Clough/Ballacolla 2-21 Camross 2-15
Clough/Ballacolla were crowned Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling champions after overcoming Camross by 2-21 to 2-15 at Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.
This is the club’s fifth championship win in six years, and they have Stephen Bergin to thank for the victory.
He was unstoppable from start to finish as he finished with 1-13 after an incredible display of finishing.
As for Camross, Zane Keenan led the way for his side by scoring 2-10, but Clough/Ballacolla were not to be denied and they were full value for their victory.
After a rip-roaring first half, Clough/Ballacolla were the happier coming into the dressing rooms at half-time.
They had the underdogs tag coming into the game, but they showed none of that, with Bergin being the star of the show in the half and scoring 1-07 to put Clough/Ballacolla in command.
It was Camross that opened the scoring from Eoin Gaughan, but Clough/Ballacolla quickly responded through Bergin.
Both teams would then trade points, with Zane Keenan for Camross and Bergin for Clough/Ballacolla as it was tit for tat in the opening stages.
Camross then hit the next two points through Tomas Keyes and James Cuddy. Clough/Ballacolla didn’t allow them take over the game and responded through Jordan Walshe and Aidan Corby.
Clough/Ballacolla would then hit for the first goal of the game after a long ball from Walshe found Willie Dunphy and he made no mistake finding the net.
Zane Keenan then hit his first goal of the game through a brilliant finish to level matters once again as he went for the juggler from a close range free to find the net.
Clough/Ballacolla took over the half and hit a purple patch as they would hit the next 1-03 without reply, with Bergin showing his class as he went on to score 1-03 with a superb goal along with two frees and one from play.
Camross then struck for their second goal via Keenan again to give Camross renewed hope coming into the last stages of the first half.
Bergin and Mark Dowling would trade scores before half-time to leave Clough/Ballacolla in command leading 2-09 to 2-06 at the break.
Bergin started the second half like he finished the first by getting the first point of the half. Bergin and Walshe would then extend their lead further with two brilliant points.
Keenan and Cillian Dunne then traded points, with Dunne scoring a brilliant point from near the sideline.
Every time Camross looked like getting back into the contest, Clough/Ballacolla would respond. Keenan was keeping his side in the game and would trade points with his counterpart in Bergin.
Bergin then hit two more frees to stretch the lead out to six 2-16 to 2-10 with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Camross then hit three points in a row from Keenan with another brace and Eoghan Cuddy narrowed the gap back to three points.
The impressive Jordan Walshe got his third of the game before Keenan once again nailed a free. The victors then stepped on the gas again with another three points through subs Joe Corby and Stephen Maher, who made his return from the bench.
Bergin also got a free in the middle of that and Camorss needed a goal to get back into the game, but it didn’t happen.
Keenan added his last free before Stephen Maher got the last score of the game as Clough/Ballacolla ran out deserving champions.
Clough/Ballacolla: Cathal Dunne; Diarmaid Conway, Darren Maher, Joseph Pearson; Lochlainn Conway, Lee Cleere, Eoin Doyle: Aidan Corby (0-01), Cormac Hogan; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe 0-03, Kevin Mulhall; Cillian Dunne 0-01, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Bergin (1-13, 0-09 frees)
Subs: Joe Corby (0-01) for Dunphy (45), Stephen Maher (0-02, 0-01 frees) for Hennessy (53), Brian Corby for Doyle (60), Padraigh Brennan for Dunne (62)
Camross: Tadhg Doran; Darragh Duggan, Cathal Cuddy, Joseph Phelan; Eoin Dowling, Eoin Gaughan (0-01), Eoghan Cuddy (0-01); Odhran Phelan, Liam Delaney; Ciaran Collier. Tom Cuddy, Zane Keenan (2-10, 1-09 frees, 0-01 65); Tomas Keyes (0-01), James Cuddy (0-01) , Mark Dowling (0-01).
Subs: Darren Drennan for James Cuddy (46), Ashton Keenan for Phelan (52), Andrew Collier for Tom Cuddy (59)
Referee: Kieran Bowe
