Graigue Ballycallan 6-13 Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-12
GBC and Shamrocks played out a high-scoring game in sun-drenched Kilmanagh in Round 3 of the U15 B Hurling League. As usual, the facilities at Tom Ryall Park were in pristine condition and it was great to see the scoreboard in operation, full credit on all counts to Groundsman Gussy.
Both teams were missing players due to injury, Mullan for Shamrocks and Ben McEvoy for GBC.
GBC got off to the brighter start in the first 6 minutes outscoring Shamrocks by 1-3 to 0-1 (Tony Butler 0-1, Eoghan Cahill 1-2) to lead by 5 points.
Shamrocks thundered back into the game with two opportunist goals in the 7th (Charlie Lennon) and 10th minutes (Aidan Grummell) These both came after good saves by Shane Hogan in the goal were not dealt with by his defence. Ever dependable Cormac Neary got one back in the 8th minute after a sprint through the middle and a low finish to the net.
After 15 minutes GBC had done a lot of hurling and were only up by a single point (2-4 to 2-3). The game was in the melting pot.
In the second quarter GBC kicked on well, out scoring Shamrocks by 2-5 to 1-2. Eoghan Cahill gave an excellent performance scoring 3-4 in the first half, ably assisted by Cormac Neary 1-3 and Tony Butler 0-2.
Half time score GBC 4-9 Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-05
The second half was a different story.
With Michael Barron leading the Shamrocks attack, they outscored GBC by 0-6 to 0-2 in the first 17 minutes cutting the margin back to 3 points. The move of Tony Butler to full forward for GBC paid dividends for the home side. He ran at the defence scoring goals in the 19th and 24th minutes.
In the finish up, GBC ran out 10-point winners but this was a very flattering scoreline which didn’t really reflect how close the teams were. Best for Shamrocks were Michael Barron (0-8), Charlie Lennon (2-0) and Aidan Grummell and they will be a force to reckon with when their marquee player returns.
GBC put in a good TEAM effort with no individual standing out apart from the aforementioned scorers. There are plenty of areas for improvement but the team spirit is good.
Next game for GBC is vs Rower Inistioge on May 18th