the restart. Seán Andrews had initially scored the Shamrocks goal when he burrowed his way through 2 Ballinhassig defenders to slap the ball beyond the keeper to give Shamrocks hope. Ballinhassig responed with 5 points on the trot and they looked well set for the win. Shamrocks however, had different ideas. A total rejig up front signalled their intent to go for it. Mark Hitchmough and Cathal Kidney formed a new full forward line with Andrews going to the wing. It worked.
Sam Foy scored a beauty from play. Andrews put over a few frees, Kidney pointed after he dispossessed the full back, Hitchmough was winning possession in the air and when a high ball dropped in around the square, Mark was fouled in possession. Seán Andrews slotted the penalty with 1 minute to go and Shamrocks were ahead by a point.
Ballinhassig had a chance to score at the other end but put a free wide. To finish it off, Seán Andrews put a sideline over from right on the 45 yard line for what was an unlikely but deserved Shamrocks win.
M. ONeill, K. May, D. Barry, G. Ronayne, J. Tuohy, F. Herlihy, T. Murphy, N. Hayes, M. Hitchmough, S. Foy, C. Kidney, C. O’Grady, C. Hayes, S. Andrews, C. O’Donovan. Sub used – D. Scriven
Sean puts one over
Kieran May on the move
Johnny Tuohy tries to get loose V Ballinhassig, 18/4/24
