Ballina revival holds Moneygall

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3 Round 2

Ballina 3-16

Moneygall 2-19

Report: Liam Hogan at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Photos: Bridget Delaney

A 61st minute Steven O’Brien point saw Ballina claim a share of the points with Moneygall in what turned out to be a very entertaining second round game in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday afternoon.

O’Brien’s intervention came after Sean Kenneally had scored what looked like a winning point for Moneygall on the hour mark as Ballina’s unbeaten run threatened to come to an end.

Their performances so far turned many heads with their attractive, free flowing, and mostly direct style but the prowess of Michael Breen, Jack Collins, Tom Shanahan and Josh Egan was curtailed due to the equally potent Moneygall.

Were it not for David Kelly, Charlie King (1-3) and Eoghan Power, the Shannonsiders might well be seeking a remedy in order to find a remedy to make a quarter final spot a certainty when they meet Upperchurch/Drombane in the final round robin game.

Moneygall, for their part, have certainly put the disappointment of their North semi-final defeat to Burgess in the dustbin.

Eoghan Doughan continues to be their main talisman as the young wing forward scoring 2-7 (2-3 from play). Adam Hogan, Joe Fogarty, Brendan Toohy, Jack Kirwan and Roddy Teehan were others to shine.

The teams were level four times in the opening quarter after Charlie King made it 0-5 each. Seconds later, Doughan had the game’s opening goal for Moneygall after an assist by the ever present Aodhan Ryan before Joe Fogarty made it 1-6 to 0-6 in response to a David Kelly point.

As play continued, both sides traded scores starting with Matthew Power’s eighty-metre free with Tadgh Whyte, Josh Egan and Paddy Fogarty each on target.

Ballina had moved Billy Collins from the forty to bolster their midfield but Joe Fogarty and Adam Hogan continued to keep control with back-to-back points to see their team five in front, 1-10 to 0-8.

Then, Simon Grace’s puckout went astray and Doughan took full advantage for his second goal and a seven point margin was big but Charlie King replied with a vital score as the teams retired for a well-deserved interval break with leading Moneygall 2-10 to 0-10.

Both Eoghan Power and Cathal O’Donnell came into the action at half time for Ballina and both players made an impression straight away as they hit three points inside four minutes two from Matthew Power either side of a Cathal O’Donnell score from play.

An Doughan free kept Moneygall straight but Ballina continued their ascendency as Michael Breen’s long delivery dropped on the edge of the square where goalkeeper Mark Fanning appeared to have everything under control. However, possession was lost before Charlie King scrapped the ball over the line.

Did Moneygall have grounds for complaint? Not so said referee John Cleary and when play resumed Simon Grace was in action at the other end when denying Adam Hogan with a good save before Ballina went two in front after Jack Collins, Eoghan Power and Charlie King made it 1-6 to 2-11 on 48 minutes.

Moneygall responded by coming level after Eoghan Doughan pointing twice, the second an excellent score from play. A foul on David Kelly saw Matthew Power push Ballina back in front before an unusually quiet Michael Breen stormed down field to point.

It was end to end and in the 53rd minute it was Moneygall’s turn to regain the lead when Eoghan Doughan put Adam Hogan through on goal before firing low past Simon Grace.

Seconds later, the energetic Eoghan Power hit back with a Ballina goal. However, in a game where scores were level eight times and the lead changed hands many times, it was Moneygall’s turn to take up the baton and they raced to the finish line with three unanswered points through Doughan, Adam Hogan and a brilliant lead score by Sean Kenneally.

It all looked good for the Dubh agus Dearg but the evergreen Steven O’Brien stole the limelight with the equaliser just five minutes after coming on to earn a share of the spoils.

Player of the Match: Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall)

Ballina: Simon Grace (6); Michael Grace (7), Michael Breen (0-1, 7), David Coughlan (7); Terry O’Halloran (6), Jack Collins (0-1, 7), Zak Egan (0-1, 6); David Kelly (0-1, 7), Thomas Shanahan (6); Josh Egan (0-2, 7), Billy Collins (7), Brian Bourke (6); Charlie King (1-3, 7), Paddy Bradley (6), Matthew Power (0-7, 5f, 1’65) (7).

Subs: Eoghan Power (1-1, 8) for Bradley (HT Cathal O’Donnell (0-1, 7) for Bourke (HT); Brian Bourke for M Power (43-44 blood); Steven O’Brien (0-1, 7) for O’Donnell (56); JP Mbokha Tansia (NR) for Kelly (60+1 inj).

Moneygall: Mark Fanning (7); Shay Gleeson (7), Andy Hoolan (7), Roddy Teehan (7); Jack Kirwan (7), Brendan Toohey (7), Cian Ryan (7); Joe Fogarty (0-2, 7), Adam Hogan (1-3, 8); Paddy Fogarty (0-1, 6), Aodhan Ryan (7), Bob Kenny (6); Eoghan Doughan (2-7, 0-3f, 9), Tadgh Whyte (0-1, 6), Sean Kenneally (0-2, 7).

Subs: Eoin Whyte (6) for Kenny (51); Niall Maher (6) for T Whyte (57).

Referee: John Cleary (Knockshegowna).