By: Mary Dunne
Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 2
Belmont: 1-22
Lusmagh: 1-17
Having served the bye in the opening round, Belmont got their championship ambitions off to a winning start on Saturday afternoon last when they overcome a very determined Lusmagh side in Moystown.
Heading into the game, having suffered a heavy defeat to Ballinamere in the opening round, Lusmagh came to Moystown with huge intentions on winning this game and for along spells they certainly asked a lot of questions of the fancied home side.
Belmont had to work extremely hard to win this game and certainly the advantage of having a game under their belts stood to Lusmagh for long spells, but the more the game progressed the more Belmont started to move and in the end they took the win with five points to spare.
Lusmagh lined out minus four of their regulars due to injury and that in itself was always going to leave it hard for them and in the end it was the ability Belmont had to spring key players from the bench in the second half that proved to be a difference, a luxury that Lusmagh did not have.
With a nice breeze blowing in Moystown it was Lusmagh who played with it in the opening half. In reality they should have used it a lot better and by the half time break Belmont despite not playing to their highest level had brought it back to a drawn at the interval.
The writing somewhat was on the wall at that stage for Lusmagh, but with that said it took a lot of time for Belmont to gain the upper hand.
Lusmagh started off flying and with a little as four minutes on the clock they were 0-3 to no score to the good.
Paul Kinsella hit over inside forty seconds with the opening score and with further scores from Graham Lynch and Paul Kinsella again, they had plenty to be happy about.
Belmont were finding it very difficult to win primal possession but finally Mark Egan did hit over from a free with almost five minutes on the clock.
The game found it very hard to get into any free flowing hurling and it was very stop start for the majority of it, with twenty of the final tally of scores coming from placed balls.
Lusmagh were hurling quiet well and with two more frees from Paul Kinsella and a superbly struck sideline cut, they marched into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead by the 12th minute and Belmont certainly yet to come out of the traps.
Conor Grennan who had a fine game at centre back landed a lovely score from Belmont on the 13th minute but once again Lusmagh had more to come with Paul Kinsella and Graham Lynch on the mark to bring the scores to 0-8 to 0-1 with sixteen played.
It was all Lusmagh at that stage, but then against the run of play Belmont attacked. A brilliant ball from Paddy Clancy found Adam Nugent and making no mistake he found the net. In the blink of an eye the game was back to a three point gap, 0-8 to 1-2.
Paul Kinsella steadied the ship for Lusmagh again, but with the next four scores on the bounce thanks to David Nally, Mark Egan, Paddy Clancy and David Nally again the sides were suddenly level 0-9 to 1-6 with twenty six played.
Paul Kinsella hit over a ’65 to edge Lusmagh back in front, but with another score, this time from a free David Nally levelled matters again as half time loomed.
There was still time for one more piece of action. A brilliantly worked move between Paul Kinsella and Luke Bowe found Eoin Quinlan on hand. It looked certain that he a goal was on the cards, but Damien Egan pulled off a great save and the sides remained deadlocked at the break, 0-10 to 1-7.
Very similar to the opening half, Lusmagh came out first and with a score this time from play from Paul Kinsella with twenty seconds on the clock, Lusmagh were back in front.
The lead however was not set to last and for the first time in the game following a brace of scores from Oisin Kelly and David Nally, Belmont were in front 1-9 to 0-11.
Fionn O’Meara landed a lovely score for Lusmagh in what was a brilliant response but once again Belmont were starting to gain vital possession and scores and with two more thanks to David Nally and Mark Egan, they were back in front 1-11 to 0-12 with thirty four played.
Paul Kinsella once again stepped up to the mark for Lusmagh, but Mark Egan and Paddy Clancy had Belmont three clear 1-13 to 0-12 by the 39th minute.
It was a case of the free takers matching each other with Paul Kinsella and David Nally trading, but then with forty seven on the clock Lusmagh found a gap.
A high ball in saw Eoin Quinlan and Damien Egan both committing to getting it. It resulted in an unmerciful clash and the ball slipping in behind for Paul Kinsella to get a touch despite the best efforts of Pat Taaffe to keep it out and suddenly the sides level again 1-14 each.
Belmont responded brilliantly and with four scores on the trot thanks to Mark Egan (2), Ronan Flynn and David Nally, they were four to the good 1-18 to 1-14 with fifty three on the clock.
Belmont now had the upper hand and with their defence batting down the hatches they left it very difficult indeed for Lusmagh to find room, but Paul Kinsella did keep them ticking over.
Oisin Kelly who certainly orchestrated many of the Belmont moves added his second score after brilliant defence play by Jack Clancy, but Fionn O’Meara was hot on his heel also with his second and the gap was back to three 1-19 to 1-16.
David Kelly landed a magnificent score on the 56th minute for Belmont, before Brian Carroll added another and with two minutes of normal time to play, Belmont were four clear 1-20 to 1-16.
Paul Kinsella hit over another for Lusmagh but it was Leon Fox who had the final say of the game after he latched onto an inch perfect pass from David Kelly, sealing the win for Belmont. The final scores reading 1-22 to 1-17.
The Scorers
Belmont: David Nally 0-7 (0-2 Frees), Mark Egan 0-6 (All Frees), Adam Nugent 1-0, Oisin Kelly 0-2, Paddy Clancy 0-2, Conor Grennan 0-1, Ronan Flynn 0-1, David Kelly 0-1, Brian Carroll 0-1, Leon Fox 0-1.
Lusmagh: Paul Kinsella 1-13 (0-8 Frees, 0-1 sideline, 0-1 ‘65), Graham Lynch 0-2, Fionn O’Meara 0-2.
The Teams
Belmont: Damien Egan; Aron McCabe, Ciaran Cahill, Pat Taaffe; Leon Fox (Capt.), Conor Grennan, Jack Clancy; Ronan Flynn, Shane Nally; Oisin Kelly, Mark Egan, David Kelly; Paddy Clancy, Adam Nugent, David Nally.
Subs: Colin Egan for Shane Nally (49 mins), Brian Carroll for Adam Nugent (49 mins), Darragh Flynn for Mark Egan (56 mins).
Lusmagh: Alan Kelly; Rory Quinlan, Andy Flynn, Morgan Glynn; Lorcan Troy, Eimhin Kelly, Eibheann Kelly; Daire Temple, Graham Lynch (Capt.), Eoin Quinlan, Darren Healy, Fionn O’Meara; Luke Bowe, Paul Kinsella, James Kelly.
Referee: Kieran Dooley (Drumcullen).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 25th Jul
