The Paddy Cahill Cup quarterfinal encounter between Piltown and Ballyhale Shamrocks took place on Saturday the 29th April in a very windy Ballyhale.
Piltown played against a strong wind in the first half and matched the Shamrocks score for score. Martin Power opened Piltown's scoring with a point from a converted free in the first minute and the Shamrocks followed suit shortly after with a point for a converted free. In the third minute, Mixer O'Dwyer sent a long ball into Dean Brophy who passed it off to Kevin Brophy for a great point. Martin Power then added another from a converted free and in the seventh minute, Shane O'Dwyer, encountering a wall of green & white, sent the ball straight across the pitch to the unmarked Martin for a fantastic point. The Shamrocks put two more points on the scoreboard before Martin Power added another from a converted free. The Shamrocks then quickly scored three points in the space of two minutes, one from a converted free. A fine clearance from Shane Walsh in the 16th minute was picked up by Kevin Brophy and with a quick hand pass to Ronan Ryan, Ronan accurately sent it over the bar. The Shamrocks added another point in the 24th minute before Shane O'Dwyer lobbed a ball into the forwards which resulted in a great point from Kevin Brophy. The Shamrocks added two more points and then a great passage of play, involving Mixer O'Dwyer, Aaron Gallagher and Shane O'Dwyer ended with Ronan Ryan getting past a number of defenders to put the ball in the back of the net. Thus ended the first half! HT score: Piltown 1-7 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-9.
The second half was a very different affair with heavy rain and wind affecting both teams. While the half was low-scoring due to the weather conditions, Piltown dominated the play, led by a great defense. Martin Power opened the second half by adding three points to his tally, one from a converted free. In the 42nd minute, Shane O'Dwyer won a Shamrocks puckout and with a quick hand pass to Martin Power, Martin spotted Dean Brophy who sent the ball high over the bar. Mixer O'Dwyer, Tom Kenny and Peter McCarthy were instrumental in stopping a Shamrocks charge in the 50th minute and Ronan Ryan ran onto a clearance from Peter and scored a fine point. It was the 58th minute before the Shamrocks registered their only score of the second half, a goal from their full forward. Martin Power closed out the match with a point from a converted free. FT score: Piltown 1-13 Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-9.
Piltown panel: James Norris, Tom Kenny, Seamus Norris, Mixer O'Dwyer, Shane Walsh, Peter McCarthy, Aaron Gallagher, Shane O'Dwyer, Martin Power (0-8, 0-6f), Neil Kelly, David Kinsella, Ronan Ryan (1-2), Ian Long, Kevin Brophy (0-2), Dean Brophy (0-1). Subs used: John Kenny.
Ref: Maurice Flynn
