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North Cork U-21 "A" Hurling Championship Semi Final

NEWTOWN 1-10 BALLYHEA 1-14 (03/08/03)
Played At | Charleville.

Our defending U-21 hurling Champions advanced to the North Cork Final after this 4 point victory over neighbours Newtown last Sunday night. On a perfect pitch and a beautiful evening, this was a keenly contested game. Newtown opened the scoring with a point from a 65 in the first minute and could have followed with a goal but the Ballyhea defence closed down John O'Connor as he was about to shoot and the danger was averted. Points from Jonathan O'Sullivan and Tim Shanahan had us 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes. Jonathan O'Sullivan then saw his shot come back off the crossbar before points from Maurice O'Sullivan and Barry Coleman had us 0-6 to 0-3 ahead after 20 minutes. Newtown replied with points in the 22nd and 25th minutes but Ballyhea would have been further ahead but for a brilliant save by the Newtown custodian William Biggane to deny Jonathan O'Sullivan. At half-time the sides were level 0-7 a piece.

Newtown opened the scoring with a point in the second half. Timmy Shanahan replied with a point and this was followed by a Maurice O'Sullivan free before Timmy Shanahan crashed home a spectacular goal in the 38th minute to put us 4 points clear. But by the three quarter stage we still led by just 3 points, 1-10 to 0-10, but our defence were excelling at this stage and points from Timmy Shanahan (50) and Maurice O'Sullivan (51st, 58th) put us 6 points clear entering the final minute. Newtown though pulled a goal back in the 59th minute from a 21 yard free but Ballyhea replied with another Maurice O'Sullivan free and booked our place in the final and a meeting with Mallow or Buttevant.

Before the game a minutes silence was observed in memory of lifelong supporter Patrick Fitzgerald who passed to his eternal reward on Sunday morning. R.I.P.

Scorers
Tim Shanahan 1-3
Maurice O'Sullivan 0-7
Barry Coleman 0-3
Jonathan O'Sullivan 0-1

Team
Danny O' Donoghue, Kieran O' Riordan, Michael Morrissey, Hugh O'Leary, John O'Riordan, Barry Coleman, Liam O'Connor, Edmund O'Regan, Owen O' Sullivan, John William O'Brien, Jonathan O' Sullivan, Tim Shanahan, Maurice O'Sullivan, Sean Coleman, Trevor O' Sullivan.

Subs
Stephen O'Sullivan, Edward Rea (both used)
David O'Riordan, Frank McNamara, Martin O'Keeffe.