Ballina’s greater focus key in derby win

Ballina 1-21

Portroe 1-14

 

Ballina defied their O Riain Cup status and recent form by getting the better of near neighbours Portroe in a dour North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship round 1 tie on Saturday evening.

However, Ballina won’t mind a jot how they progressed to the quarter final but and while the game won’t live long in the memory, as the lakesiders certainly deserved their victory, showing the greater purpose throughout, even if they relied heavily on Michael Breen for their scores.

The Tipperary panellist shot 14 of his sides 21 points, 13 from placed balls in a game littered with frees with Portroe only registering two scores of their tally from open play in what was an untypical performance from them, lacking the desire you’d usually associate with them.

They also got on the wrong side of the referee with Michael Murphy moving the ball forward on four occasions for dissent, as well as booking yellow carding four players (2 for Ballina) also with the red card for Ruadhan Mulrooney on 51 minutes leaving Port with an uphill task at that stage and despite handing Ballina a few nervy moments in injury time when a Kevin O’Halloran goal from a 21 yard free brought the margin back to three points, few from Portroe could have any complaints about the result.

 

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