Report by Bill Cuddihy.
On Saturday the 13th of September, Graigue Ballycallan’s Intermediate team began their quest to return to the senior grade in the Kilkenny Intermediate Championship following a disappointing League campaign. A tigerish final twenty minutes in Ballyhale, saw G.B.C book their place in the quarter finals, as well as retain their intermediate status for 2015.
Two early goals for Glenmore in the opening ten minutes, raised fears of losing and possible relegation to junior. However, the team showed tremendous assurance in the full-back line from then on, with Darragh Egan, Ger Teehan and Dara Walton proving to be an unbelievably stern opposition for the rest of the game. Goalkeeper P.J Trant made a great save late in the first half to keep Graigue in contention. Despite suffering early setbacks, Graigue went into the half-time break level with Glenmore on a score-line of 2-2 to 0-8, with Philly Cahill proving to be a very valuable asset, scoring five points in the first half.
The team kicked on in the second half, with Eddie Brennan leading the charge and putting the team ahead for the first time since the opening minute. The steady Philly Cahill kept the run going, scoring three more points to take his tally to eight points for the day, while centre-back James Ryall and wing-back Bob Murphy showed real leadership in defence; Bob firing over an inspirational long-range point for good measure. G.B.C pushed on, with forwards Willie O’Connor, Billy Ryan, Niall Millea and Gearoid Cleere all finding the target, while midfielder Jimmy Murphy topped off a fine second half display with a massive point in injury time to leave the final score-line as G.B.C 0-18 to Glenmore’s 2-6.
The team was: 1. P.J Trant, 2. Darragh Egan, 3. Ger Teehan , 4. Dara Walton, 5. Bob Murphy (0-1), 6. James Ryall, 7. Shane Butler, 8. Philly Cahill (0-8), 9. Jimmy Murphy (0-1), 10. Eddie Brennan (0-2), 11. James Smith, 12. Gearoid Cleere (0-1), 13. Billy Ryan (0-1), 14. Niall Millea (0-2), 15. Willie O’Connor (0-2).
Subs: Conor Murphy, John Purcell, Thomas Ryan.