Hogan penalty save inspires Newport to League glory

GAA: FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division 3 Final

Newport 1-21

Ballingarry 2-14

Report: Michael Dundon in Holycross

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Colin Floyd (Newport)

SCORERS – Newport: Colin Floyd 0-12 (8 frees); Jack Delahunty 1-0; Odhran Connors, Cian Flanagan, Conor O’Mahony 0-2 each; Conor Hickey, Odhran Floyd, Mike Quigley 0-1 each.

Ballingarry: Dylan Walsh 2-9 (1-0 pen, 0-7 frees); Conor Vaughan, Paudie Maher, Ian Ivors, Declan Hayes, Simon Blackmore 0-1 each.

Newport are primed for a serious championship challenge following their four point win over Ballingarry in the County Hurling League Division 3 final on Sunday evening.

Having had to rejig the side for the campaign due to the non-availability of a number of last year’s squad, Newport manager Tim Floyd, has every reason to be pleased at how the newcomers have risen to the challenge and he will have a further indication of their progress after their encounter with Ballina in the opening round of the North Premier Intermediate Championship next Friday.

Their clash with Ballingarry was a lively affair all through, and with ten minutes to play and the sides level, it was anybody’s game. The turning point came when Ballingarry were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute but Dylan Walsh’s rasper was brilliantly saved by Newport goalie Paul Hogan. The clearance found Conor O’Mahony, and he sent Newport into the lead with a sweet point.

In a flash, Newport put two more points through man of the match Colin Floyd and Cian Flanagan, and with confidence soaring, they pulled steadily clear of their rivals to finish with four points to spare at the long whistle.

It was a win relished by the Newport contingent in Holycross and one which leaves them in a very healthy place facing into the championships at divisional and county level.

They had made the early running and were 0-8 to 0-4 clear after twenty minutes. A struggling Ballingarry got the boost they needed when Ian Ivors was fouled, and Dylan Walsh betted the penalty to bring them level.

Newport responded in very positive fashion as Jack Delahunty was set up by Colin Floyd for a Newport goal, but their joy was short-lived as from the next play, Dylan Walsh had the ball in the Newport net and at half-time the south boys led 2-7 to 1-9.

With the breeze behind them on the change-over Newport were expected to push clear but the third quarter saw the sides deadlocked at 1-14 to 2-11. Then came the penalty incident and Paul Hogan’s save which seemed to inspire the Newport lads who finished the stronger outpointing their rivals seven to three in the closing period for a memorable win.

The challenge for Newport now is to build on this success in the championships and they certainly have grounds for optimism. The return to action of Conor O’Mahony is a big boost for them and he helped himself to two points when introduced early on for the injured Mike Quigley.

However, the key man for them was Colin Floyd, who shot twelve points, four from play, but who was also very involved in orchestrating the attack. Odhran Floyd, Peter O’Sullivan, Cian Flanagan, Aidan Moloney, and goalkeeper Paul Hogan were others to significantly contribute to the win.

Ballingarry will take encouragement from a good league campaign as they face into their respective championships. Had they got a goal from the second penalty, who knows how things might have gone. They relied heavily on Dylan Walsh for their scores, and while he obliged with an impressive 2-9, 1-2 from play, more was needed from his colleagues. Conor Vaughan was a tower of strength in the number six shirt with Paul Butler, Conor Mangan, Thomas Walton, and James Burns others to make a favourable impression.

The start of the game was delayed for ten minutes to facilitate those caught in traffic with cars backed-up some distance from the Holycross venue at starting time, the All-Ireland football quarter finals on television prompting the lateness of arrivals.

TEAMS – Newport: Paul Hogan (7); Conor Hickey (7), Sean O’Brien (6), Rob Houlihan (6); Odhran Floyd (6), Conor Floyd (6), Aidan Moloney (7); Cian Flanagan (7), Peter O’Sullivan (7); Mike Quigley (6), Oisin O’Brien (6), Keelan Floyd (6); Odhran Connors (7), Colin Floyd (9), Jack Delahunty (6).

Subs: Conor O’Mahony (6) for Quigley (20 inj); Aaron O’Neill (6) for Delahunty (40); Martin Carey (6) for Moloney (56).

Ballingarry: Cian McCormack (7); Paul Butler (7), Jack Fennelly (6), Gerard Ryan (6); Michael McGrath (6), Conor Vaughan (7), Conor Mangan (7); Paudie Maher (6), Thomas Walton (7); Michael Ivors (6), Ian Ivors (6), Dylan Walsh (8); Patrick Ivors (6), James Burns (7), Declan Hayes (6).

Subs: Simon Blackburn (6) for Hayes (16 inj); Billy McGrath (6) for Maher (HT); Aidan Ryan (6) for P Ivors (HT); Eamon Corcoran (6) for I Ivors (45).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).