David Ludgate strikes late to secure hurling title for Ballyclough against Uibh Laoire

Ballyclough 3-9 Uibh Laoire 1-14

Ballyclough were crowned Co-op Superstores Confined JBHC winners on Friday night at Ovens.

In a game that was tight all through, an injury-time free from David Ludgate separated the sides when it was looking like it was going to extra time.

To be fair there would have been few who would have argued had it done so as there was little between the teams, with Seamus MacUidhir impressing for the losers, hitting 1-10 of their total.

For Ballyclough the likes of Denis O’Neill, Jack Moynihan and Shane Buckley were in impressive form.

Caoimhin Ó Mainnin opened the scoring for Uibh Laoire, with Briain Ó Riordan adding a second as they got off to the better start.

Shane Buckley got Ballyclough off the mark, after six minutes as they hit 1-4 without reply, in a three minute spell.

Paul O’Flynn found the back of the net from the restart, with Jack Moynihan adding a point. Damien Buckley and Moynihan both scored to see Ballyclough lead by 1-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.

But credit to Uibh Laoire they didn’t panic with Seamus MacUidhir pointing from a free to reduce the deficit.

He added another from play, before hitting two more from frees, to make it 1-4 to 0-6 after 22 minutes.

He added another, to make it five in a row for him, to see them back on level terms after 23 minutes.

But Ballyclough were soon back in front, when a long ball in was flicked to the net by Damien Buckley, to make it 2-4 to 0-7.

Uibh Laoire had a chance for a goal, after 28 minutes, when Gearoid MacSuibhne played Seán MacSuibhne in, but his shot went just wide.

MacUidhir pointed another free, but a goal just before half time from Sean O’Leary saw Ballyclough lead by 3-4 to 0-8 at the break.

Tom O’Neill for Ballyclough, and Sean Ó Riordáin exchanged scores at the start of the second half, before a goal from a long-distance free from MacUidhir made it 1-9 to 3-6 after 40 minutes.

Two more frees from him had the sides level, 3-7 to 1-13 with 10 minutes to go.

He put his side in front, before Shane Buckley had them level going into injury time.

Then Ludgate struck late to secure the title for his side after a highly entertaining game.

Scorers for Ballyclough: D Buckley 1-1, P O’Flynn, S O’Leary 1-0 each, T O’Neill 0-3 (0-2 f), S Buckley, J Moynihan 0-2 each, D Ludgate 0-1 f.

Uibh Laoire: S MacUidhir 1-10 (1-7 f, 0-1 65), C Ó Mainnin, S Ó Riordáin, D Ó Donnabhain, B Ó Riordáin 0-1 each.

BALLYCLOUGH: E O’Connor; S Walsh, T Healy, C Duffy; M Buckley, D O’Neill, A Finnegan; S Buckley, C Moynihan; S O’Leary, D Ludgate, P O’Flynn; J Moynihan, D Buckley, T O’Neill.

Subs: A Finnegan for D O’Neill (50), D O’Neill for T O’Neill (54), J O’Shea for C Moynihan (58).

UIBH LAOIRE: D Ó Duinnin; A Ó Deaghaide, D Ó Riordáin, B Ó Murchu; D Ó Donnbháin, C Ó Riordáin, S de Paor; S MacUidhir, J Pickering; B Ó Riordáin, G MacSuibhne, S Ó Riordáin; S MacSuibhne, C Ó Mainnin, S Pickering.

Subs: L Ó Cearnaigh for G MacSuibhne, B MacSuibhne for S de Paor (both 47), S Hodman for B Ó Riordáin (50).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan, Youghal.