Bagenalstown repel late Rangers comeback to reach Junior decider
Paddy Abbey celebrates scoring Bagenalstown Gaels' first half goal during their Junior Hurling Championship semi-final win over Mount Leinster Rangers Photo: Pat Ahern
There was a tense finish to this Junior hurling semi-final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday with a late comeback by Mount Leinster Rangers coming up just short.
Four points from play for Oisin Dillon gave the Gaels momentum in the opening half with his first white flag coming just nine seconds in.
The eventual winners dominated with Paddy Abbey scoring a super goal at the end of the first quarter. Nothing seemed on when the ball arrived in the mid-field area but the midfielder took control, ran through a static defence and delivered a rocket into the bottom left-hand corner at the scoreboard end of the ground.
Rangers shot seven wides in the half with Willie Hickey and Jack Flood their only scorers as the eventual winners led 1-8 to 0-2 at the change of ends.
Even though Rangers began chipping away at the deficit, it still looked as if Bagenalstown were comfortable. With seven minutes to go, there was four points in it and when Mike Joyce executed a ground stroke, the sliotar found its way to the Bagenalstown net. Now it was game on.
In reply, the Gaels went long and this time, Rangers failed to clear. Conor Beck pounced for a simple goal and it was the black and green clad side’s to lose. Their rivals threw the kitchen sink as they tried to save the game. Willie Hickey’s second point left only three in it.
Rangers forced two 20 metre free but a packed defence held out on both occasions to seal their place in the final.
P Abbey (0-1f), C Beck 1-1 each, O Dillon 0-4, R Doyle (f), D Kennedy, A Walsh 0-1 each
E Fenlon 0-3 (fs), M Joyce 1-0, W Hickey 0-2, J Flood, E Coady, J Joyce, C Kavanagh (f) 0-1 each.
Neil Martin; Frank Cushen, Liam Cummins, Thomas Geoghegan; Mark Kennedy, Ronan Minchin, Sam Griffith; Paddy Abbey, David Kennedy; Darren Hickey, Oisin Dillon, Conor Beck; Aidan Dowling, John Gladney, Rory Doyle.
Subs: Adam Walsh for Gladney (13), Shane Cody for Dowling (42), Conor Lennon for Abbey (48), Thomas McDonnell for Geoghegan (62).
Connor Coleman; Tomás Joyce, Stephen Lawlor, MJ Doran; Willie Hickey, Eddie Coady, James Quinn; Seamus Kelly, Graham Bolger; David Phelan, Ciaran Kavanagh, Daithi Coleman; Eoin Fenlon, Jack Flood, John Coady.
Subs: Jack Joyce for Bolger (h/t), Derek Byrne for Daithi Coleman (40), Mike Joyce for Fenlon (43), Colm Joyce for Phelan (59).
Paud O’Dwyer (Palatine).
