Blackhall Gaels finish with a scoring flourish

Dunderry's bid for a second successive IHC final appearance was unhinged by a determined Blackhall Gaels outfit at Kiltale on Saturday evening. The winning margin slightly flatters Blackhall because this contest was in the balance until well into the final quarter when the Gaels reeled off seven unanswered points for a merited victory. Dunderry officials will quickly highlight the free-count which favoured Blackhall (18-4) and that Dermot Carty claimed seven of his eight points from placed balls. Also, 30 first-half minutes had elapsed before the Dunderry men were awarded a free and that gave an opportunity for genuine complaints because referee Conor Ferguson too often opted to play an advantage where none accrued. And with three referees on the sideline Gus Martyn (Dunderry), Jimmy Burke and Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels) it was interesting to note the different comments. However, at no stage was the Gaeil Cholmcille official verbally abused and that is a credit to both clubs. The one area where Dunderry received more attention from the referee was in the yellow card department which they won 3-0 and it could have been four, but Ferguson adopted a lenient approach towards Kevin Dowd for a late challenge on Gaels custodian Emmet Dalton. The sides were level at the interval (0-6 apiece) as Dermot Carty (three frees), Darren O'Loughlin (two) and Thomas Murphy pointed for Blackhall with Ivan McCormack (two), Evan Stephens, Bob and Thomas Doherty and Dowd from that sole 30th minute free sustaining Eamonn Howley's men. Dunderry had a 'goal' disallowed for a square ball within a minute of the resumption before substitute Kevin Bruton gave them the lead. A brace of Mark Mullally points from play and a Dermot Carty free had Blackhall in the ascendancy again before Bruton managed Dunderry's last score in the 13th minute. From thereon Blackhall gradually wrestled the initiative with those seven points, three from frees. "We're very pleased to make it to the final especially as we were without Johnny Meyler, Conor Burke and Nigel O'Hora and to win by eight points was a marvellous achievement," stated Blackhall selector Morris. "We were happy with our second-half performance, but I think the scoreboard flattered us a little, we weren't eight points better than Dunderry and we just managed to get a few late scores," stated selector Christy Mangan. Blackhall team manager Fergus Smyth had to miss the game as he was on linesman duty at the u-21 All-Ireland HC semi-final at Semple Stadium between Clare and Galway. Blackhall Gaels - E Dalton; C Burke, D McGowan, C Delany; K O'Connor, S O'Loughlin, P Burke; T Murphy (0-1), J Kelly; Daniel Carty, T Coyle (0-1), Dermot Carty (0-8, seven frees); S Morris, M Mullally (0-3), D O'Loughlin (0-3). Subs - D Farrell for Burke half-time; K Maye for D O'Loughlin 58 mins. Dunderry - M Horan; D Stephens, C Doyle, D Bruton; D Clarke, I McCormack (0-2, one '65'), D Callaghan; K Dowd (0-1, free), J Kelliher; D Gilkeson, E Stephens (0-1), B Doherty (0-1); D Geraghty, T Doherty (0-1, free), C Fitzgerald. Subs - L Mulligan for D Bruton 6 mins; C Minogue for Fitzgerald 28m; K Bruton (0-2) for Geraghty half-time; J Martin for Gilkeson 55m. Referee - Conor Ferguson (Gaeil Cholmcille).