Barna / Furbo outfit caught at the post in thrilling clash

Date Published: {J}

Barna/Furbo 1-13Ballinderreen 1-13

STEPHEN GLENNONAT KENNY PARK

IT may lack the glamour of the senior or intermediate hurling championships, but this thrilling Junior ‘B’ decider between Barna/ Furbo and Ballinderreen certainly was not found wanting when it came to excitement at Kenny Park on Saturday.

In the end, a draw was a fair result, given both teams had invested so much energy into this contest. And yet, Barna/Furbo will probably feel they should have been parading the cup around the parish later that evening, having led for long periods of the game.

As for Ballinderreen, they flirted with the lead just the once when three consecutive points from Gerry Helebert, Finbarr Meehan (free) and captain Keith Carr (free) between the 39th and 46th minutes nudged them 1-10 to 1-8 in front.

True to the nature of this entertaining final, though, Barna/Furbo responded – with interest – and points from full forward Roibeard Ó Curraoin and the impressive Gregóir Ó Síoda (three frees and an excellent effort from play) saw the Connemara outfit retake the lead, 1-13 to 1-10.

However, Tomás Ó Curraoin’s men were unable to close out the game and they conceded three cheap frees, which Carr (2) and Meehan converted to tie up the game at 1-13 apiece in the final five minutes of play.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.