Edenderry…….1-09
Ballinamere……1-11
Last Saturday evening Edenderry junior hurlers were hosts to Ballinamere in Division 3 of the hurling league. After a tight game, Edenderry had their noses in front into injury time, but just before full-time Ballinamere snatched a goal to earn victory.
Ballinamere grabbed the games opening score when they sent over a point from a free. Martin Keogh sent over Edenderry’s first point of the game with a very good shot, before Brendan McCabe made an excellent save to prevent a Ballinamere goal. Ballinamere’s next attack yielded a point, before Derek Egan levelled with an excellent point. Brendan McCabe was called into action again, as he pulled off another good save. Edenderry then went two points in front. First Ger Hanlon pointed a 65 metre free which was awarded after a Ballinamere defender made a block on a fine Tom Fay shot. Then the speedy Shane Kelly sent over a great point after a good hand-pass from Martin Keogh in midfield. Ballinamere pulled a point back with a good score, before Billy Glennon had to withdraw from the game with a nasty head injury, with John McDonnell coming on in his place. Ballinamere levelled with an excellent point, before Martin Keogh edged his side back in front with a great long range point. Ger Hanlon added two further points from frees for Edenderry before the halftime break.
Halftime, Edenderry 0-07 Ballinamere 0-04.
After the break, Ballinamere came out a very determined team and scored three unanswered points, two from play and one from a free. Ger Hanlon then settled Edenderry when he sent over another long range free. Ballinamere then scored two points to go in front. But that lead didn’t last long as Martin Keogh scored another good point to level the scores at 0-09 apiece. Ballinamere went two points in front with two pointed frees. Then Edenderry were awarded a free which Martin Keogh stepped up to take. With time drawing to a close Martin decided to go for goal, and he made no mistake as he riffled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the Ballinamere net. With time just up, it looked like Edenderry would take the points from this game, but a long range Ballinamere free was dropped into the Edenderry area, and as the ball broke a Ballinamere forward reacted quickest to send the ball to the back of the Edenderry net for the winning score.
Edenderry will be very disappointed to lose the points from this game. After taking the lead near the end, they will feel they should have held out for the win. Edenderry had some good performances from Brendan McCabe who made a couple of fine saves in the first half, Paul Glennon, Eoin Kelly, Martin Keogh, Ger Hanlon and Derek Egan. Edenderry still have a couple of quality players to welcome back to the panel for the remainder of the league, which should help them climb the table. The Edenderry management would like to thank Reggie Rowe for his First-Aid services at this game on Saturday night.
Team: Brendan McCabe; Billy Glennon, John Paul Brennan, Colm Carey; Paul Glennon, Eoin Kelly, Paul Hanlon; Martin Keogh (1-3), Vinny Rowe; Ger Hanlon (0-4), Conleth Carey, Shane Kelly (0-1); Jason Carey, Tom Fay, Derek Egan (0-1).
Sub used: John McDonnell for Billy Glennon (inj).
Referee: Ciaran Groome.
