Silvermines ease to league success

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Hurling League Final

Silvermines 4-17

Ballina 2-13

Report: Liam Hogan in Toomevara

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Bryan Seymour (Silvermines)

SCORERS - Silvermines: Willie Keogh 0-8 (6 frees); Bryan Seymour 1-3; Diarmuid Brennan 1-1; Niall Curran, Tiernan Flynn 1-0 each; Patrick Leamy 0-2; Sean Spillane, Daniel Keogh, Sean Quinlan 0-1 each.

Ballina: Eoin Slattery 0-9 (4 frees, 2 ’65s); Mark Lyons, Conor Power 1-0 each; Brian O’Connor, Robbie Breen, Jack O’Mahoney, Brian McKeogh 0-1 each.

Silvermines regained the North Junior ‘B’ Hurling League title when they had too much power for Ballina in the final on Saturday evening.

Once they took the lead in the sixth minute there was no way of stopping the 2021 beaten finalists as they dominated almost every position, aided by nine players who got on the scoresheet.

Ballina were disappointing but perhaps the exploits of the semi-final win against Borrisokane three days previous when they needed extra time and penalties to secure passage took its toll.

But it must be said that a quick glance at the team sheet the ‘Mines outfit was littered with senior experience in Niall Curran and William Keogh in attack with strong support from Bryan Seymour while Cathal Kennedy and captain Cathal Gleeson formed a strong spine to the defence with Cathal Sherlock strong in goal where Kevin Hayden and Peter Kennedy were prominent on the wings.

Ballina had good performances from Jerry O’Brien, Teddy Doyle and especially Eoin Slattery who was almost a one-man band in the second half, while Dara King, Jack O’Mahoney, Mark Lyons and Brian McKeogh caught the eye.

Brian O’Connor gave Ballina the lead after two minutes before Sean Spillane levelled. As both sides had the respective defences under pressure the deadlock was broken in the sixth minute when William Keogh scored a splendid point from the wing.

With the help of a slight breeze there was continued pressure from Silvermines as Niall Curran led the way and after he won a free, William Keogh converted. Curran was to play a pivotal part of the ‘Mines attack and more long ball followed with the former Mullinahone man won more possession before providing an assist for Diarmuid Brennan who was fouled. Keogh converted to give Mines a three-point cushion.

Ballina had their moments too and in the thirteenth minute Mark Lyons rounded the left flank of the Silvermines defence and sent a powerful shot past Cathal Sherlock for a goal.

Silvermines responded in style when Curran, again acted as target man, in the sixteenth minute he sent Bryan Seymour through on goal to give James Power no chance. Barely thirty seconds later, another high ball from midfield saw Curran get the vital touch steering the ball over the line despite the attention of James Power and Conor Bourke.

In the 20th minute, Bryan Seymour increased the ‘Mines lead to seven but a quick response from Robbie Breen left the scoreline reading Silvermines 2-5 Ballina 1-2.

After William Keogh and Eoin Slattery traded frees, the ‘Mines increased their lead with three quick points from play through William Keogh, Bryan Seymour and Daniel Keogh whose presence was very influential.

Ballina continued to battle and two points from Slattery (free) and Jack O’Mahoney reduced the deficit to 2-9 to 1-5 at half time.

Any chance of a Ballina revival suffered a severe setback as Diarmuid Brennan had the ‘Mines third goal inside a minute of the restart. The ever-busy Patrick Leamy added a point but in response, Ballina won a close range free. Eoin Slattery went low but Cathal Sherlock saved at the expense of a 65 which Slattery converted. In the 37th minute Slattery directed another 65 straight and through.

However, the game went Silvermines’ way over the next three minutes as they went for the jugular with William Keogh (free), Diarmuid Brennan and Bryan Seymour added a point each. Then in the 41st minute Tiernan Flynn found the back of the net with a goal after Niall Curran picked him out from the corner.

Despite the lob-sided nature of the scoreline, Ballina refused to give up. After Eoin Slattery’s long range free was cancelled out by a William Keogh free, the lakesiders managed to score three unanswered points, the first a brilliant effort by Slattery on the wing, with the same player adding a ninety-metre free before Brian McKeogh also scored.

With both sides emptying their bench, Silvermines added three more points in the final eight minutes. Ballina responded with 1-2, the goal from Conor Power after the right corner back ventured up field untracked.

By then Silvermines didn’t need to be vigilant as the silverware was heading towards Dolla.

TEAMS - Silvermines: Cathal Sherlock; Michael Hogan, Damien Boland, Cynan Bailey; Kevin Hayden, Cathal Gleeson, Peter Kennedy; Tiernan Flynn, Patrick Leamy; Bryan Seymour, Diarmuid Brennan, William Keogh; Ciaran Timmons, Niall Curran, Sean Spillane.

Subs: Daniel Keogh for Spillane (26 inj); Cathal McGrath for Flynn (52); John Ryan for Timmons (55); TJ Timmons for Hayden (59); Sean Quinlan for D Keogh (59 inj).

Ballina: James Power; Conor Power, Conor Bourke, Cian Molloy; James Hanley, Jerry O’Brien, Teddy Doyle; Dara King, Jack O’Mahoney; Corey, Ryan, Eoin Slattery, Robbie Breen; Brian McKeogh, Brian O’Connor, Mark Lyons.

Subs: Eoin Sheedy for O’Connor (39); Jack Quinn for Breen (46); Eoin Kennedy for O’Mahoney (52); Braoin Cleary for Bourke (55); Des Morgan for McKeogh (58).

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Eire Og).