Cloughbawn shine
No wides in the wind as Shels slump
LAST WEEK the place known as the ‘ Windy City’ of Chicago witnessed a tumultuous Democratic National Convention.
Last Friday evening it was the turn of the windy town (on the night) of Enniscorthy to play host to a tremendous performance from Cloughbawn that saw them down Group B table-toppers Shelmaliers in the fourth round of the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship on a 3-22 to 1-18 scoreline.
It was a remarkable contest in many respects, but without doubt the almost unique element of the Cloughbawn effort is that, in scoring 3-22, they didn’t register a single wide.
This fact is all the more impressive considering the almost gale-force and bitterly cold wind blowing into the town end in McCauley Park, Bellefield.
While Cloughbawn were the superior side in almost all sectors of the field, the contribution from their superb full-forward line of Harry Kehoe, Bob Whitty and Connal Flood – who contributed 2-12 from play between them – was pivotal, with Kehoe also razor-sharp from the placed ball.
A little over five minutes into the second-half, not many of the shivering supporters could have envisaged that Cloughbawn would ultimately win comfortably by ten points.
The Shels, through an Adam Howlin penalty after centre-forward Aaron Murphy was dragged down, had forged a lead of 1-15 to 1-11. Although they were facing the stiff wind in the second-half, they were playing well. Simon Donohoe, who had a fine game, was dominating in defence, and the Malone brothers, Brian and Glen, were influential.
However, Cloughbawn took command and between the 37th and 54th minutes they scored 1-9 without reply.
The aforementioned trio of Kehoe, Whitty and Flood accounted for seven of the points from all sorts of angles, with the other Whitty brother, Paddy, and fine-striking goalkeeper Seán Keating (free) adding a brace.
It was also Keating with his massive strike that led to Harry Kehoe scoring Cloughbawn’s second goal in the 43th minute.
The netminder’s long-range free from inside his own square landed in the same place at the other end, with Harry Kehoe pouncing on the loose ball to give Adam Howlin no chance in the Shels goal.
This scoring haul would not have been possible without the intense workrate from the Cloughbawn defence, with full-back pivot Darragh Kehoe leading by example. Further out the field, Barry Carton and Colm Kehoe were also winning valuable possession.
The Shels did put on a bit of a spurt before the end and managed to add three points to their total, but any faint hopes of a late revival were foiled with a couple of minutes to go after Cloughbawn registered their third major.
Substitute Gavin Murphy went on a tremendous solo run through the defence, and fed the ball to Connal Flood whose effort was well saved by Adam Howlin, but Murphy followed up neatly with a tidy finish.
Early in the game (third minute), a Cloughbawn side playing against the wind received a massive boost when Bob Whitty goaled after he pounced on Harry Kehoe’s free that dropped short, and it put the green and white brigade up by two points (1-0 to 0-1).
Despite playing with the strong wind, the Shels found it difficult to string a series of scores together, but they did claim some tremendous long-range points, with Jody Donohoe and Michael Connors scoring from well inside their own half.
Midway through the half the Shels led by a point (0-8 to 1-4). It was a slender lead and one that they had hoped would be more, but Cloughbawn were playing very well out of defence, using their possession game to good effect.
They added three quick points through Harry Kehoe (free) and the Whitty brothers, Bob and Paddy, to put them back in front by 1-7 to 0-8.
Glen Malone was impressive in the first-half for the Shels and Graham Staples was doing well in midfield, but despite this Cloughbawn went in at the break ahead by 1-10 to 0-12.
The Shels did start the second-half well and their best forward, Paddy Connors, scored a couple of lovely points to help his side to that 1-15 to 1-11 advantage before Cloughbawn took over.
Cloughbawn: Seán Keating (0-1 free); Shane Kehoe, Darragh Kehoe, James Dempsey; Barry Kehoe, Páidí Cullen (capt.), Mikey Fleming; Colm Kehoe (0-1), Éanna Doyle; Darragh Redmond, Paddy Whitty (0-2), Barry Carton (0-1); Harry Kehoe (1-8, 0-5 frees), Bob Whitty (1-4), Connal Flood (0-5). Subs. – Gavin Murphy (1-0) for Doyle (50), Liam Flood for Redmond.
Shelmaliers: Adam Howlin (1-1, 1-0 pen.); Simon Donohoe, Michael Connors (0-1), Jody Donohoe (0-1); Glen Malone (0-2), Brian Malone, Robbie Delaney (0-1); Aaron Kinsella, Graham Staples (0-1); Paul Hearne (0-7 frees), Aaron Murphy, Seán Keane-Carroll; Joe Kelly (0-1), Eoghan Nolan, Paddy Connors (0-2). Subs. – Cian Doyle for Kelly (HT), Ross Banville (0-1) for Murphy, inj. (44), Ciarán O’Shaughnessy for J. Donohoe (49), James Cash for Nolan (49).
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).