County joy for Ballina

GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 19 'A' Football Final

Ballina 0-7

Clonmel Commercials 0-6

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

Jack Grace’s point on the hour mark helped Ballina secure a memorable win over a fancied Clonmel Commercials side to win the inaugural County Under 19 A football final in a dramatic finish at The Ragg last Saturday afternoon.

In a well contested game that saw scores level four times, the full forward secured the winner from twenty metres, much to the delight of a well-supported Ballina who had to suffer another three and a half minutes of added time which saw Commercials with the chance of the equaliser, but Peter McGarry’s angle free was off target seconds before referee Seanie Peters blew full time.

This was a victory fashioned on discipline and will to win. It needed to be because in terms of possession, the North champions had to shore up their defence for long periods, especially in the first half, and depend on breaking out from defence, which they did as the leadership of Kian Donnelly, who played well despite having a heavily strapped leg, with good support from Mark Lyons, Daniel Tight, Jack Collins and Cian Molloy in front of goalkeeper Adam Fogarty who made one great save in the first half but caused anxiety for a moment in the second half when he appeared to have allowed possession of the ball slip over his goal line. Neither umpire moved to raise a flag.

Matthew Power led the way at midfield, something he has done so often in the past with Josh Egan, Sam Loughran, Charlie and Dara King cementing the middle third of the field, Cathal O’Donnell, David Grace and Jack Grace, who should have scored a goal mid-way through the second half but his shot came back off the crossbar. In addition, his compatriot Jack Grace was the match winner and finished top scorer and was guilty of kicking a guilt edge goal chance wide from close in, but earns the man-of-the-match award nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Commercials, who claimed they should have been awarded the goal after the Ballina keeper slipped up, were extremely disappointed to lose this game. Possession is key in any game but how one uses it is another and Commercials overindulgence in passing from side to side cost them, especially in the first half. Yet, no fault can be laid at the feet of Peter McGarry who tried every trick in the book to carve holes in the Ballina defence. Declan Nee was a constant mover in the first half but his presence was not as evident as the game developed while James Morris, Cathal Deeley and Conor Parker had their moments. Eoin McCarthy, Tadgh Condon and Ross Lattery kept their part of the bargain in defence with goalkeeper Shane Ryan, son of Philly the former Tipperary keeper in the 1990s and early noughties, made two great saves.

On a cautious note, the game had other drama and was delayed for over a half an hour when the Commercial’s official collapsed on the bank behind the Ballina dugout. Supporters, some with strong medical training, raced to his aid and eventually, the man was seen walking to a car and taken to a waiting ambulance parked outside the pitch. Thankfully, he has recovered well.

Ballina were quick off the mark when Cathal O’Donnell scored after thirty six seconds before Commercials levelled in the sixth minute through Peter McGarry after a sustained term of possession.

One minute later, Ballina’s Daniel Tighe was through on goal but his shot was easily saved by Shane Ryan. Both sides continued to share attacking ideas before Peter McGarry edged Commercials in front just before the waterbreak in the 17th minute.

When play resumed Commercials increased their lead with a Conor Parker free. Seconds later Peter McGarry was denied by Adam Fogarty. When play switched to the other end Jack Grace blasted wide from close in. Undeterred, the North champions came once more with Sam Loughran narrowing the gap before two Jack Grace frees gave the North men a 0-4 to 0-3 lead at half time.

After the interval, Ballina continued where they left off and in the 37th minute David Grace fired a rocket off the crossbar before Jack Grace added a free. Commercials regrouped for substitute Kian O’Reilly to score on his first touch in the 39th minute. Conor Parker levelled three minutes later. But Ballina had found their niche again as Charlie King brought the best from Shane Ryan.

After the second waterbreak in the 46th minute, Ballina regained the lead 0-6 to 0-5, after Jack Grace converted a free before play came to a halt with Tommy Twomey needing attention. When play resumed Commercials came more into the game but were very wasteful in front of goal. Then in the 54th minute they harboured a split second of joy when Ballina keeper Adam Fogarty allowed a high ball slip from his hand and drop behind him into an open goal, but neither umpire reached for a flag.

They produced one more attack but Peter McGarry elected to tap over the bar when a goal was a possibility. However, Ballina recovered with Cathal O’Donnell’s effort rebounding off the top of the uprigh. But refusing to panic, they recycled the ball before Charlie King sent Jack Grace through for the winner, making it a wonderful week for the Lough Derg side following their County Junior A success last week.

TEAMS - Ballina: Adam Fogarty (7); David Coughlan (7), Kian Donnelly (8), Mark Lyons (7); Daniel Tighe (7), Jack Collins (7), Cian Molloy (7); Matthew Power (capt) (8), Sam Loughran (8); Charlie King (8), Josh Egan (7), Dara King (7); Cathal O’Donnell (7), Jack Grace (8), David Grace (8).

Subs: Ian Larkin (6) for Tighe (HT); Shane Kelly (n/r) for Lyons (54).

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan (8); Oisin Power (7), Ross Lattery (7), Josh Kennedy (7); Rory O’Dowd (7), Tadgh Condon (capt) (7), Sean Cooney (7); Eoin McCarty (7), Cathal Deely (8); Dean Cagney (7), Eoin McCarthy (7), Declan Nee (8); Cian Smith (7), Peter McGarry (8), Conor Parker (7).

Subs: Eoin Walsh for Cooney (HT); Kian O’Reilly for Cagney (39); Ruairi Leahy for Parker (46)

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow)