Ballygarvan and Russell Rovers share the spoils in LIHC game

Ballygarvan 0-17 

Russell Rovers 1-14

BALLYGARVAN and Russell Rovers had to share a point apiece from the opening game of their Co-op Superstores Cork Lower Intermediate Hurling Championship Group A campaign as they remained level at 0-17 to 1-14 after an enthralling encounter in Riverstown on Saturday afternoon.

After a late rally, Ballygarvan thought they had done enough to secure the victory but a superb free from the nerveless Josh Beausang, who scored 1-9 of his sides’ total, in the seventh minute of injury time snatched a draw for Rovers.

The first quarter of the game was very even and the score at the first water break reflected this as the two spirted sides were locked at four points each.

The men from Shanagarry may have felt they should have been ahead though as they contrived to hit seven wides in the first 11 minutes of this contest, only striking four more for the rest of the game.

Their opponents grabbed control of proceedings on the resumption and after the two teams swapped scores, Bally scored four without reply with centre-forward Michael Cussen collecting a brace.

Beausang soon ended Rovers’ nine-minute run without a score and his free in injury time ensured they only trailed by three at the half time break, 0-10 to 0-7.

They took that momentum into the second period and by the time the next water break was enforced, they were behind by just the minimum.

Then came what looked to be the decisive moment of the match as Beausang drilled a penalty into the bottom right corner of the net before he quickly added another free to put the Black and Ambers in front, 1-12 to 0-12.

Ballygarvan continued to battle and they thought they had sealed a memorable win after claiming five of the next six points in the closing minutes, but Beausang’s dramatic long free from the sideline earned Rovers a draw.

Scorers for Ballygarvan: M Kennefick 0-5 (2f), M Cussen 0-4 (3f), D O’Connor and R O’Halloran 0-2 each, D McCarthy 0-1 (1f), D O’Sullivan, P O’Halloran and A Dunne 0-1 each.

Russell Rovers: J Beausang 1-9 (1 pen, 7f), K Tattan, P Cummins, L Duggan, D Moynihan and B Hartnett 0-1 each.

BALLYGARVAN: G White; R O’Leary, K Fitzgerald, S Fenton; P Sexton, P O’Halloran, C McIntyre; A Dunne, D O’Sullivan; D O’Connor, M Cussen, C O’Leary; D McCarthy, M Kennefick, R O’Halloran.

Subs: J Fenton for A Dunne (36), A Buckley for M Cussen (44).

RUSSELL ROVERS: R Walsh; K O’Brien, P Lane, E O’Sullivan, JP Ivers, J Kennifick, C Ruddy; K Tattan, K Walsh; P Cummins, L Duggan Murray, D Moynihan; B Hartnett, K Moynihan, J Beausang.

Subs: J McGrath for L Duggan Murray (56).

Referee: Fionn O'Murchu (Valley Rovers).