Banagher College win Leinster title after extra time thriller

BANAGHER COLLEGE 2-27

HEYWOOD CS 4-15

(After extra time)

THE width of a post stood between Banagher College and defeat in the Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Hurling 'B' Final at Rosenallis on Monday but they survived in normal time before dominating in extra time to claim victory by a six point margin.

Nine minutes into injury time at the end of normal time Heywood's Eoghan Murphy had the chance to win it for his side from a free about 45m out a little to the right, but his effort hit the outside of the post and went wide and Banagher College survived.

Having been handed that lifeline Banagher College made no mistake in extra time, storming into a six point lead before half time in extra time and although Heywood did halve that lead with a goal early in the second half, Banagher College weren't going to be denied and they eased away again before the finish.

Four red cards were flashed in extra time, three to Heywood players, and while there was a little edge to some of the exchanges throughout, it wasn't by any means a dirty game and the red cards were more for individual incidents rather that reflecting on the whole of the game. In general referee John Dermody did a very good job controlling the game and kept good control on things.

This was a game that could have gone either way. The sides were level eight times in normal time before Banagher College managed to pull clear in extra time and maintain their advantage.

There was a very strong wind blowing from the road end, which Heywood elected to take advantage of in the first half having won the toss. The wind did drop noticeably by the second half and Banagher didn't quite have the same advantage as Heywood in the first half and overall conditions improved as the game progressed.

Despite playing against that wind in the first half, Banagher really took the game to their opponents and were in a strong position when leading by 0-9 to 0-6 five minutes before half time but then Heywood struck for two goals inside a minute and that helped them to a 2-8 to 0-10 interval lead.

Banagher made good use of the elements at the start of the second half rattling off the first four points inside six minutes to draw level, but they didn't push on from there. Heywood lifted their game again and regained the lead. Nine minutes from the end Banagher found the net for the first time and it looked like they would pull away but almost immediately Heywood replied with a goal of their own. The sides exchanged points before Michael Boylan appeared to have won it for Banagher three minutes into injury time but play continued they gave away two careless frees, the first which Eoghan Murphy pointed to level but then explicably missed the next to win it and it went to extra time, 1-19 to 3-13.

Banagher were quick out of the traps in extra time and when they goaled a minute before the break they were six clear. Heywood did manage a goal two minutes after the break, but that was their last score and Banagher hit the last three points to seal the win.

There were heroes all over the pitch for Banagher. Ruairi Kelly did well at full back with Eric Rigney and Robert Duffy also being prominent in defence. Luke Bowe put in a big effort in the middle of the field while in attack Aaron Molloy and Daragh Scully were the stars with good support from Ricky Fitzsimons and Shane Rigney.

Heywood will look back on the game and realise that it was within their grasp but overall Banagher were probably the sharper team. Tomas O'Keefe, Eli Quinn and Stephen O'Donnell had good moments in their defence, Mark Doheny had a fine game in the middle of the field, while in attack Eoghan Murphy was their main scorer with Sean Breannan and Ben O'Mara providing good support.

Banagher College's victory means this title remains in Offaly for a second year running following Colaiste Naomh Cormac's victory a year ago and they went on to win the All-Ireland title.

Eoghan Murphy and Cormac Byrne gave Heywood an early advantage but Aaron Molloy hit two points in reply to level. Sean Breannan put Heywood back in front and Eoghan Murphy pointed two frees with one in reply from Daragh Scully.

Banagher then reeled off five points in reply, three from Shane Rigney (one free) and one each from Ricky Fitzsimons and Daragh Scully (free). Eoghan Murphy replied with a free but Daragh Scully restored Banagher's three point lead five minutes before the break.

Heywood then turned the game on its head. First Cormac Byrne set up Ben O'Mara to fire a great shot low to the net and then less than a minute later Sean Breannan was allowed to wriggle his way through three Banagher defenders before flicking the ball to the net. Eoghan Murphy pointed two frees with Daragh Scully hitting one for Banagher to leave Heywood 2-8 to 0-10 in front at half time.

Banagher started the second half well and Shane Rigney (free), Niall Flannery, Daragh Scully (free) and Aaron Molloy all pointed to level matters again. Eoghan Murphy (free) and Liam O'Keefe put Heywood back in front but two Shane Rigney frees levelled matters again.

An Eoghan Murphy free put Heywood back in front but nine minutes from time a long Shane Rigney free dropped in the goalmouth, Daragh Scully's goal effort was blocked but Aaron Molloy swept the loose ball to the net to put them two clear. But two minutes later in a similar situation, Eoghan Murphy's long free was drifting to the right of goals but it took a deflection and was diverted back across goals and into the net.

Daragh Scully levelled from a free and Shane Rigney put Banagher in front from a free inside his own 65m line. Eoghan Murphy's free levelled the game in injury time but a great point from Michael Boylan from the right restored Banagher's lead but they gave away a free six minutes into injury time and Eoghan Murphy levelled. He then had the chance to win it but his free hit the post and went wide.

