Laois GAA club hurling champs out of the traps with big win in Portlaoise

Clough-Ballacolla began the defence of their Laois Senior Hurling Championship crown with a relatively comfortable victory over Castletown in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon, July 13.

A good contest was anticipated with Castletown steadily improving and Clough-Ballacolla missing some key men through injury, but it didn’t pan out in that fashion as Clough-Ballacolla dominated for the most part and Castletown were left short on ideas.

Stephen Bergin was excellent for the victors in scoring 1-9, with his goal coming at a crucial stage early in the second half that really knocked the stuffing out of Castletown after they had battled hard to keep things level at the break.

A testament to Clough-Ballacolla’s dominance is that they struck no less than 18 efforts wide of the posts to Castletown’s six and still managed a double figure victory.

The loss leaves Castletown under pressure after The Harps, Borris-Kilcotton, Rathdowney-Errill and Camross all won their games, leaving Castletown the only team in the group with no points after round one.

The current county champions flew out of the traps in the early stages, racing into a five point lead and keeping Castletown scoreless for the opening 11 minutes.

Clough-Ballacolla captain Aidan Corby split the posts for their opener and he was followed by Mark Hennessy, who showed good pace to find room for a strike. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Thomas Brennan, Clough Ballacolla competes with Ryan Mullaney, Castletown for this sliotar. PIC: Denis Byrne

Joe Corby could potentially have fired the leaders well ahead as he bore down on goal but took his point before Cormac Hogan and Hennessy were on target to make it five.

Castletown eventually got off the mark in the 11th minute via a Ryan Mullaney strike from midfield and Ciaran McKelvey soon doubled their tally with a free from the same area before Corby got his second just before the water break to make it 0-6 to 0-2.

Mullaney and McKelvey added to their own tallies after the break with two outstanding efforts, but Castletown would be forced to continue without Aaron Phelan as he came off due to an injury.

Castletown were beginning to look more threatening inside as Kyron Cuddy was fouled on the line and Sean Og Byrne slotted the free just moments before dispossessing Eoin Doyle from the puckout and cutely finishing under Cathal Dunne for a goal.

Byrne added another point from play to put Castletown in front for the first time but Clough-Ballacolla rallied extremely well by striking the next three in succession through Stephen Bergin, Joe Corby and Aidan Corby.

The last score of the half was a third free from midfield by McKelvey to level it up at 1-7 to 0-10, a scoreline that Castletown will have been content with as Clough-Ballacolla’s wide tally was in the double figures.

Castletown took the lead through a Byrne free two minutes into the second half, but things would soon turn very sour.

Evan Cuddy and Ray Goode were deceived by a clever ball into the path of Stephen Bergin and the Clough-Ballacolla forward found himself with acres of space in front of the goals and he was never going to miss the net to put his side two in front.

Bergin added two points from frees before slotting from play either side of two excellent scores by Aidan Corby and they now led by seven in the 42nd minute.

A rare Castletown attack resulted in a score from play by McKelvey but once again the champions came roaring back with Cillian Dunne coming off the bench to score before the second half water break.

Dunne and Bergin each struck after the break as Castletown’s woes continued and Clough-Ballacolla piled on the pressure as they attempted to work on their scoring difference by that stage as the result was already decided.

There was an element of damage limitation for Castletown in the latter stages as they did rally to claim back a few scores with Martin Phelan notching three in the final five minutes, along with one each for subs Conor Doran and Jamie Conroy.

Clough-Ballacolla were able to introduce the likes of Brian Corby and Willie Dunphy, along with Cillian Dunne, however and Dunphy picked up a point for himself on his road back from injury before the final whistle blew to confirm the victory.

Final score

Clough-Ballacolla 1-24

Castletown 1-14

SCORERS Below PICTURE

Clough Ballacolla's Lochlainn Conway and Lee Cleere after their side's win over Castletown. Photo: Denis Byrne

Clough-Ballacolla: Stephen Bergin 1-9 (0-5 frees), Aidan Corby 0-5, Cillian Dunne 0-3, Mark Hennessy and Joe Corby 0-2 each, Cormac Hogan, Kevin Mulhall and Willie Dunphy 0-1 each
Castletown: Sean Og Byrne 1-3 (0-2 free), Ciaran McKelvey 0-4 (three frees), Martin Phelan 0-3, Ryan Mullaney 0-2, Conor Doran and Jamie Conroy 0-1 each

CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Joe Pearson, Darren Maher, Eoin Doyle; Cormac Hogan, Lee Cleere, Lochlainn Conway; Aidan Corby, Kevin Mulhall; Robbie Phelan, Stephen Bergin, Kevin Hyland; Joe Corby, Mark Hennessy, Thomas Brennan.

Subs: Cillian Dunne for Hyland (41), Brian Corby for J Corby (47), Willie Dunphy for T Brennan (53, inj)

CASTLETOWN: Paddy Mullaney; Evan Cuddy, Aaron Phelan, Rory Kelly; Ryan Peters, Ryan Mullaney, Tommy Goode; Ciaran McKelvey, Callum Peters; Shane Phelan, Jack Breen, Tadhg Cuddy; Sean Og Byrne, Kyron Cuddy

Subs: Ray Goode for Phelan (10, inj), Conor Doran for T Cuddy (43), John Gaughan for R Goode (45), Jamie Conroy for McKelvey (52, inj), Joe Conroy for Byrne (58)

REFEREE: John Lalor (Shanahoe)