Ballyhaunis Community School kept their Connacht Post Primary Senior C Hurling campaign alive with this comfortable win over St Jarlaths of Tuam in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence recently.
Just four days after playing for Tooreen in the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final against Fr O’Neills of Cork, Ballyhaunis CS centre-forward Liam Lavin proved the match-winner as he recorded 2-4 of his sides tally to help his team advance from the group stages.
It was the Galway side who opened up best as forwards Sean Donohue and Eoin Sweeney were first to open the scoring with a brace of points, before Lavin opened his and Ballyhaunis’ account in the fifth minute with a point.
This was closely followed by a major from Lavin – and a further Ballyhaunis goal from Eoin Ryan put Ballyhaunis in the ascendancy. Sean Donohue for Jarlaths responded with a goal of their own, but further Ballyhaunis points from Conal Hession (2 ) and Eoin Ryan – were sandwiched in between by Lavin’s second major of the day in the 20th minute.
The scores continued to flow for Ballyhaunis in the opening half with Ryan again (goal ) and Hession (point ) putting the East Mayo charges in a commanding 4-5 to 1-4 lead at the interval.
The second half saw Ballyhaunis extend their lead further as early goals from James Doyle and Eddie Groarke put the game beyond doubt as a contest. The Tuam outfit rallied however and didn’t throw in the towel - as Sean Donohue (1-3 ), Eoin Burke (1-1 ) and Paul Rowan (0-1 ) kept chipping away at the deficit. Alas their efforts were in vein as late Ballyhaunis points from Lavin (0-3 ) and the impressive Conor Keane (0-2 ) did enough to maintain the reds comfortable lead until the final whistle.
Defenders to perform well for Ballyhaunis were Kevin Durcan and Cathal Greally, while Ryan Kedian filled the centre-back position very well in the absence of some ill team-mates. Ballyhaunis CS now go forward to play St Killians of New Inn in the Connacht Senior C quarter-final on Tuesday 28th January. St Killians of New Inn draw the majority of their players from the Sarsfield Hurling Club – made famous by former Galway hurling great Joe Cooney.
Ballyhaunis CS: Brian McHugh; Kevin Durcan, Danny Hill, Cathal Greally; Eimhin Conboy, Ryan Kedian, Shaun Morley; Oisin Greally, Conor Keane (0-2 ); Conal Hession (0-3 ), Liam Lavin (2-4 ), Eoin Ryan (2-1 ); Eddie Groarke (1-0 ), James Doyle (1-0 ), Mark Mulkeen. Subs: Sean Kedian, Fiachra Glavey, Micheal Richardson, Clayton Nolan.
Ref: Charlie Candon (Roscommon )
