Scores are scarce as Junior decider ends in stalemate

Ardrahan 0-7

Killimor 0-7

Darren Kelly  in Ballinasloe

STALEMATE! The County Junior B hurling championship didn’t crown a winner in a cold Duggan Park last Sunday as Ardrahan and Killimor cancelled each other out in a low scoring encounter.

For different reasons, this wasn’t the best outing for either team this year and only two players scored from play (five in total). But to their credit, cold November finals in this grade are about results and while nobody prevailed, neither team contemplated defeat.

Character was shown during the final quarter of a difficult afternoon’s hurling and the supporters were fascinated about who could succeed. In truth, Ardrahan will be most aggrieved as they dominated the opening 30 minutes, but only went in 0-6 to 0-3 ahead.

Eight first half wides was a poor showing which included six in the opening 10 minutes when they effectively owned the sliothar. Six more wayward shots in the second half didn’t improve their standing. 

For Killimor, their opening half was probably their poorest of the season though they had some hard working defenders, and they didn’t make the most of some more opportunities after the restart. But while the game was played at a much slower pace normally associated with the small ball game, one had to admire their determination that eventually secured a stay of execution.

It didn’t look like that at the start as Ardrahan set the pace. Their half backs were clearing everything, the midfielders were mobile and the forwards had no scarcity of chances. But as the umpires at the town goal continued to wave their hands wide, Jamie Larkin’s side could well have been feeling that this would be one of those days.

They did look threatening. Jason Kennedy’s sideline cut in the first minute required keeper Darren McDonagh to make two touches, David Holland nearly pulled the trigger only for James McEvoy to intervene in the 12th minute and as the first quarter concluded, another move involving Michael Lynskey and Kennedy saw Keith O’Grady rescue Killimor.

Killimor were struggling and had only sent the leather down towards the opponent’s goal once but in the ninth minute, they went ahead when David Daly sent over his opening free.

Eventually, Ardrahan found a white flag when Kennedy converted in the 14th minute and he made it a hat-trick by the 18th minute. They were starting to settle again and Lynskey made it 0-4 to 0-1 in the 22nd minute after taking the breaking ball when Darragh Callanan was smothered by the Killimor backs.

But other chances dropped short and with the rations scarece, Killimor nibbled back two points through Daly by the 28th minute. Ardrahan deserved more and Kennedy and Lynskey registered two minors for their three point interval advantage, but they had expended much energy for little reward.

The third quarter was more akin to the territory and possession battles normally reserved for rugby. Both teams tried to gain control and this period did produce scoring chances and some good passages. But now Killimor were also failing to be economical though Daly did get their fourth point in the 39th minute.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.