Ballysaggart create Déise History

Prior to the start of the 2013 Munster Junior Hurling Club Championship, the record of Waterford clubs competing in the competition was far from good.

When the competition began in 2004, Waterford’s then county champions, Tramore started well, beating the Ennistymon from Clare in a Munster semi final by four points in a low scoring game, but in the provincial final, they lost out to Ballygarvan 0-16 to 1-5.

The following year, Brickey Rangers represented Waterford in the competition, again entering at the semi final stages, but lost out to Tipperary side Knockshegowna by five points.

Fenor represented Waterford in 2006, but were not the county champions. They beat Meelick by eleven points in the Munster quarter finals but lost heavily to Kilworth in the Munster semi final.

Ballysaggart were county champions in 2007 but lost the Munster semi final by six points against Ballyroe, and in 2008, another Western Club represented Waterford by Modeligo lost heavily to Dripsey.

The County title remained in the west of the county in 2009 but Tourin lost at the first hurdle against Aherlow from Tipperary who had eight points to spare.

Ballydurn took on Saint Patrick’s from Tipperary in 2010 at Walsh Park and after sixty minutes the sides were tied but in the extra twenty minutes, the visiting side proved to be slightly the stronger of the two sides, loosing out by a goal.

In 2011, Ballinameela lost out to Cappamore by seven points and twelve months ago, Butlerstown who were beaten in the 2011 County Final after two replays (I stand to be corrected on that), came out on top against Geraldine’s but lost out to Kildorrery at the WIT Sports Campus by twenty points.

However, if one club could improve Waterford’s overall record in the competition it was Ballysaggart.

From the start of the year, they were a fancied side to come through in the west of the county, with last years beaten county finalist’s Geraldine’s and Colligan expected to prove the stiffest opposition.

They came through the West fairly comfortably, winning four of the five games they played in the semi league section of the competition.

The loss they suffered in the league section was against Modeligo, the side they played in the Western semi final, a game that ended 1-15 to 3-9. In the replay, things proved to be just as close but Ballysaggart managed to come through winning 2-17 to 1-17.

In the Western final they came up against Colligan who also needed a replay and extra time against Geraldine’s before they advanced.

Colligan were expected to provide stiff opposition in the final but Ballysaggart won comfortably and then beat Tramore in the County final, again rather comfortably.

Having come through the divisional and county championship, Ballysaggart were expected to mount serious challenge in Munster.

They won their fames against Grenagh and Knockshegowna much easier than the score line suggests to set up Sunday’s Munster Final against Feenagh-Kilmeedy.

The Waterford side went into the game as the favourites, a tag that does not always rest well on the shoulders of Waterford sides.

In many of their games to date, a good start was often crucial for Ballysaggart and so it proved to be again in this game.

The Limerick side were quickest off the mark with Edward Murphy pointing from a free early in the game, but it was cancelled out with a point from Stephen Bennett and then a goal from the same player on five minutes and then a point from younger brother Shane a minute later.

Jimmy O’Sullivan pulled a point back for the Limerick side, but points from Darren Meagher and Stephen Bennett soon followed to give Ballysaggart a 1-4 to 0-2 lead with twelve minutes played.

John O’Gorman and Christy Murphy swapped scores before Stephen Bennett with his fourth score of the game on eighteen minutes gave Ballysaggart a six point advantage.

Feenagh-Kilmeedy enjoyed much of the play in the final minutes of the first half.

Diarmuid and Edward Murphy reduced Ballysaggart’s lead by three points, with seven minutes plus stoppage time still to play in the opening half.

Points from Waterford minor stars Shane and Stephen Bennett eased Ballysaggart five points back in front, but Diarmuid Coleman and Edward Murphy again shared three points between then to leave just two between the sides at the break.

Stephen Bennett struck for the first score of the second half, but the Limerick side who had finished the first half strongly, began the second half just as strong as Diarmuid Coleman and John Lynch hit points in quick succession to leave just one between the sides.

It was not vital that Ballysaggart hit the next score, and what a score it proved to be as Ronan Walsh fired to the net to put Ballysaggart four points up.

Jimmy O’Sullivan and Darren Meagher for the respective sides swapped scores before Shane Bennett hit a crucial third goal for Ballysaggart on forty-two minutes which gave them a 3-10 to 0-12 advantage.

The Limerick side were expected to provide stiff opposition for Ballysaggart and so it proved to be as Diarmuid Coleman, Edward Murphy and John Nix hit a hat-trick of points between them to move within four of Ballysaggart.

However, with time running down it was goals that Feenagh-Kilmeedy wanted, but they found it hard to break down a tough Ballysaggart defence, and in particular to beat Matty Meagher between the posts.

Four points in hurling while it is a good lead, with time running down it’s a dangerous one, as one slip in concentration could allow the opposition in for a goal, and if they were to then win the puck out and send the ball over the bar for a point, the lead was wiped out.

Just as was the case when one point separated the sides just past the mid-way point of the third quarter, it was important that Ballysaggart scored next.

This is what they did, a pointed free from Stephen Bennett, and when the same player repeated the act moments later, victory was going to be Ballysaggart’.

While most now will look forward to feasting over the Christmas Period and some might over indulge on certain beverages, the Ballysaggart players will have to be a little more careful.

They have an All-Ireland coming up in the new year against St Joseph’s from Sligo, Adrian Meagher, Pat Bennett and the rest of the management team may allow their charges a little leeway to the players over the Christmas and New Year Period, they will not want them to over indulge and to keep their fitness levels as they are.

Ballysaggart and most of the sides around the county would be expect a hurling team from Waterford to prove too strong for a hurling team from Sligo, to completely write off their opponents would be foolish.

For Ballysaggart 2013 was a great year. A lot was achieved. I’m sure the year finished much better than most could have dreamed it would. However, they will be hoping that 2014 can start in the same way that 2013 finished. It wont be easy, but they have the ability for it to happen and will have the whole county backing them all the way from here on.

BALLYSAGGART: Matty Meagher; Bobby Ryan, Kieran Fennessy, Daniel Devine; Barry Murphy, Eugene O’Brien, Cailean O’Gorman; Christy Murphy, Kieran Bennett; Shane Bennett, Darren Meagher, Kenneth Cahill; Ronan Walsh, Stephen Bennett, Tom Bennett. Subs: Michael Kearney for Ronan Walsh (57mins), Cathal Fitzgerald for Tom Bennett (60mins), Shane Meagher for Shane Bennett (60mins).

Scorers: Stephen Bennett 1-8 (0-4frees), Shane Bennett 1-1, Ronan Walsh 1-0, Darren Meagher 0-2, Christy Murphy 0-1.

FEENAGH-KILMEEDY: Daniel Egan; James O’Regan, Liam Murphy, Nelius Irwin; Michael Bergin, Edward Murphy, John Gaffney; Donal Harrold, Gerard O’Gorman; Diarmuid Coleman, Peter Irwin, John O’Gorman; Liam Lynch, Jimmy O’Sullivan, Darragh Kiely. Subs: Brian Hannigan for Nelius Irwin (h-t), Patrick O’Regan for Gerard O’Gorman, (49mins), John Nix for Darragh Kiely (49mins), Dave O’Sullivan for Liam Lynch (58mins), Billy O’Sullivan for Peter Irwin (58mins).

SCORERS: Diarmuid Coleman 0-6 (4frees, 2 ‘65), Edward Murphy 0-4 (4frees), Jimmy O’Sullivan 0-2, John O’Gorman, John Lynch, John Nix 0-1 each.

REFEREE: John O’Brien (Tipperary).