SHC Round 5: Players Of The Week

Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship Round 5: Players Of The Week

Senior Hurling Player of The Week

1st place

1. Joe Corby (Clough-Ballacolla) vs Portlaoise

Photo credit: Captured By Oonagh

Joe Corby takes top spot for player of the week as he was outstanding for the entirety of the game for Clough Ballacolla, scoring 0-6 from play and maintaining a remarkable intensity throughout despite the game being effectively over as a contest early on. (The 15th minute mark when Clough Ballacolla went way beyond Portlaoise’s reach.) He dominated midfield, with clean high catches to win possession, from both play and puckouts, carried the ball at pace and scoring repeatedly from around 50 metres every time, all scores came from long range. He also showed excellent defensive work rate, his man marking pressure forcing a wide from Portlaoise Matthew Dempsey while Corby’s quick handpasses and runs helped create Cormac Hogan’s 2nd half goal. Most impressive was his refusal to let his standards drop in the second half, continuing to compete, win possession and score from distance. A superb performance that demonstrated both his ability and mentality.

2. James Duggan (The Harps) v Ballinakill

James Duggan produced a brilliant attacking display, scoring 2-4 from play. He scored two goals inside six minutes and could have had four, with two further efforts brilliantly saved. The Harps had the game effectively won after just 33 minutes, but Duggan continued to express himself, producing an outrageous 70-metre point, two superb scores from acute angles under pressure and an outstanding one-handed scoop-and-strike point. His second-half performance was particularly impressive given the game was already decided, showing his hunger, skill and desire to keep proving himself.

3. Honourable Mention; Justin Duggan

Justin Duggan also deserves an honourable mention for an excellent display. He scored 1-3 from play, directly set up James Duggan’s second goal and created numerous problems for Ballinakill. His own goal was particularly impressive, beating two defenders with clever footwork, changing direction to wrong-foot them before using his pace and strength to burst through and finish. He also came close to scoring a second goal in the second half, only to be denied by a brilliant save.

Despite the games being non competivive so early on after huge leads were taken and Portlaoise/Ballinakill couldnt cut the deficit, effectively ending games as a contest so early by either 15 mins (Portlaoise) or 33 mins (Ballinakill) all three players of Joe Corby (CB) and James and Justin Duggan (Harps) all continued to perform with huge intensity and ambition long after the contests had effectively been decided. Their ability to maintain those standards and continue producing moments of quality was a major feature of their performances: phycologically. Impeciable mentality on display to respect the integrity of the games despite the scorelines.

Junior A Hurling Player Of The Week: 

Special mention

Scott Coyle (Midfielder for Camross’ Junior A Side)

Although this is a Senior Hurling Player Review, I have to give a special mention, and to Camross Junior A hurler Scott Coyle for his outstanding performance against Castletown in the JHC A Semi-Final on Thursday night, 3rd September.

Despite Camross ultimately being defeated, Scott really caught my eye and I simply couldn’t ignore his performance just because Camross lost. He was that good.

It was the best example I seen of a hurler having to adapt to absolutley trecherous weather conditions which even affected visibility it rained so heavily.

In extremely difficult conditions, with lashing rain and a very slippery pitch and sliotar, Scott showed excellent adaptability, hurling intelligence, skill and awareness throughout the game.

In the first half, when a ball came towards him hard and fast, instead of taking a risk trying to catch it cleanly in the wet conditions, he cleverly used his hurl to take a touch first, bringing the sliotar under control before transferring it into his hands. A great example of adapting his technique to the conditions.

Then in the second half, he did it again. As a long, swirling ball rolled towards him, Scott cleverly placed his hurl in front of it, flicking the sliotar up off the ground and straight into his hands to maintain possession rather than attempting a difficult scoop.

Moments later, when Castletown sent a long ball into their attack, Scott produced another excellent piece of hurling skill; a one-touch, long flick away from danger, clearing the ball a significant distance. That piece of defensive work helped relieve the pressure and led to a Camross free by Niall Bennett.

Scott was then immediately involved defensively again. Showing great pace, vision and awareness, he read the next Castletown attack perfectly, got out in front of Castletown’s Joe Phelan in midfield and won the race to the sliotar with a perfectly timed interception. He won it cleanly and immediately pucked it away, turning defence into attack.

Scott was also extremely effective when he moved into a centre-back role in the second half. On several occasions, when the sliotar was surrounded by multiple players and hurls were battling on the ground, Scott somehow managed to emerge from the congestion with possession.

One of those pieces of work was particularly important, as he came away with the ball and helped launch a Camross attack which ultimately resulted in Niall Bennett scoring from play.

And again, when Castletown sent another long, dangerous dropping ball into the Camross defence, Scott was there with another high flick of his hurl to clear the danger.

Then came yet another high flick away from another long Castletown delivery.

The Flicks Really Stood Out;

I counted at least five clear examples of Scott using his hurl brilliantly to either gain possession, maintain possession or clear danger:

1. Hurl touch to control a difficult ball before taking it into his hands.
2. Hurl flick to lift a rolling ball into his hands.
3. Long one-touch flick to clear a dangerous Castletown attack.
4. High flick to clear another dangerous dropping ball.
5. Another high flick away from a long Castletown delivery.

And there were plenty of other clever hurl touches and pieces of skill throughout the game.

What impressed me most wasn’t just the skill itself; it was his decision-making. In those horrible conditions, Scott recognised when catching or scooping wasn’t the best option and used his hurl to give himself the best chance of keeping possession or getting the ball out of danger.

He combined that with pace, defensive awareness, clean interceptions, physical competitiveness and excellent vision, while also helping create attacking opportunities for Camross.

For a player whose team was ultimately beaten, Scott Coyle left a very strong impression on me.

A real standout performance. A masterclass in adapting to difficult hurling conditions.