Late goal key for Kilbrittain to see off Ballygravan in Premier Junior Hurling semi-final
Eoin O'Neill, Kilbrittain, winning this ball from Niall Dowd, Ballygarvan during their Co-Op Superstores Premier JHC semi-final at Minane Bridge. Picture: Dan Linehan
Kilbrittain will face Glen Rovers in the Co-Op Superstores PJHC Final following a deserved victory over Ballygarvan at Minane Bridge on Saturday evening last.
A goal from substitute Conor Ustionowski three minutes from time proved to be the difference as Kilbrittain turned the screw after relinquishing their first-half lead to Ballygarvan.
The goal came at a crucial stage. Just five minutes earlier, a Kevin Lyons point for the ages had Ballygarvan in front for the first time, 0-15 to 0-14 after 52 minutes.
It was Kilbrittain who made a bright start with Josh O'Donovan opening the scoring inside the first 40 seconds. The sides were on level terms when Daniel Mackey sent over a long-range free from inside his own 65.
The unstoppable Mark Hickey then set up Ronan Crowley, before getting his first of the evening from a free after Sean Sexton drew the foul. Luke Griffin added to his side's tally with a white flag after being set up by Conor Hogan: 0-4 to 0-1.
Ballygarvan didn't panic as they hit back with three unanswered points from Niall Dowd, Dylan O'Connor and Stephen Fenton restoring parity after 13 minutes.
The sides then traded points before Hickey converted four unanswered frees on the bounce. O'Connor replied with a brace to reduce the margin down to two at the break, 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of Kilbrittain.
The early stages of the second half saw both sides hit four points with Hickey on form for his side. Then the game came to life as Ballygarvan clawed their way back with Mackey starting the revival with Ray O'Halloran and O'Connor raising white flags to draw the sides on level terms at 0-14 each with 10 to play.
Ballygarvan, who hadn't led at any stage, went in front as Kevin Lyons, on the run, split the post from over his shoulder, which sent the Ballygarvan bench into raptures with eight left to play.
Then came the Ustionowski goal.
As they had against St Catherine's, Ballygarvan refused to wilt, with O'Connor and O'Halloran tying the game heading into four minutes of additional time.
Phillip Wall was on hand with a brace of critical scores before Hickey's 12th point left Ballygarvan needing a goal. They got a last-gasp free which goalkeeper Daniel Mackey came up to take but his shot flew over the bar before the final whistle sounded.
M Hickey 0-12 (0-9 f), C Ustionowski 1-0, P Wall 0-2, J O'Donovan, R Crowley 0-1 each.
D O'Connor 0-7 (0-3 f), D Mackey 0-3 f, S Fenton, K Lyons, R O'Halloran 0-2 each, N Dowd, C O'Regan 0-1 each.
D Desmond; D Considine, J Hurley, E O'Neill; A Holland, T Sheehan, C Sheehan; S Sexton, J O'Donovan; M Hickey, P Wall, R Crowley; C Hogan, L Griffin, B Burtler.
T Harrington for C Hogan (47), C Ustionowski for C Sheehan (49), D Harrington for E O Neill (49).
D Mackey; P Ryan, T O'Sullivan, E Mackey; S White, P O Halloran, C McIntyre; C O'Regan, M O'Mahony; K Lyons, R O'Halloran, S Fenton; N Dowd, M Cussen, D O'Connor.
S O'Donovan for T O'Sullivan (3 mins inj), E O'Connor for K Lyons.
Dave Twomey (Shanballymore).
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