Shane Rigney's '65' put Banagher ahead in extra time and after Daragh Scully and Eoghan Murphy exchanged points from frees, Daragh Scully hit another from play. After Scully was fouled then, Daniel Bergin received a red card for his reaction afterwards and Daragh Scully pointed the free. Niall Flannery then set up Aaron Molloy to steer home Banagher's second goal and they were six clear. Following an off the ball incident, and after consultation with his umpire, Shane Rigney and Tomas O'Keefe were both red carded. Eoghan Murphy added another free that left Banagher 2-23 to 3-15 ahead at half time in extra time.

Niall Flannery pointed on the resumption but Eoghan Murphy caught the Banagher defence off guard when sending a low free to the net to keep Heywood in touch. However Banagher weren't going to let this slip and Darragh Scully added three further points, two frees, while Heywood were reduced to 12 men late on when Eli Quinn was red carded.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

BANAGHER COLLEGE: Eanna Mulhare (St Rynagh's); Eric Rigney (St Rynagh's), Ruairi Kelly (Lusmagh), Daire Daly (St Rynagh's); Lee Hogan (Lorrha), Mark Kilkenny (Kiltormer), Robert Duffy (Lorrha); Luke Bowe (Lusmagh), Paul Cannon (St Rynagh's); Harry Grant (St Rynagh's), Ricky Fitzsimons (Birr), Niall Flannery (St Rynagh's); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Aaron Molloy (St Rynagh's), Daragh Scully (St Rynagh's). Subs. Michael Boylan (St Rynagh's) (for Harry Grant, 43 mins), Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha) (for Niall Flannery, 52 mins), Daniel Healy (St Rynagh's) (for Lee Hogan, 64 mins), Niall Flannery (for Michael Boylan, extra time), Kian Costello (St Rynagh's) (for Eric Rigney, 76 mins).

HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Michael Fleming; Riain Mahony, Tomas O'Keefe, Liam Whelan; Daniel Bergin, Eli Quinn, Stephen O'Donnell; Mark Doheny, Ethan Robertson; Lochlann Curran, Ben O'Mara, Sean Breannan; Cormac Byrne, Eoghan Murphy, Liam O'Keefe. Subs. Conor Headen (for Ethan Robertson, 40 mins), Jay Brophy (for Lochlann Curran, 60 mins), Mark Hearns (for Liam Whelan, 71 mins), Daniel Cass (for Jay Brophy, 73 mins).

REFEREE: John Dermody (Westmeath)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Banagher College had some very strong contenders and the main two were Aaron Molloy and Daragh Scully, who were both very lively in attack. In the end I've gone with Aaron Molloy who scored 2-3 and was fouled for a number of other frees. He was a thorn in the side of the Heywood defence throughout and his speed when he ran at them was excellent.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

It was tough on Eoghan Murphy, who scored 1-12 for Heywood, but his miss at the end of normal time was a defining moment. Had he slotted that free instead of hitting the post, the Laois side would have been celebrating as the final whistle went after the puck out.

REFEREE WATCH

John Dermody did a very good job controlling the match. He was firm and decisive, was up with the play, liaised well with his linesmen and umpires and didn't shirk from showing cards when necessary.

WHAT’S NEXT

Banagher College are crowned Leinster champions and advance to the All-Ireland series and will meet the Munster champions. It's the end of the road for Heywood.

VENUE WATCH

The Rosenallis Club had plenty of arrangements in place for the game with good parking at the ground. The pitch was soft and cut up a lot, with the ball getting stuck in the ground on occasions. The timing on the scoreboard went awry in the second half and was four and a half minutes behind the correct time, which did create some confusion. It also was out of sync for the second half of extra time.

STATISTICS

Wides; Banagher College 10 (4 in first half, 2 in second half, 1 first half extra time, 1 second half extra time) Heywood CS 9 (3 in first half, 4 in second half, 1 first half extra time, 1 second half extra time)

Yellow Cards: Banagher College 3 (Paul Cannon, Michael Boylan, Luke Bowe) Heywood CS 4 (Ben O'Mara, Tomas O'Keefe, Eli Quinn, Riain Mahony).

Red Cards: Banagher College 1 (Shane Rigney) Heywood CS 3 (Daniel Bergin, Tomas O'Keefe, Eli Quinn).

THE SCORERS

Banagher College; Daragh Scully (0-12, 0-8 frees), Aaron Molloy (2-3), Shane Rigney (0-8, 0-5 frees, 0-1 '65'), Niall Flannery (0-2), Ricky Fitzsimons, Michael Boylan (0-1 each).

Heywood CS; Eoghan Murphy (1-12, 1-11 frees), Sean Breannan (1-1), Ben O'Mara (1-0), Cormac Byrne, Liam O'Keefe (0-1 each).