Late penalty save turns the tide for Newport who claim Division 3 league title

FBD Insurance County Hurling League - Division 3 Final

Newport 1-21

Ballingarry 2-14

By Michael Dundon

Newport goalie Paul Hogan’s saving of a Ballingarry penalty after fifty minutes was critical as the North Tipp side surged to victory over their south rivals in a keenly contested FBD Insurance county hurling league division three final at Holycross on Sunday last.

The teams were level at the time and Dylan Walsh, who had earlier netted from a penalty and was seeking his third goal of the game, saw his well-placed shot from twenty meters parried by the diving Hogan and to add to Ballingarry’s frustration the clearance found former county star Conor O’Mahony who whipped over a point for Newport – a four-point turn around that set Newport up for the title.

Up to that point, there was little between the teams. Newport opened well against the fresh breeze and with Colin Floyd a handful for the Ballingarry defence, they went 0-6 to 0-3 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

Ballingarry needed a break and they got it when Ian Ivors was fouled and Dylan Walsh fired home the penalty to level (1-5 to 0-8). Further points from Walsh and Declan Hayes had Ballingarry ahead but Newport regained the initiative when Jack Delahunty availed of Colin Floyd’s good work to shoot a goal.

From the puck out Dylan Walsh netted for Ballingarry and at the break they were 2-7 to 1-9 ahead but with the breeze to favour Newport in the second half, they looked best placed to succeed.

However, the third quarter was a ding-dong battle between the sides and after 48 minutes they were deadlocked at 2-11 to 1-14 with the possibility of extra time beginning to emerge.

When James Burns was fouled in the 50th minute Ballingarry had the opportunity to push clear from the penalty but Dylan Walsh’s shot was turned away by Paul Hogan in the Newport goal and from the upfield break, Conor O’Mahony hit a Newport point to put them ahead.

Colin Floyd and Conor Hickey quickly extended the advantage and though Walsh countered for Ballingarry, further points by Cloyd and Cian Flanagan sent Newport four clear(1-19 to 2-12) after 55 minutes.

Dylan Walsh kept Ballingarry in touch with a pointed free to which Colin Floyd replied before Walsh again split the posts to leave a goal between them but in the 63rd minute Colin Floyd again pointed for Newport, for a four-point advantage. The puck-out saw referee Peter Carroll call time with Newport fans thrilled with the first silverware of the year.

This win should give Newport great heart facing into a testing North championship opener next week-end against Ballina.
The team is considerably changed from last year with several players no longer available but the indications here are that Newport will be in the shake-up for honours at both divisional and county level.

Colin Floyd was their top performer with twelve points, four from play, but the contributions of Conor Hickey, Aidan Moloney, Odhran Floyd, Cian Flanagan, Peter O’Sullivan, Odhran Connors and goalkeeper Paul Hogan were also vital to the win.

Ballingarry will wonder what might have been had the second penalty yielded a goal. They matched their rivals all the way up to that but subsequent to that incident were outscored 0-7 to 0-3 in the closing minutes.

Still, they will draw great encouragement from a good league run which leaves them in a healthy position going into the championship.

Dylan Walsh was their “main man”, with 2-9 to his credit, but they needed more from his attacking colleagues. Conor Vaughan was a dominant figure at the heart of the defence with goalie Cian McCormack, Paul Butler, Thomas Walton and Conor Mangan also battling hard.

Newport: Paul Hogan; Conor Hickey (0-1), Sean O’Brien, Rob Houlihan; Odhran Floyd (0-1), Conor Floyd, Aidan Moloney; Cian Flanagan (0-2), Peter O Sullivan; Mike Quigley (0-1), Oisin O’Brien, Keelan Floyd; Odhran Connors (0-2), Colin Floyd (0-12, 0-8f), Jack Delahunty (1-0).
Subs used: Conor O’Mahony (0-2) for Quigley (20); Aaron O’Neill for Delahunty (40), Martin Carey for Moloney (56).

Ballingarry: Cian McCormack; Paul Butler, Jack Fennelly, Gerard Ryan; Michael McGrath, Conor Vaughan (0-1), Conor Mangan; Paudie Maher (0-1), Thomas Walton; Michael Ivors, Ian Ivors (0-1), Dylan Walsh (2-9, 1-7f); Patrick Ivors, James Burns, Declan Hayes (0-1).

Subs used: Simon Blackburn (0-1) for Hayes (16); Billy McGrath for Maher (HT), Aidan Ryan for P Ivors (HT); Eamon Corcoran for I Ivors (45).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)