Burgess dig in to hold off Ballina

GAA: FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division 3 Final

Burgess 2-12

Ballina 1-14

Report: James Hayden in Dolla

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: David Kelly (Ballina)

SCORERS – Burgess: Stephen Murray 0-9 (8 frees); Tony Dunne 2-0; Eoin Hogan 0-2; Danny Ryan 0-1.

Ballina: Matthew Power 0-8 frees; Jack Collins 1-0; David Kelly, Paddy O’Donovan, David Grace, Cathal O’Donnell, Donie Whelan, Brian McKeogh 0-1 each.

Burgess staved off a spirited second half Ballina comeback to claim the Dr. Fogarty Cup in what was a well-contested County Hurling League Division 3 final on Saturday afternoon.

Despite being numerically disadvantaged for 35 minutes and facing into the teeth of stiff breeze for the second half Burgess conjured up all their experience and tactical nous to hold out against a Ballina side who trailed by ten points at the interval.

In essence the winning of the game came just two minutes before the break when full-forward Tony Dunne broke through the Ballina cover on not one but two occasions in the space of a couple of minutes.

Dunne’s two-goal salvo handed the Burgess men a timely fillip also as the interval approached after they had been reduced to fourteen-men on 25 minutes after Michael Ryan saw red following an off-the-ball altercation with Paddy O’Donovan.

With the aid of a strong breeze, Burgess depended heavily on the free-taking abilities of Stephen Murray in the opening quarter. Although fielding a heavily depleted side Ballina took an early lead thanks to points from Donie Whelan and Matthew Power (free) before three pointed frees from the ever-accurate Murray edged Burgess in front. Two further pointed frees from the Burgess corner-forward saw the men in green and gold lead by 0-5 to 0-2 with sixteen minutes elapsed.

Burgess went on to stretch that lead further in the second quarter with Danny Ryan, Eoin Hogan, Donagh Maher and Keith Nealon all catching the eye although Ballina’s David Kelly was keeping the Burgess midfield well on their toes with his driving runs and all-round general play. Danny Ryan and Eoin Hogan extended Burgess’ advantage with two fine points from play before Tony Dunne’s brace before the break ensured Natal O’Grady’s charges led by 2-8 to 0-4 at the interval.

With the elements now in their favour Ballina set about whittling down the ten-point deficit and three Matthew Power pointed frees on the bounce made a huge dent in Burgess’ advantage. Eoin Hogan responded with a fine effort from range before David Grace and the impressive David Kelly reduced the gap to six.

Ballina were dominating the majority of exchanges at this stage, but a few poor wides hampered their progress before Cathal O’Donovan cut the gap to five with a 51st minute point.

Burgess battled hard to contain a Ballina side that were clearly in the ascendancy and when Jack Collins unleashed a thunderbolt past the outstretched Ronan Tucker in the 53rd minute it appeared Ballina were odds-on to push on for victory.

Credit to Burgess though they dug deep with a Stephen Murray point from close-range free before Paddy O’Donovan reduced the gap to two points with a fine 55th minute effort. Murray bisected the uprights again from play in the first minute of injury time to afford Burgess some breathing space.

The closing stages saw Ballina push on again to bridge the divide with points from Matthew Power (free) and Brian McKeogh leaving the bare minimum between the sides.

Referee, Gerry Treacy played in excess of six minutes of injury time and in fairness Ballina had the opportunity to level, but Matthew Power’s effort sailed agonizingly to the wrong side of the upright. Matters got a little fractious towards the end as Burgess sought to run down the clock but in the finish, it was the men in green and gold who came away with a hard-earned one-point victory.

TEAMS - Burgess: Ronan Tucker (7), Pat Woods (7), Kieran Ryan (7), Tom Gibson (7); Donagh Maher (J-Capt, 7), Keith Nealon (7), Willie Ryan (7); Danny Ryan (0-1,7), Daire Hogan (7); Eoin Hogan (J-Capt, 7), Brian Tucker (7), Michael Ryan (5); Garrett Howard (7), Tony Dunne (8), Stephen Murray (7).

Subs: Jonathan Ryan (7) for Howard (38); Aaron Sharkey (NR) for Tucker (57).

Ballina: Martin McKeogh (Capt, 7); Diarmuid Whelan (7), Thomas Collins (7), Terry O’Halloran (7); Sam Loughran (7), Conor Maguire (7), Jack Collins (7); David Kelly (8), Paddy O’Donovan (7); Corey Ryan (7), Eoin Slattery (7), David Grace (7); Cathal O’Donnell (7), Matthew Power (7), Donie Whelan (7).

Sub: Brian McKeogh (6) for Ryan (46).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)