Ballinahinch fall short in gripping finale
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final
Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-14
Ballinahinch 0-15
Ballinahinch 0-15
Report: Shane Brophy in Borrisoleigh
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Ger Grace (Ballinahinch)
SCORERS - Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Keane Hayes 0-6 (4 frees, 1 65); Fionn Cleary 1-2 (0-2 frees); Ronan Teehan 0-3; Brian Maher, Shay Butler, Gearoid Fahey 0-1 each.
Ballinahinch: Shane McGrath 0-8 frees; Kevin Mulcahy, John Foley 0-2 each; Brian Keane, Davy Gleeson, Brendan Ryan 0-1 each.
Player of the Match: Ger Grace (Ballinahinch)
SCORERS - Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Keane Hayes 0-6 (4 frees, 1 65); Fionn Cleary 1-2 (0-2 frees); Ronan Teehan 0-3; Brian Maher, Shay Butler, Gearoid Fahey 0-1 each.
Ballinahinch: Shane McGrath 0-8 frees; Kevin Mulcahy, John Foley 0-2 each; Brian Keane, Davy Gleeson, Brendan Ryan 0-1 each.
An outstanding block from Karl Campion with almost the last play of the game denied Ballinahinch a last gasp winner as Gortnahoe/Glengoole progressed to the semi-finals of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday.
It was a dramatic finale to a game that Ballinahinch didn’t look like coming close to winning at half time when they trailed by eight points at half time, but they turned things around after the break, restricting Gortnahoe to just two points but the Mid men just about hung on for victory and a semi-final against Knockavilla Kickhams.
It was a game that was a slow burner but grew in excitement in the second half as Ballinahinch tried to reel in Gortnahoe, aided by a double red card in the 42nd minute which generated spice for the remainder of the game, and led to thirteen minutes of added time.
Gortnahoe’s Adrian Maher was sent out for lashing out at Darragh McGrath after Maher had been struck in the groin area, and would have led to him being substituted before referee Gerry Treacy brandished the red card, which he also issued to Ballinahinch goalkeeper Cormac McGrath who came from his goal to contribute to the subsequent melee.
Ballinahinch were on the march at that stage having trailed 1-12 to 0-7 at half time. Bar fine points from John Foley and David Gleeson, Ballinahinch relied on the free-taking of Shane McGrath for their other five points at the half. However, Gortanhoe were much slicker at the other end with former Tipperary under 21 Ronan Teehan to the fore with three smashing points from play while Shay Butler and Gearoid Fahey also landed good scores. Keane Hayes punished any Ballinahinch indiscipline and against the breeze, the North men would have been happy going in at the break five points down but were hit by a sucker goal in first half injury time when good work from Aidan Guilfoyle led to Fionn Cleary finding the net for a 1-12 to 0-7 half time lead.
With the elements behind them, Ballinahinch slowly went about whittling down the Gortnahoe lead with McGrath, Brian Keane and Kevin Mulcahy on target. After the red cards were issued, the trend of the game remained the same as the superb Ger Grace played in Mulcahy for his second point before a seventh Shane McGrath free brought Ballinahinch back within three at the second water break.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole could get nothing going in the second half, over playing the ball when scoring chances were there and you could see the pressure growing on them and Ballinahinch added to it with John Foley and another Shane McGrath free bringing them within one with four minutes of normal time to go.
Gortnahoe were becoming frustrated with some of the refereeing decisions going against them but they finally got their first score of the second half through a well-struck Fionn Cleary free in the second minute of added time.
Between injury and yellow cards being issued, the injury time mounted up and in the 64th minute Ballinahinch sub Brendan Ryan reduced the arrears to one once more. Another four minutes followed before Ronan Teehan won a vital free which Fionn Cleary converted.
Another five minutes of added time followed with Ballinahinch almost snatching a winning goal as Shane McGrath, who was moved to full forward after sustaining a bang on the head, got on the end of a long ball over Davy Nolan and shaking off the defender, looked set to win the game but Karl Campion came from nowhere to make a superb last ditch block which proved to the defining play in this gripping encounter.
TEAMS – Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Timmy Dunne (7); Philly Purcell (7), Davy Nolan (7), Enda McCarthy (6); Brian Maher (8), Karl Campion (8), Martin Barnville (7); Jack Moore (6), Aidan Guilfoyle (7); Shay Butler (7), Fionn Cleary (7), Ronan Teehan (7); Adrian Maher (7), Keane Hayes (6), Gearoid Fahey (6).
Subs: Kevin Slattery (6) for Fahey (42); Colm Guilfoyle (6) for Hayes (60); Dermot Lahart (6) for Butler (60+2).
Ballinahinch: Cormac McGrath (6); Tom Grace (7), Frank Troy (7), Cathal Ryan (7); Karl Kelly (7), Paddy Kelly (7), Darragh McGrath (7); Ger Grace (8), Brian Keane (6); Shane McGrath (7), Davy Gleeson (7), Karl Kelly (6); Kevin Mulcahy (7), John Foley (7), Adam Ryan (6).
Subs: Alan Kelly (6) for A Ryan (42); Brendan Ryan (7) for Keane (59).
Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).
Subs: Kevin Slattery (6) for Fahey (42); Colm Guilfoyle (6) for Hayes (60); Dermot Lahart (6) for Butler (60+2).
Ballinahinch: Cormac McGrath (6); Tom Grace (7), Frank Troy (7), Cathal Ryan (7); Karl Kelly (7), Paddy Kelly (7), Darragh McGrath (7); Ger Grace (8), Brian Keane (6); Shane McGrath (7), Davy Gleeson (7), Karl Kelly (6); Kevin Mulcahy (7), John Foley (7), Adam Ryan (6).
Subs: Alan Kelly (6) for A Ryan (42); Brendan Ryan (7) for Keane (59).
Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).