Ahane welcomed Ballybrown to Mackey Park on Sunday evening to play the second round of the East/City Junior B Hurling League. On a lovely evening for hurling, it was Ahane that started the game quickest. With points coming from Podge O’Connor, Sean Madden and Paul Ryan Ahane were four ahead after ten minutes. Ballybrown got off the mark with a goal in the 11th minute and it was all go from there.

Sean Madden had a cracker of a game as he scored points from frees and play from all over the field! On more than one occasion he did a dummy sidestep to send the Ballybrown backs flying as he popped the ball over the bar. Not to be outdone his brother Darragh had a serious game at full back, he cleared a serious amount of ball, and was like a brick wall for the whole game. Ballybrown continued to plug away at our lead and at the first water break it was Ahane 0-06 Ballybrown 1-02.

Ballybrown drew the game level after the water break and their goalkeeper had a fantastic game denying us a number of goals and points as he pulled the ball down from going over the bar. Down in our goals, James Hayes had another great game that saw him save a penalty, and his puc outs and clearances set up some great scores for us. Our first goal was a piece of hurling magic as Seanie O’Connor pulled a John Fenton and struck the ball on the ground from midfield which landed in the square where David Kennedy scored a beauty of a goal as he struck the ball in on the ground. A score you’d like to frame if you could! We added to our scores with points coming from Liam O’Mara, Sean Madden, and Paul Ryan. Half time whistle blew, and it was Ahane 1-10 Ballybrown 1-04.

Second half started and Ballybrown were quickest off the mark as they scored a goal from the throw in. We responded well with points again from Madden, and Podge O’Connor who got a great pass from his brother John to get the score. Ballybrown’s next score came in the 18th minute of the half from a 45’ but again Sean Madden responded for us with a point and just on the water break Ballybrown scored another free to leave the game at Ahane 1-15 Ballybrown 2-06.

Ballybrown were again quickest off the mark after the water break as they scored a goal and a point within the five minutes after the water break. Ballybrown got a penalty, but James saved it, only for the ball to come back in thirty seconds later and for it to hit the back of the net. As the game was nearing an end, tempers started rising in true Junior B fashion and we saw a total of four hurleys broken throughout the game but both teams played a great game of hurling and it was full of hard hits, and serious scores! Ahane’s last goal came from John O’Connor as he batted it into the net after a driving run through the middle! That would be the last score of the game, full time score was Ahane 2-16 Ballybrown 3-07.

A seriously entertaining game of hurling! We now welcome Ballybricken to Mackey Park next Sunday.

Team:

J. Hayes; A. Myers, D. Madden, D. Hayes, J. Barry, S. Richardson ©, T. O’Sullivan; S. O’Connor, P. O’Connor (0-02); L. O’Mara (0-01), S. Madden (0-11 (0-08 frees), M. Hickey, T. Ryan, P. Ryan (0-02), D. Kennedy (1-00).

Substitutions:

L. Ryan (1st ½ for S. O’Connor (Inj)), D. Fitzgerald (½ time for D. Hayes), J. O’Connor (1-00) (½ time for T. Ryan), T. Kennedy (2nd ½ for D. Kennedy), J. O’Keeffe (2nd ½ for P. Ryan) T. Cross