Kilkenny SHL- Senior stalemate as ’Comer and Ballycallan share the spoils

Both teams had opportunities to win this senior hurling league game in Ballyragget on Saturday evening, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.

Erin’s Own (Castlecomer), after a couple of early misses, landed a brace of points within three minutes of the start through Jack Buggy (free) and Chris Korff.

Two minutes later the first goal of the game arrived from Graigue-Ballycallan’s Sean Ryan who took a pass from Conor Flynn, after a superb 40 metre run by the wing forward, to finish to the Erin’s Own net.

That goal was the essential difference between the teams in the opening half.

All through the game the free-taking of Jack Buggy (EO) and Sean Ryan (GBC) was key to keeping their respective sides in touch with each other.

But the number of frees made for a stop-start game over the 60 minutes. Seventeen points were delivered from placed balls with a few more efforts wide of the posts.

Once Graigue-Ballycallan scored their fifth minute goal, they generally bossed the game in the opening half.

Billy Ryan and Tommy Ronan were to the fore in attack, while Conor Flynn was always a threat with his incisive runs.

The superb Jack Buggy had the margin back to the minimum by the 22nd minute with a point from play, his side’s last score of the first half.

Graigue-Ballycallan finished the half stronger with Billy Ryan, Sean Ryan (two frees) and Conor Flynn pointing to see their side leading 1-7 to 0-6 at the interval.

The intensity and quality of the play improved during the second half.

The respective free-takers Jack Buggy (EO) and Sean Ryan (GBC) shared four points to still leave the margin at four points after 40 minutes.

As the game headed towards the end of the third quarter Erin’s Own were starting to get a grip on proceedings, helped especially by a strong defensive axis of Ciaran Wallace and Conor McMahon.

On 46 minutes Jack Buggy tied the game for the first time with yet another pointed free.

Graigue-Ballycallan responded well with the excellent Tommy Ronan pointing to edge his side back into the lead.

That lead did not last long with Shane Feehan twice forging his way through the Graigue Ballycallan defence to land a brace of points.

Graigue Ballycallan regained the lead on 52 minutes, landing four points without reply through Sean Ryan and Tommy Ronan and the pendulum was now swinging in their direction.

With the game ebbing towards a conclusion, Graigue Ballycallan still held the initiative despite plenty of endeavour from the Castlecomer men.

As the game entered injury-time that Erin’s Own pressure would eventually pay off when sub Jake Connery shot to the Graigue-Ballycallan net to see the ’Comer men regain the lead by the minimum.

But there was still time for more drama.

Helped by some strong defensive play from Tom Dunphy and Stephan Keoghan, Graigue-Ballycallan pushed forward to force a 65 which sub Conor Murphy superbly pointed from the sideline.

Moments later after a calamitous clearance by an Erin’s Own defender, Colum Prendiville pointed to edge his side back into the lead.

The pressure was now on Erin’s Own and when referee Sean Cleere awarded them a late free, Jack Buggy pointed to tie the game.

It was a fitting outcome to an enjoyable contest.

Teams and Scorers

Erin’s Own - Jack Buggy (0-14, 0-10 frees); Jake Connery (1-0); Shane Feehan (0-2), Chris Korff, Tommy Coogan (0-1 each).

Graigue-Ballycallan - Sean Ryan (1-8, 0-7 frees); Tommy Ronan (0-4); Billy Ryan (0-2); Conor Flynn, Colum Prendiville, Ryan Corcoran (0-1 each), Conor Murphy (0-1 65).

Erin’s Own - Sean Buggy; Aidan Moran, Ciaran Wallace, Jack Comerford; Conor Delaney, Conor McMahon, Tommy Coogan;
John Dowd, Eoghan Moore; Chris Korff, Shane Feehan, James Brennan; Jack Buggy, Dan Coogan, Michael Brennan.

Subs: Conor Brophy for Jack Comerford, Jake Connery for Dan Coogan, James Coogan for Aidan Moran, Eoin Brennan for Michael Brennan.

Graigue-Ballycallan - Sean McGrath; Billy O’Neill, Tom Dunphy, Richie Keoghan; Killian Egan, Stephan Keoghan, Jack Walton; Jeff Neary, Colum Prendiville; Tommy Ronan, Billy Ryan, Conor Flynn; Shane Butler, Sean Ryan, Jesse Roberts.

Subs: Aaron McEvoy for Jesse Roberts, Ryan Corcoran for Shane Butler, Conor Murphy for Sean Ryan, Philly Cahill for Tommy Ronan.

Referee – Sean Cleere (O’Loughlin Gaels).