Abbeyside/Ballinacourty make winning start as Treen inspires victory over Clonea
Abbeyside's Darragh Walsh gets in his stroke againt Clonea's Billy Power and Francis Roche
Abbeyside opened their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship campaign with an impressive victory over Clonea in an entertaining and high-scoring contest at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field on Friday evening.
Despite conceding four goals, the Village men produced a composed and clinical display, with Charlie Treen delivering a man-of-the-match performance as he finished with 1-8 to help guide Abbeyside to a five-point victory.
Abbeyside could hardly have wished for a better start. Within the opening four minutes, Neil Montgomery, Darragh Walsh, Charlie Treen and Michael Kiely had all found the target as they raced into an early lead.
Clonea threatened to strike for goal early on but Billy Power's effort found the side netting before James Power suffered a similar fate moments later as Abbeyside escaped without serious punishment.
Francis Roche opened Clonea's account from a placed ball, but Abbeyside struck for the game's first goal on seven minutes. Michael O'Halloran delivered a dangerous ball into the square and Treen won possession in a tussle with Jack Mackey before flicking expertly to the net.
Points from Roche and Sean Callaghan kept the scoreboard moving before Clonea responded with their first goal. James Power's initial effort was blocked, but Stephen Curry reacted quickest to the breaking ball and blasted past Lar Power to narrow the deficit.
Abbeyside's response was immediate and impressive. Montgomery added a point while Michael Kiely struck twice in quick succession to restore breathing space between the sides.
Adam Murray and Rian Walsh exchanged scores before Roche and James Power reduced the gap once more. Clonea then drew right back into the contest when Billy Power supplied Thomas Skehan, who turned sharply and fired an excellent finish past Lar Power for the Comeragh side's second goal.
Stephen Curry passed up an opportunity to put Clonea in front when he shot wide under pressure from Lar Power, but Billy Power soon levelled affairs. Abbeyside regained the initiative through Treen before Michael O'Halloran added another point.
With Roche and Billy Power exchanging frees, all six Abbeyside starting forwards had registered scores by the time Eoin Kiely converted a free late in the half. The game's controversial moment arrived in added time when Treen's effort was initially waved wide, only for the stand-side linesman to indicate that the ball had passed between the posts. Referee Paddy Smyth accepted the recommendation and awarded the point.
A late Gearoid Power score left just a point between the sides at the interval, Abbeyside leading 1-13 to 2-9.
Willie Beresford and Thomas Skehan traded scores on the restart before Eoin Kiely landed an outstanding free from inside his own half to keep Abbeyside in front.
Seven minutes into the second half, Clonea took the lead for the first time. Francis Roche's long-range free dropped dangerously into the square and James Power reacted fastest to finish to the net, giving Clonea a 3-11 to 1-15 advantage.
Abbeyside's response demonstrated exactly why they remain one of the championship contenders. Robert Prunty pointed before a decisive moment moments later when Rian Walsh picked out Montgomery, who rifled to the net to put Abbeyside back in front.
That score shifted momentum firmly in Abbeyside's favour. Treen added another excellent point following good work from Eoin Kiely and Beresford, while Gearoid Power replied for Clonea.
Michael Kiely increased the lead before Treen and Beresford added further points as Abbeyside began to take control. Treen continued to torment the Clonea defence and his accuracy from play proved vital during this period.
James Power briefly stemmed the tide with a point, but Abbeyside continued to find answers. Treen added another score, Francis Roche converted after collecting a line ball, and scores from Brian Callaghan and Michael Kiely gave Abbeyside a healthy cushion entering the closing stages.
Clonea battled to the finish and Billy Power struck a late goal, but it ultimately proved only a consolation as Abbeyside maintained their composure and closed out a deserved victory.
The result gives Abbeyside an ideal start to their championship campaign, with Treen, Montgomery, Michael Kiely and Eoin Kiely among their standout performers. Clonea, meanwhile, will take encouragement from the attacking threat they posed throughout, having struck four goals, but will know they must tighten up defensively in their remaining group fixtures.
harlie Treen 1-8, Neil Montgomery 1-2, Michael Kiely 0-4, Willie Beresford 0-3, Eoin Kiely 0-2 (2f), Brian Callaghan 0-1, Robert Prunty 0-1, Michael O'Halloran 0-1, Rian Walsh 0-1, Sean Callaghan 0-1, Darragh Walsh 0-1.
Billy Power 1-2, James Power 1-2, Francis Roche 0-5, Thomas Skehan 1-1, Stephen Curry 1-0, Gearoid Power 0-1, Aaron Gleeson 0-1, David Flynn 0-1.
Lar Power; Colin Foley, Brian Looby, Robert Prunty; Billy O'Connell, Conor Prunty, Darragh Walsh; Willie Beresford, Sean Callaghan; Rian Walsh, Michael O'Halloran, Michael Kiely; Charlie Treen, Neil Montgomery, Eoin Kiely.
Brian Callaghan for Eoin Kiely (54), Evan McInerney for Sean Callaghan (58).
Jack Mackey; Willie Hahessy, Mairtin Power, Gearoid Power; Reece O'Mahony, David Flynn, Adam Murray; Michael Curry, Stephen Curry; Billy Power, Francis Roche, Ronan Elliffe; James Power, Conor Dalton, Thomas Skehan.
Kieran Power for Reece O'Mahony (HT), Niall Fahy for Michael Curry (HT), Pa Mackey for Gearoid Power (48), Aaron Gleeson for David Flynn (53).
Paddy Smith (Shamrocks).
