Niall O'Dowd goal sees Ballygarvan hurlers beat Kilbrittain
Kevin Lyons helped Ballygarvan to a crucial win over Kilbrittain. Picture: David Keane.
Ballygarvan finally secured a victory over Kilbrittain in the Co-Op Superstore Premier Junior Hurling Championship in Minane Bridge on Saturday night.
Ballygarvan’s indiscipline almost cost them this game as Kilbrittain’s tally was largely swollen by Mark Hickey’s frees over the hour but the real game-changer here was Niall O'Dowd’s 43rd-minute goal.
Ballygarvan were quicker to settle in this game as Dylan O'Connor opened their account. The Cork U20 star Kevin Lyons was showing a quick pair of heals as he sent over a beauty from the wing. Mark Hickey was keeping his side in the contest as Ballygarvan led by 0-4 to 0-2 after six minutes.
Guilty of some poor shooting from the South East side, Kilbrittain hit the next four points with a Hickey hattrick as they hit the front on 15 minutes.
Ballygarvan regained the lead with points from O'Halloran and Dylan O’Connor but poor marksmanship again was proving their downfall. Two more Kilbrittain points, including a sensational Ronan Crowley effort, kept the Carbery men ahead by a single score.
From there to the break, it was nip and tuck but an O'Halloran free had them in front by 0-10 to 0-9 at the break.
The opening minutes of the second half was a shootout between Cussen and Hickey as Lyons interrupted proceedings with a point. O'Dowd was unable to execute a goal chance and Bally had to settle for a 65 approaching the 40th minute.
Two more points from O'Dowd and Cussen had them in front by 0-16 to 0-13 on 43 minutes, before an O'Dowd goal had Ballygarvan in the box seat.
Additional scores from Piaras and Ray O’Halloran had their side looking like this game was over after 47 minutes as they led 1-18 to 0-13 points.
Credit the Carbery side who fought back, even, if five of those scores came from Hickey frees, a late chance of a goal saw Dec Harrington settle for a point as Cussen had the final say.
M Cussen 0-9 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), N O'Dowd 1-3, D O'Connor, K Lyons R O'Halloran 0-2 each, P O'Halloran 0-1.
M Hickey 0-15 (0-13 f, 0-1 65), P Wall, S Shorten, D Harrington, R Crowley 0-1 each.
D Mackey; P Ryan, R O’Leary, E Mackey; C Murphy, K Lyons, S Fenton; C O’Regan, M O’Mahony; R O'Halloran, M Cussen, P O’Halloran; D O’Connor, N O’Dowd, E O’Connor.
D Mackey for C Murphy (h-t), G White for N Dowd (56).
D Desmond; C Kenny, J Hurley, E Byrne; T Sheehan, T Harrington, N O’Donovan; C Sheehan, J O’Donovan; R Crowley, P Wall, M Hickey; B Butler, S Shorten, D Harrington.
S Dewey for B Butler (47), D Considine for Charlie Kenny (49), M Sexton for S Shorten (52).
J Ryan (Carrigtwohill).
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