Ballyduff win classic semi-final battle with Kilmoyley after extra time

FINAL SPOT BOOKED: Kilmoyley and Ballyduff were involved in a game for the ages in this Garvey's Supervalu SHC semi-final with Ballyduff inspired by the Boyle clan qualifying for a unique county final with Abbeydorney in two weeks time.

Garvey's Supervalu SHC Semi Final: Ballyduff 4-25 Kilmoyley 2-25

Kilmoyley and Ballyduff were involved in a game for the ages in this Garvey's Supervalu SHC semi-final with Ballyduff inspired by the Boyle clan qualifying for a unique county final with Abbeydorney in two weeks time.

Ballyduff can thank the outstanding Podge Boyle for getting them over the line with a personal haul of 2-12, but his brother Mikey came on when the need was greatest to steady the Ballyduff ship and right at the end of extra time, his son Killian scored the goal that finally sunk gallant Kilmoyley.

One has to feel sorry for an injury ravaged Kilmoyley side who had to start with Rob Collins and Dougie Fitzell and then lost their spiritual leader in Paudie O’Connor after only eight minutes. But they battled right to the end with Ronan Walsh their sharpshooter with 0-15, but ultimately they let a two point lead slip in added time of in normal time and allowed P J O’Carroll and then Luke Rochford, one of smallest players on the pitch, to leap into the air and grab a last second equaliser.

That body blow was too much for Kilmoyley whose tired and injured bodies could not raise a gallop in extra time when three Podge Boyle frees and a Luke Rochford special saw Ballyduff retire 3-22 to 2-22 at half time in extra, it looked as if Kilmoyley were spent.

But credit the heart of the Lerrig side who never gave up but two Jack Enright’s specials and Killian Boyle’s late goal, proved a bridge too far on night where hurling was the real winner.

Ballyduff had the wind to their backs in the opening half and made an explosive start to the game when Jack Goulding sent in a high ball after twenty seconds for Padraig Boyle to get his hurl to it and direct past a helpless Kilmoyley keeper John B O’ Halloran. Boyle then added a free from well inside his own half and when Jack Goulding added another point, the Duffers were 1-02 to 0-00 in front after three minutes.

But Kilmoyley responded with three frees from Ronan Walsh and another from Daniel Collins before Kevin Goulding made it 1-03 to 0-04 for the Ballyduff side. After another Boyle ’65, Ballyduff struck for yet another goal when a defensive slip saw Padraig Boyle set up Jack Goulding who blasted the ball to the Kilmoyley net and at the end of the opening quarter Ballyduff were six points clear.

They had pushed their lead out to eight by the 18th minute, thanks to points from Podge Boyle and Jack Goulding but at the other end Ronan Walsh with a point from play and another from a free was keeping his side in touch. The sides continued to trade points before a brilliant solo goal in the 29th minute by Philip Maunsell raced through the Ballyduff defence before slamming the ball to the net. Padraig Boyle with another monster free pushed Ballyduff four points clear at the interval 2-10 to 1-09.

The game developed into a classic contest in the second half, with three early points from Kilmoyley from Walsh, Philip Maunsell and Maurice O’ Connor saw them reduce the deficit to a single point by the 35th minute but when Ballyduff needed inspiration it was Podge Boyle and Jack Goulding that provided it, as they pushed their side 2-12 to 1-12 in front before Luke Rochford made it a four point game by the 40th minute.

Then an Evan Boyle point pushed Ballyduff further ahead but Kilmoyley thanks to David McCarthy, Jordan Brick and Maurice O’ Connor were soon back to within a point before Ronan Walsh leveled in the 50th minute, 2-14 to 1-17. 

Podge Boyle scored a wonder goal in the 51st minute to send his side three in front but a Tom Murnane goal in the 56th minute leveled the contest again before Ronan Walsh put the side in front only for Podge Boyle to level with a superb goal after fetching a high ball and racing through with nothing but goal on his mind. 

Philip Maunsell gave Kilmoyley the lead in the first minute of five added minutes and when substitute Bobby O’ Connor pushed Kilmoyley two clear in the 63rd minute, Ballyduff looked down and out. But after sub JP O’Carroll fired over from the wing, Luke Rochford scored a point, after catching a ball he had no right to, meant extra time and Ballyduff are on course to join Kilmoyley on top of the roll of honour with 26 SHC apiece.

Scorers for Ballyduff: P Boyle ( 2-12, 8fs,1’65), J Goulding ( 1-3), K Boyle ( 1-0), L Rochford (0-3), J Enright and K Goulding ( 0-2 each), J P O’Carroll, E Boyle and J O’Sullivan ( 0-1 each) 

Scorers for Kilmoyley: R Walsh ( 0-15, 9fs), P Maunsell ( 1-2), T Murnane ( 1-0), M O’Connor ( 0-3), J Brick ( 0-2), C Savage, D Collins ( 1f) and B O’Connor ( 0-1 each).

BALLYDUFF: D Quinlan; A Kavanagh, P Costelloe, K O’ Connor; D Slattery, K Goulding, D O’ Carroll; N Mangan, A Segal; J Sullivan, D Moriarty, A O’ Connor; P Boyle, E Boyle, L Rochford.

Subs: J Enright for Moriarty (45), M Boyle for A O’Connor (48), D Slattery for Kavanagh (58), JP O’Carroll for Segal (60+3), J Bowler for E Boyle (73), A Curley for K Goulding, inj (73), K Boyle for O’Sullivan (78).

KILMOYLEY: J B O Halloran; D Kennedy, C Savage, F McCarthy; T Godley, J Godley, D Nolan; P O Connor, S Nolan; J Brick, D Collins, R Walsh; M O’Connor, T Murnane, P Maunsell.

Subs: D McCarthy for P O’Connor, inj (9), B O’Connor for S Nolan (48), K McCarthy for B O’Connor, inj (60+4), John Godley for James Godley (61), Liam Flaherty for Murnane (61), S Dowling for Brick, inj (78).

Referee: D O’Callaghan ( Limerick)