Ballyshannon new JH champions

Senior Hurling Championship Final
20 August 1977
Aodh Ruadh 6-8
Roger Casement's 1-1
MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

BALLYSHANNON took the county junior hurling charnpionship title at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey, against Roger Casement's with a clear-cut victory, but the match was by no means as onesided as the score might suggest. Roger Casement's, who eliminated the holders Burt on their way to the final were short of star scorer Kieran Herbert for the final; nevertheless they included many skilful hurlers in their line out, including JP Keane, Bernard Walsh, Christy Byrne and Tom Considine.

That they were held to such a low score was to a large extent due to a number of brilliant saves, including a penalty, by the Ballyshannon goalie, Josie Boyle, but the winners were also well served by Finnbar O'Leary and Mick McCafferty in defence, Gerry Kinnear and Pat Curran in the middle of the field, and Jimmy Carter, Seamus Grimes and Pat Fox in attack.

After two wides in the opening couple of minutes, Ballyshannon got a point by Jimmy Carter off the outer edge of the crossbar in the 7th minute, and Carter followed this with a goal in the next minute when he took a right-wing cross by Gerry Burke.

Josie Boyle brought off a good save from Casement's John Conroy and soon after kept, his goal safe under intense goalmouth pressure.

Ballyshannon went ahead with a point from a free by Gerry Burke in the 12th minute and a goal by Pat Curran in the 13th minute.

PENALTY
Five minutes later, Roger Casements were in with a real chance to get into the game when Josie Boyle lifted the ball off the ground and a penalty was given against him. Roderick Rohan sent the spot puck over the bar, but the referee ordered a re-take because he had not blown the whistle and this time Boyle saved.

Tom Considine was wide for Casements, but Ballyshannon were having a far bigger proportion of wides and Pat Curran had really hard luck with a low shot that grazed the outside of the post.

However, Gerry Burke, taking from Seamus Grimes, had better luck and pointed for the winners in the 22nd minute. John Conroy failed to beat goalie Boyle, and Ballyshannon went on to score two more points before the interval - from a free by Gerry Burke in the 27th minute, and by Seamus Grimes from play just before the whistle went.

Half-time score :- Ballyshannon 2-5, Roger Casement's 0-0.

STRENGTHENED POSITION
After the re-start, Pat Curran's effort brought a fine save from the Casement's goalie. By the 6th minute, the winners had strengthened their position with a goal by Seamus Grimes from Gerry Kinnear.

Two minutes later Bernard Nash was fouled on the Casements side, and PJ Kane, who had moved up from defence, took the 55 yards free and drove straight through the posts for Casement's goal. Ballyshannon came straight back and Gerry Kinnear's goal restored their position.

At this stage, Ballyshannon were beginning to weaken somewhat, but with Keane moving back again Casement's pressure eased off too, and in the 16th minute of the hall Jimmy Carter put Ballyshannon beyond reach of the opposition with the side's fifth goal following a free by Grimes to Burke.

Martin Doherty made a determined bid to get through the Ballyshannon defence, but was blocked by Finnbar O'Leary. Casement's pressure forced a 70, which Keane sent to the goalmouth but Josie Boyle was again equal to the task

With 28 minutes gone John Conroy had a point for Casement's, but it was no more than a gesture, and Ballyshannon finished strongly to add to their already ample tally with a point by Pat Fox, another by Seamus Grimes, and finally, in the 32nd minute, a goal bv Fox.

SENT TO LINE
A flare-up between Ballyshannon's John Goldsborough and Casement's Bernard Nash resulted in both players being sent to the line by referee Billy Taylor (Derry) 15 minutes into the second half.

The MacCumhaill's pitch was in excellent trim, but rain that fell prior to and during the game, made under-foot conditions difficult, and both sides are to be congratulated on the fine standard achieved.

The cup was presented to the Ballyshannon captain, Seamus Grimes, by Eamonn Ua Fearghail, secretary of the Donegal Hurling Board; who congratulated both teams on a good display.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh Josie Boyle; Mick O'Brien, Christy Middleton, Finnbar O'Leary; Mick McCafferty, Mick Dunne, Sean O'Rourke; Pat Curran, Gerry Kinnear; Pat Fox, Gerry Burke, Jimmy Carter; Michael Egan, John Goldsborough, Seamus Grimes. Subs: Paul Clarke for M Egan
Roger Casement's Michael Gibbons; Michael Quinlivan, PJ Keane, John Shaughnessy; Matt Tolan, Bernard Nash, Pat Curley; Christy Byrne, Tom Considine; Pat Sherlock, Roderick Rohan, John Conroy; Martin Doherty, John Fitzgerald, Garret Horkan. Subs: Michael McCafferty for G Horkan.
Referee: Billy Taylor (Derry)

Last modified: Monday, 29 June 2020 at 9:33pm