Ballina’s Diarmuid Whelan gets away from Portroe’s Ruadhán Mulrooney. Photo: Odhran Ducie

Madden goals see Port edge Ballina

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals

Portroe 3-11

Ballina 1-16

Report: Michael Brophy in Toomevara

Two second half goals from Sam Madden were crucial as Portroe overcame neighbours Ballina in the North Premier Intermediate Hurling quarter-final on Saturday evening.

Portroe didn’t hit the front until Madden’s first goal in the 47th minute, and his second in the 58th minute was again vital after a Ballina resurgence.

Ballina will be rueing their fifteen wides, including nine in the second half. Their inaccuracy matched Portroe’s in the first half, who also hit nine wides before the interval despite playing with a breeze which neither attack could master.

Ballina wing-back Jack Collins got the match off to a fast start, surging through the Portroe defence before striking low past Diarmuid Boyle for their first and only goal in the second minute.

Ballina had the better of the opening exchanges with Matthew Power adding a free and points from Cathal O’Donnell and David Grace. Colm Gleeson and AJ Willis kept Portroe in touch before Donie Whelan picked up the first of his five points for Ballina with an excellent solo effort.

The middle third was becoming increasingly frantic and physical as the first half progressed, and scores dried up for both teams.

Ballina’s Tipperary star Mikey Breen scored nicely off his right but was well watched throughout the game by his Portroe namesake Michael Breen and county colleague Robert Byrne.

Frees from John Sheedy kept Portroe in touch and in the sixteenth minute, AJ Willis was dragged down in the square as he ran through on goal. Sheedy sent Martin McKeogh the wrong way from the resultant penalty to bring Portroe back within a point.

It would be Portroe’s last score of the half, however, as their inaccurate shooting from play was frustrating efforts to close the gap further. McKeogh made an excellent save from Mark Gennery which could have put Portroe in front, but Ballina responded with two more points from the energetic Donie Whelan and an excellent long-range strike from midfielder David Kelly. Ballina went into the dressing rooms with a 1-8 to 1-4 lead.

Portroe started the second half the sharper with Sheedy adding another free before Ballina keeper McKeogh again stopped a goal-bound shot from Gennery, whose aerial prowess became a problem for Ballina in the second half.

After Sheedy and Power traded frees, Sheedy scored his first from play after feeding off a high catch from Gennery. Kevin O’Halloran, who had an excellent second half in the Portroe midfield, scored beautifully from the left side-line to close the gap to one point.

The Portroe defence, anchored by Breen and Byrne, was starting to get on top and Breen set up John Sheedy for his second point from play midway through the half.

Portroe hit the front for the first time in the 47th minute when Mark Gennery caught another long ball around the square before laying it off to Sam Madden, who finished it low to the net.

Ballina quickly brought things level through points for Paddy O’Donovan and Matthew Power, before Portroe’s O’Halloran scored a terrific long-range point from midfield while under severe pressure.

Ballina had a great chance for a second goal with six minutes left when Power collected a loose ball and ran in on goal, but his shot was well saved by Diarmuid Boyle and eventually cleared.

Two more points for Donie Whelan and a free for Power opened up a two-point lead for Ballina before Madden’s second crucial goal in the 58th minute for Portroe. Collecting the ball 65 metres from goal, Madden saw the space in front of him as he surged forward and struck low beyond McKeogh.

Another free from Sheedy gave Portroe a two-point cushion in added time as Ballina looked to rescue the game. Paddy O’Donovan was bearing down on the Portroe goal but his effort was blocked and a resultant one-handed pull from Matthew Power flew agonisingly over the crossbar to close the gap to one point.

Power would then receive a straight red card for an off the ball incident with Portroe’s Michael Breen.

Ballina would have one more chance to force extra-time but Mikey Breen’s long-range free went wide to the right with the last puck of the game.

Player of the Match: Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe)

Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (7); Michael Creamer (6), Michael Breen (8), John Moroney (6); Christopher Riordan (7), Robert Byrne (7), Jack Moloney (6); Colm Gleeson (0-1, 6), Kevin O’Halloran (0-2, 8); Anthony Burke (6), John Sheedy (1-7, 0-5f, 1-0 pen) 8), AJ Willis (0-1, 6); Ruan Mulrooney (6), Mark Gennery (8), Sam Madden (2-0, 8).

Sub: Kieran McKeogh (NR) for Moloney (58).

Ballina: Martin McKeogh (7); Diarmuid Whelan (6), Josh Egan (7), Terry O’Halloran (6); Sam Loughran (7), Tom Collins (7), Jack Collins (1-0, 7); Paddy O’Donovan (0-1, 8), David Kelly (0-1, 8); Conor Maguire (7), Cathal O’Donnell (0-1, 6), David Grace (0-1, 6); Matthew Power (0-6, 5f) 7), Mikey Breen (0-1, 6), Donie Whelan (0-5, 8).

Referee: Tommy Ryan (Kiladangan)