Verney's Army chops down the Wood
Blackhall Gaels were made to work hard for their SBHC semi-final spot in their final group game against Longwood
SHC
Blackhall Gaels 3-19
Longwood 4-13
Blackhall Gaels overturned a half-time deficit of six points and limited Longwood to a second-half tally of just 1-2 in an enthralling SHC clash at Dunganny on Sunday. The win earned Michael Verney's side an automatic spot in the semi-final of the SBHC.
Right from the get-go, this was a chaotic contest and there was two green flags raised at either end within the first 15 minutes. Longwood took advantage of the helter-skelter start and raced into an early 2-5 to 2-2 lead. By half-time, the men in white had scored a third goal and held a considerable six-point advantage.
The Gael's started to gather momentum after the restart and they rattled off the first four points to reduce the deficit back to two. After a slow start to the second-half, Longwood's fourth goal in the 42nd minute put them four points clear.
That goal, which completed a hat-trick for Longwood full-forward, Kevin Heagney, transpired to be his side's last score as Blackhall Gaels hit 1-4 without response in the final quarter to seal the win.
Two goals courtesy of Gavin Griffith and Heagney handed Longwood a lead of 2-2 to 0-1 after just seven minutes. Blackhall Gaels raised their first green flag after eight minutes when Stephen Morris produced a stunning finish after a great long ball in from Liam Jennings.
Morris's incredible finish was bettered by his teammate, Paul Kelly, in the 14th minute when he found top left corner of the Longwood net from a very tight angle. At that stage, Aaron Ennis' side had registered another three points and they led by 2-5 to 2-2.
A minute after Kelly's goal, Dermot Carty followed up with a free but Longwood responded with five white flags on the spin, three from the hurl of Sean Coloe to put them 2-10 to 2-3 ahead.
The Gaels responded with three points of their own in quick succession but their efforts were cancelled out when Heagney scored his second goal in the 27th minute.
Shane Whitty brought proceedings in the first-half to a close with a well struck '65' and at the break Longwood led 3-11 to 2-8.
At the restart, Carty started the revival for the Gaels with a brace of points before contributions from substitute Conor Burke and Whitty narrowed the gap back to two.
Coloe hit two frees in quick succession but Blackhall Gaels went straight back on the offence and hit three points in a row. After 40 minutes of action, Longwood's half-time lead of six points had been reduced back to one.
A determined Heagney, who had already scored two goals, completed his hat-trick to give the men in white some breathing space again. Blackhall Gaels went in search of majors and they had a few close calls before Darren Maguire finally hit the net in the 49th minute to draw the sides level.
After 50 minutes of chasing Longwood, Blackhall Gaels finally got their noses in front when Kelly split the posts and two further scores from Burke and Carty, who finished with a personal tally of 0-9, brought the curtains down on a thrilling contest.
Blackall Gaels - David Farrell; Hugh Smith, Conor Delany, Colm Fitzgerald; Tom Murphy, Shane Whitty (0-3 one ‘65’), Ruairi Cunningham; Dan Carty, Stephen Morris (1-1); Tom Delany (0-1), Dermot Carty (0-9 five frees), Darren Maguire (1-0); Paul Kelly (1-2), Mark Mullally (0-1), Liam Jennings. Subs - Conor Burke (0-2) for Delany half-time, Mark Nicholson for Carty, Colm Whitty for Mullally both 58m.
Longwood - Enda Dixon; Kevin Maguire, Niall Mulvey, Brian Stagg; Joe Stenson, Mickey Burke, Billy Hogan; Gavin Griffith (1-0), Ryan Moore (0-3); Conor M Dixon, Sean Coloe (0-8 six frees), Sean Sheridan; Ben McLoughlin, Kevin Heagney (3-1), Mark Kennedy (0-1). Subs - Ross Healy for Maguire 31m.
Referee - James McGrath (Westmeath).