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Leinster Glory For Coolderry Heroes As Oulart The Ballagh Are Overwhelmed

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Coolderry's Brian Carroll sets off towards the Oulart The Ballagh goals in Sunday's Leinster Final. MT48222

Coolderry 1-15. Oulart Na Ballagh 1-11.

KICKED into gear by a 32nd minute goal from Cathal Parlon, Offaly champions Coolderry were crowned Leinster club hurling champions for the first time in their history on Sunday last when they defeated an over confident and wasteful Oulart Na Ballagh side.
There was scenes of jubilation after the game as the 30 strong panel tried to edge to the stand in Nowlan Park to pick up the trophy they so desperately craved. Euphoria had broke out, players were hoisted up and the dream had finally become a reality for the rural club on the Tipperary and Offaly border.
In a long year for the reigning Offaly champions, they have brought new and fresh hope back to the county as Ollie Baker gets set to did his feet in with the Faithful County.
The game itself was not the classic we hoped for but in terms of entertainment and the occasion, it was second to none. The rain stayed away and the pitch held up well as an Offaly team walked away from Kilkenny with a Leinster trophy under the arm.
Thats a rarity in itself but in reality it was no more than the Cul Doire men deserved. As a unit they excelled in their work rate and determination. They wanted it badly. The hooking, blocking, 50/50 challengers and the poise in front of goal was a joy to behold as Oulart wasted plenty of opportunities to be a lot closer than four points.
Oulart hit 14 wides in comparison to Coolderry's four and that tells its own tale. Eoin Moore had a nightmare on the frees for the Wexford men while in the Coolderry corner Damien Murray returned a 100% strike rate with four from four.
Little things like that won the game for the Offaly champions. Take Stephen Corcoran's five high ball claims in the first half alone as the young net minder showed immense calmness thus instilling that same commodity into his backline.
Take the presence and the positioning of Joe Brady. He mopped up serious ball. HIs brother Kevin ran himself ragged eventually succumbing to cramp. Brian Carroll really stood up to the plate in the second half not just on the scoreboard but in open play as well.
Parlon's goal was sheer class, Murray was awesome from frees and not to mention the part the other members of the team played. All these combined edged Coolderry over the line. They all needed to perform and they duly obliged.
They were helped by a wasteful Oulart side who had Eoin Moore missing simple frees, Rory Jacob only scoring a point and Nicky Kirwan also been held to a single point from play to add to his brace of frees.
Full back Keith Rossiter had a solid first half but Parlon got the better of him in the second half. Darren Nolan impressed in patches while David Redmond also had his moments. Ben O'Connor in the Oulart goal also had a fine game but while Coolderry never panicked, the same cannot be said for Liam Dunne's charges who missed some all very routine scores and in the end they paid the ultimate price as an economical Coolderry sprinted to victory.
Coolderry got off to the perfect start when Kevin Brady won the ball from the throw in and teed up Brian Carroll to fire over the bar with just 15 seconds on the clock. Both sides sounded each other out early on and with the scoreboard light enough it was the Wexford champions who commanded an early 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with Rory Jacob and a brace of points from Eoin Moore showing the way for them.
It was still early doors when Damien Murray got his first of the day from a free on 11 minutes and when Parlon opened his account a minute later, the sides were level at three apiece.
Coolderry now had the ascendency and Murray added his second free after he was fouled himself before the lively Eoin Ryan pointed brilliantly after Kevin Brady had cleverly fired a quick free in his direction. At 0-5 to 0-3, the Offaly men looked good and their lead should have been extended to five points in the 18th minute when Brian Carroll fed Eoin Ryan and as Ryan headed for goals, his shot was superbly saved by Ben O'Connor in the Oulart goals.
It was certainly a let off and it sparked Oulart back to life with Darren Nolan escaping the clutched of David King to fire over on 21 minutes. The sides were restored to parity by an Eoin Moore free but he was missing as many as he was scoring.
With two minutes left in the half and after playing against what ever wind was in it, Cathal Parlon foraged hard for the sliother and as soon as he made room for himself, he bisected the posts to give Coolderry a 0-6 to 0-5 lead at half time.
Oulart took their time in re-appearing for the second half but instead of that throwing Coolderry off their game, it proved to be a move that back fired on the Wexford kingpins.
Darren Nolan did get an early point to level the game but Coolderry went on to hit 1-4 in the following nine minutes. With 32 minutes on the clock, Eoin Ryan had gone through on goals but after he was dispossessed, Cathal Parlon picked up the pieces.
Surrounded by four or five Oulart defenders, there seemed no way out for the Offaly forward but somehow he emerged with hurl and sliother and showed exceptional wrist work to fire to the net.
Oulart were rocked and Barry Teehan extended their lead a minute later when he won a throw in and popped over the bar. Eoin Ryan and Martin Corcoran worked hard to set up Brian Carroll for his second of the day and Coolderry suddenly led 1-8 to 0-6.
A Nicky Kirwan free briefly halted Coolderry's charge and after a huge free down field by Stephen Corcoran, Damien Murray robbed in around the back and took the safe option of the point.
Before 40 minutes had elapsed the score read 1-10 to 1-7 after Brian Carroll drove over a point from near the half way line right on the sideline under the stand. Oulart came back again and hit three points on the trot from Eoin Moore (free) and a brace from Kirwan with one of those from a free also.
Damien Murray added a super free to extend the lead to 1-11 to 0-10 before Coolderry really should have wrapped the game up. Kevin Connolly was only on the field but he made space for himself and as he cut through the defence, Damien Murray took the ball on to offload to the onrushing Parlon. Parlon struck for goal but it was saved by Ben O'Connor only for Parlon to eventually finish the rebound to the net. Referee James McGrath disallowed the goal for a square ball but moments later Damien Murray scored a super point over the shoulder.
Murray was at it again in the 48th minute before Kevin Connolly got his just rewards for a super cameo appearance when he cut in from the right wing to score.
Parlon finished off the scoring for Coolderry in the 50th minute shortly before Paul Roche goaled from a 21m free to give Oulart a lifeline. At 1-15 to 1-11 there was no more scores in the final nine minutes as Coolderry withstood one last push from the Wexford men to come out on top by four points.

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