Monaghan to the rescue for Craughwell hurlers

Craughwell 0-17
Gort 1-14

THOMAS Monaghan’s stunning 67th minute leveller secured a dramatic share of the spoils for Craughwell in this re-fixed senior B round 1 encounter at Kenny Park on Thursday last.
A powerful final quarter display by Gort had put Mattie Murphy’s men in a strong position having trailed by two at the second water break and when Ronan Burke got on the end of a Paddy Commins line ball to fire his second score of the half, it looked as though Gort had timed their run to perfection leading 1-14 to 0-16.
But Craughwell were afforded one final opportunity and it fell to Monaghan who took possession in midfield on the sideline under the stand, burst past the challenge of Jason O’Donoghue and under immense pressure, fired over a sensational leveller right under the nose of the onlooking Shane O’Neill, who will no doubt have taken note.
It was no more than Craughwell deserved in truth, particularly given a couple of decisions regarding scores which might or might not have been which went against them late on.
With the sides deadlocked at 0-15 to 1-12 approaching the end of normal time, Craughwell were under the cosh but when Niall Healy blazed a shot over the bar to hand them the lead once again, they were back in the driving seat.
The roars from the Gort camp told otherwise though for the south Galway men were convinced that Healy had blasted wide and upon consultation with linesman James Lundon, the point was indeed waved off.
From the ensuing puckout, Paul Killilea pointed at the other end for Gort to complete a two-point swing and hand Gort the lead though once more, controversy followed with question marks over the score. Again Gerry Donohue consulted Lundon, only this time the decision wasn’t altered and the point stood.
For Craughwell to come back from those two sucker punches and snatch a draw will be hugely pleasing for Padraig Duddy, Evan Kilroy and Paul Cloonan, but the fact they found themselves in that position in the first place certainly won’t.
The result leaves both sides’ fate in their own hands essentially and should both pick up maximum points from their remaining games against Ballinderreen and Kinvara, points difference will determine who tops the group and returns to senior A hurling, though with Ballinderreen sitting pretty atop the group standings knowing a win over either will see them through to the knockout stages, it certainly won’t be that simple.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune