The next tour date for the Ballysaggart show is Mallow on December 8 after steady performances from all cast members rather than another Stephen Bennett solo effort. Knockshegowna rattled into them but Saggart managed to spread the play and verify their 1/6 favouritism beforehand.
Stephen Bennett managed 1-5, including the hammer blow on 38 minutes, but five other players also threw in an offering. Wing back Barry Murphy walloped over two screamers from distance inside ten minutes. Kieran and Shane Bennett ran themselves to a standstill and scored three between them. Darren Meagher and Ronan Walsh shovelled a mountain of ball in the half forward line. Their defence held the North Tipperary side to a single score from play, a consolation goal from Declan Costello on the stroke of full time.
In a similar manner to the quarter final, they gained a jump start. Two apiece from Stephen Bennett and Barry Murphy gave the impression of a comfortable afternoon ahead. Their rugid opponents preferred the confrontation at close quarters and for a spell they dragged the blue and navy into a dogfight. A pair of frees from 41 year old Declan Costello perked their interest. Crucially Kieran Bennett answered the second of those almost immediately. It was Saggart’s first score in fifteen minutes. Darren Meagher then started a sweet team move as barrelled down the centre before offloading to Tom Bennett. He combined with Michael Kearney who slotted between the uprights (0-6 to 0-2 at half time).
Saggart always threatened to cut loose and eight minutes into the second period, Bennett pounced. A nice piece of vision from Ronan Walsh spotted the number fourteen and he dashed away before skimming a shot along the floor and under the hurley of goalkeeper Richard King. Knockshegowna continued to agitate and Costello plugged away with the frees. Limerick official Declan O’Driscoll flashed yellows to four players for one particularly messy situation and showed a total of seven. Saggart started to stretch them however as Stephen, Kieran and Shane Bennett lengthen their lead to double figures. Costello’s late corker only put a slightly better complexion on the scoreboard.
Adrian Meagher, Pat Bennett and the rest of the management team will toss and turn over a few miscues. 11 wides (four in the first half and seven in the second half ) will provide the first port of call. Secondly, several players lost possession by turning needlessly into traffic. They also tend to fall asleep for periods when at the wheel.
Their eagerness to burst from the traps is most encouraging for the final against Feenagh/Kilmeady from Limerick. Ballysaggart are just the second Waterford club to reach a Munster junior hurling final. Tramore fell to Ballygarvan from Cork in 2004. The small community, that all flocked onto the Fraher Field after Sunday’s game, are enjoying this adventure and they are well equipped at both ends of the field to improve on this steely semi final showing.
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