Ardrahan clinch Division two title after extra time battle with Gort
Ardrahan secured early season silverware on Sunday as they took home the Division Two hurling league title, after an extra time victory over their south Galway neighbours Gort on a warm afternoon in Kilbeacanty. An extremely competitive contest saw the sides tied at 0-19 apiece at the end of regulation time, after Gort tallied the last three points to ensure this final went to extra time.
The blues subsequently found themselves a point down with five minutes remaining in the second half of extra time. However, Joe O’Leary’s charges were not to be denied, striking the last four points of the contest to deservedly take the title.
Ardrahan’s resolve was well tested by a Gort side which kept pace with them throughout. Ultimately however, O’Leary’s side had an answer to everything Gort threw at them on the day.
A first half which took a while to catch fire saw Gort dominate the scoring in the opening quarter. Andy Coen’s charges led by 0-5 to 0-3 midway through the first half, thanks to scores from Paddy Commins (0-2, one ‘65), Jack Linnane, Jason O’Donoghue, and Eoin Killeen. At the other end, points from the lively Brian Callanan (0-2) and Ben O’Connor saw Ardrahan stay in touch.
The momentum swung in the second quarter, with O’Leary’s side outscoring Gort by 0-6 to 0-4. Cian Callanan, Donagh Fahy, Alex O’Flynn, Eoin Murphy, Iain Lynskey, and Brian Callanan with his third, struck impressive scores as Ardrahan found their shooting radar.
Gort added to their tally through O’Donoghue (a second eye catching long range effort), Commins (’65), Greg Lally, and Dylan Murphy, ensuring the sides were level at the interval at 0-9 apiece. Ardrahan would have been the slightly happier side at half time, given that they had played into the wind in the opening half in Kilbeacanty.
Both sides tallied 0-4 in a very competitive third quarter. Ardrahan substitute Cian Walsh sent over two from the right wing, before an unfortunate injury forced him off the field. Fahy (free) and Michael Gardiner also chipped in with scores for Ardrahan during this spell.
At the other end, Gort matched their opponents for scores through Commins (two frees), Murphy, and Ronan Maher, who blasted over from close range with a goal effort which narrowly cleared the crossbar. The sides were deadlocked at 0-13 midway through the second half.
Ardrahan got on top during the next ten minutes, outscoring Gort by 0-4 to 0-1 during a dominant spell. Liam Forde, Mike Walsh (a terrific long range effort), Jason Kennedy, and Michael Gardiner pointed while Gort’s Lorcan Walsh tallied a score at the other end.
Trailing by three points late in normal time, Andy Coen’s charges needed a spark, and they upped their game significantly with the game on the line. Gort outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-2 to force the contest to extra-time.
Points from Commins (two frees, one ‘65) and substitute Darren Grealish gave Gort momentum, while Conor Cosgrove and Brian Callanan added a score apiece for Ardrahan at the other end. With the minimum between the teams, Commins impressively sent over a point from the right wing to ensure extra-time in Kilbeacanty.
Playing with the wind, O’Leary’s charges had the better of the first period of extra-time, landing seven points to their opponents’ five. Enda Gardiner, Michael Gardiner, O’Flynn, Forde, Seán Gardiner (two, one free) and Fahy saw Ardrahan edge two points ahead. Scores at the other end from the outstanding Murphy (two), Darren Grealish, Commins (free), and Ben O’Donovan kept Gort in touch.
The momentum shifted in the second half of extra time and Coen’s charges appeared to be surging down the home straight. Gort sent over three consecutive points from Murphy and Commins (two frees) to give them a 0-27 to 0-26 lead.
Just when it looked as though Ardrahan were struggling, however, they found another gear. Four unanswered points from Fahy (free), Murphy, Gavin Fitzmaurice, and Seán Gardiner saw them finish impressively to take the title.
A late Greg Lally free was blocked and cleared by the Ardrahan defence, just before the full time whistle sounded. O’Leary’s charges were deserving winners on the day, and they had stand out displays from Eoin Murphy, Mike Walsh, Liam Forde, Michael Gardiner, Brian Callanan, Seán Gardiner, Iain Lynskey, and the outstanding Donagh Fahy.
Joe O’Leary’s side should take confidence from winning this league title and go into the championship in buoyant mood. They will hope that injuries sustained by Cian Walsh and Ross Albertini in the second half of regulation time don’t prove to be as serious as they appeared.
Ardrahan will welcome back the Fahy brothers, Darach and Cianán, after the conclusion of the inter county season, before competing in a group containing Turloughmore, Killimordaly, and Athenry.
Gort, who were without the services of Aidan Helebert and Richie Cummins for this league final, were best served by Gavin Lally, Jason O’Donoghue, Ben O’Donovan, Greg Lally, Dylan Murphy, and Paddy Commins. Andy Coen’s charges are in group A of this year's senior championship, where they will take on defending champions Loughrea, as well as Tommy Larkins and Moycullen.
Ardrahan: E. Bermingham; E. Murphy (0-2), M. Walsh (0-1), J. Bourke; O. Slevin, L. Forde (0-2), B. O’Connor (0-1); C. Callanan (0-1), D. Fahy (0-4, 0-2 frees); A. O’Flynn (0-2), M. Gardiner (0-3), C. Cosgrove (0-1); I. Lynskey (0-1), B. Callanan (0-4), R. Albertini. Subs: C. Walsh (0-2) for O’Connor (HT), S. Gardiner (0-3, 0-1 free) for Albertini (inj. 40), E. Gardiner (0-1) for C. Walsh (inj. 40), J. Kennedy (0-1) for Murphy (52), Murphy for Lynskey (71), G. Fitzmaurice (0-1) for E. Gardiner (71).
Gort: Gavin Lally; J. O’Donoghue (0-2), I. Neilan, L. Cooley; E. Killeen (0-1), B. O’Donovan (0-1), E. Cooley; K. Higgins, J. Grealish; Greg Lally (0-1), R. Maher (0-1), J. Linnane (0-1); D. Murphy (0-5), N. Gill, P. Commins (0-12, 0-7 frees, 0-3 ‘65s). Subs: L. Joachim for Killeen (40), L. Walsh (0-1) for Maher (44), D. Grealish (0-2) for Gill (53).
Referee: David Staunton.