Cillian Dunne in action for Clough/Ballaolla on Friday evening | Denis Byrne
Stephen Bergin’s goal late on saw Clough/Ballacolla record their second win in five days
These sides met in arguably the game of the championship in their semi-final clash last year and Ballinakill made Clough/Ballacolla sweat once again this year before their hearts were broken by a late Stephen Bergin goal.
The underdogs held a one-point lead at half-time in this Laois Shopping Centre SHC Round 2 clash after a brilliant opening 30 minutes against a Clough/Ballacolla side that feels like it’s still warming up.
Ballinakill attempted to stifle the Clough-Ballacolla attack with Dylan Doyle dropping back as an extra midfielder, meaning they didn’t go too defensive and were still able to pose a threat going forward themselves and Cha Dwyer led the scoring charts by half time with four points.
Clough/Ballacolla struggled again at times to make things work fluidly in the forwards but six points shared by Jordan Walshe and Willie Dunphy helped massively to keep them in touch.
The second half continued to be a tight affair but an early jaunt from Clough/Ballacolla saw them go in front and led by the excellent Joe Corby in midfield they would eventually do enough to hold out for the win.
The ever versatile Cha Dwyer was operating in midfield for Ballinakill and he opened the scoring just seconds into the game with fellow former intercounty Stephen Bergin firing back seconds later.
Those scores set the tone for the half with the teams trading points throughout the game as Brian Corby struck the next before three in a row from the men in maroon with Ethan Drury, Brian Duggan and Gearoid Lynch all on target, with Lynch’s in particular being an excellent score.
Willie Dunphy got his first of the game in the seventh minute and Jordan Walshe soon followed, with points from Duggan and Dwyer sandwiched between in reply.
Clough/Ballacolla got back on level terms with further scores from Walshe and Dunphy and they had a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead but Bergin’s batted effort at goal went just wide of the far post.
Brothers Eddie and Cha Dwyer responded with two good scores from play and they were answered by Cormac Hogan from range and a Bergin free.
Podge Lawlor struck from midfield for Ballinakill before Cha Dwyer fired over a free from his own 45 and Paul Simms landed an excellent score from play well inside his own half, though Clough/Ballacolla stayed in touch through Ronan Broderick and Robbie Phelan.
Clough/Ballacolla had another great chance at goal when Willie Dunphy broke the last line of defence and didn’t see Cillian Dunne out in space while his own shot was blocked.
The pair traded a further brace of scores with Ryan Quinlan on target for Ballinakill while Dunphy and Walshe each scored their third of the half to ensure Clough/Ballacolla trailed by just a point at half-time at a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-12.
Clough/Ballacolla came out for the second half with the wind behind them and immediately played with more zip than they showed in the first half, notching the first three scores through Joe Corby, Walshe and a Bergin free to take a two point lead, the first time they led since the third minute.
That lead was wrestled back within five minutes with Duggan slotting two frees and Cha Dwyer slotting the other with a brilliant effort from play.
Not to be outdone, the champions came back with three of their own from a Bergin free followed by a brilliant score from range by Dunphy and a second point for the excellent Joe Corby.
Picky Maher was introduced to the play at the midway stage of the half and made up for missing his first free by soaring one over the bar from out the field, though Duggan soon hit back with two.
The game continued to hang in the balance with five minutes left on the clock as Clough/Ballacolla appeared to be taking the upper hand now having the lead, but Ballinakill continued to dig in and keep in touch with another score from Eddie Dwyer.
Clough/Ballacolla hit them with a huge blow approaching the final stretch as Stephen Bergin followed up point from Joe Corby and Broderick with a well taken goal after Ballinakill failed to cleared a sideline cut flicked in by Corby.
Podge Lawlor got one back for Ballinakill but the jig was up with two scores in reply from Clough/Ballacolla captain Mark Hennessy and Bergin with a difficult free.
Ian Shanahan got a late score in consolation moments before the whistle blew to signal a second win for Clough/Ballacolla.
SCORERS – Clough-Ballacolla: Stephen Bergin 1-5 (0-4 frees), Jordan Walshe and Willie Dunphy 0-4 each, Joe Corby 0-3, Ronan Broderick 0-2, Robbie Phelan, Brian Corby, Cormac Hogan, Mark Hennessy and Picky Maher (free) 0-1 each. Ballinakill: Brian Duggan 0-7 (frees), Cha Dwyer 0-4 (0-1 free), Eddie Dwyer, Podge Lawlor and Gearoid Lynch 0-2 each, Ryan Quinlan 0-1, Ethan Drury and Paul Simms 0-1 each.
CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Diarmaid Conway, Darren Maher, Cormac Hogan; Brian Corby, Ronan Broderick, Lee Cleere; Joe Corby, Aidan Corby; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan; Stephen Bergin, Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy. Subs: Picky Maher for A Corby (44 mins), Colm Brennan for Cillian Dunne (51 mins)
BALLINAKILL: Paul Simms; Cathal O’Shaughnessy, Ian Shanahan, Lir McDonald; Dylan Doyle, Podge Lawlor, Ethan Drury; Cha Dwyer, Gearoid Lynch; Ben O’Mara, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Brian Duggan; Ryan Quinlan, Eddie Dwyer, Jamie Drury. Subs: Noel Duggan for J Drury (47 mins), Dan Bergin for Quinlan (50 mins), Conor McDonagh for Doyle (54 mins)
REFEREE: Kieran Bowe (Rathdowney-Errill)
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