Cloughbawn stun Shels
CLOUUGHBAWN RIPPED Pettitt's Senior hurling championship survival out of the hands of Shelmaliers in the dying moments in St. Patrick's Park on Sunday last.
With just two minutes of normal time remaining, the Over The Water side led by six and looked to be coasting to the 'B' championship semi-final and survival in the top flight for another year. However, a Cloughbawn side, who were outplayed for much of the game, never gave up and snatched an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat.
The first goal was more than a little fortunate, as a prolonged scramble inside the square finally saw the ball roll over the line to give Cloughbawn a glimmer of hope. Joey Lawlor was the man closest to the ball but it may well have touched a Shels player last on the way into the net.
If there was doubt about the first goal, there was little about the second. Buoyed by the fortunate break, Paul Foley, who been hauled off and later re-introduced, broke free down the right before firing in a powerful low shot that Ibar Murphy saved. However, in the mix again was Lawlor who pulled the loose ball into the gaping net.
That only levelled matters; Stephen Banville missed an opportunity to put Shelmaliers on top once more in injury time before Harry Kehoe held his nerve with a last-gasp free to send Cloughbawn followers into wild celebrations.
The first-half belonged to the Shels as Benny Barron grabbed a great goal to leave them ahead by four at the break (1-6 to 0-5). The man standing out, however, was Tommy Barron, with the corner-forward outshining some of his more illustrious teammates with a scintillating display of shooting to finish with five points.
They continued to dominate into the second-half with just Harry Kehoe frees and wayward shooting by the Shelmaliers forwards not named Tommy Barron keeping Cloughbawn in touch. When Conor Byrne eased his side 1-12 to 0-9 ahead with four minutes remaining the game looked up, but that wasn't counting on the Cloughbawn fighting spirit.
- DEAN GOODISON in St. Patrick's Park
