The O'Loughlin Gaels Senior hurling team will rue the many chances they wasted in the opening period of this fourth round league championship clash against Ballyhale Shamrocks in the new look John Lockes Park in Callan last Sunday afternoon. In truth, the city side dominated long periods of the game but failed to covert two straight forward goal chances and at least ten point chances in the first half. If you let a team of stars such as Ballyhale off the hook like that they will punish you. Playing with the aid of a strong breeze O'Loughlins trailed at the break 8 points to 7. Henry Shefflin opened the scoring with a tap over 21yard free but the country lads would need another 11 minutes to raise a flag. O'Loughlins, on the other hand, had one point scored having missed at least 1.4. Eoin Reid pointed for Ballyhale after Mark Bergin got the 'Loughs off the mark from a placed ball. Martin Comerford was mad for hurling and got on the end of a great O'Loughlins move which started in the full back line with Anthony Forristal who offloaded to Brian Hogan, he picked out Niall Bergin who played a brilliant ball to Comerford, who in turn, fought off three players and eventually split the posts.Comerford was rewarded again in the very next play when he, again, was out first and converted from the sideline. The city side were well on top now but Ballyhale are always dangerous and Mark Alyward kept them level with a good score on 15 minutes. From the puckout Brian Hogan caught a massive ball and off loaded to Paddy Butler who threw it over from midfield. All this time and all this play Ballyhale were still there and indeed shot five decent chances wide themselves, however through Colin Fennelly and Cha Fitz they edged ahead until Bergin converted his second free to level proceedings on 20 minutes. Shamrocks are renowned for producing forwards and they seemed to have moulded another in the shape of Ronan Corcoran who had number 24 on his back but started the game and scored the first point from his personal tally of 1.2 at this stage.Mark Kelly showed excellent fighting quality when scoring from the left town end corner and Mark Bergin converted another placed ball on 25 minutes to leave the city boys one ahead. Cha Fitzpatrick and Mark Alyward, both experienced forwards seemed to just throw over two points before the break to put Ballyhale ahead by one at the break.When the game resumed Mark Alyward scored his third point of the game. Mark Bergin replied with two, one from play.Young Corcoran pointed his second score before latching onto a deflected save by Stephen Murphy to tap the ball past the helpless O'Loughlins keeper. Shamrocks turned the screw and Henry converts two tap over frees. Suddenly Ballyhale lead by 1.12 to 0.9.Fair play to O'Loughlins they dusted themselves down and within minutes worked the ball brilliantly up the field. Seamie Cummins got on the end of brilliant passes from David Burke and Martin Comerford to raise the green flag. O'Loughlins now had momentum and were grasping the initiative. Mark Kelly and Martin Comerford were causing lots of problems for the Ballyhale full back line. In this period Mark Bergin pointed two frees and Kelly got another.But after drawing level the city side couldn't kick on. They missed crucial scores which on another day would be guaranteed white flag raisers. When you have someone like Henry Shefflin among the opposition you can't afford to do that. He scored the next four points, two from frees. Paddy Butler pointed on 30 minutes to leave a single score in it and hope of a league point,at least, for the continentals. But the better team finished stronger and scored two insurance points through, the flying Colin Fennelly and substitute Conor Walsh.O'Loughlins will have given up hope of an automatic quarter final spot at this stage and will be concentrating on a first round Championship clash once round 5 of the League is complete and the Championship draws are made.Management will be pleased that the young guns in the team played well and will be concentrating on improving the finishing for the knockout stages. Improve that and anything is possible !Ballyhale remain the favourites and the team no one will want to meet.O'LOUGHLIN GAELS; Stephen Murphy, Eoghan Grant,Anthony Forristal,Eddie Kearns, Jason Quan,Brian Hogan,Niall Bergin,Paddy Butler(0.2),Jack Nolan,Sheamie Cummins(1.0),Mark Bergin(0.7,6f),Danny Loughnane, David Burke,Mark Kelly(0.2), Martin Comerford(0.2).BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS; Patrick Reid,Paul Shefflin,Aiden Cummins,Alan Cuddihy,Keith Nolan, T.J. Reid,Bob Alyward,Cha Fitzpatrick(0.2), Mick Fennelly, Ronan Corcoran(1.2),Henry Shefflin(0.7,5f),David Hoyne,Eoin Reid,Colin Fennely(0.2),Mark Alyward(0.3).Subs Conor Walsh(0.1), Joey Holden.
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