Short-handed Ballina are no match for Commercials

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 2

Clonmel Commercials 2-16

Ballina 0-7

Report: Michael Dundon in Drombane

Photos: Diarmuid Brennan/SportsFocus

No surprise here. Outsiders Ballina’s challenge to a fancied Clonmel Commercials in round 2 of group 2 of the County Senior Football Championship on Saturday evening was compromised even before the throw-in through the absence of key players, a luxury they could ill-afford against opposition of such quality.

With an eye on an important hurling game against Upperchurch/Drombane this weekend in the county championship, Ballina started without Steven O’Brien, Michael Breen and Charlie King, and while King came on to good effect in the second half, the tie was effectively decided at that stage as they trailed the Clonmel lads by 0-3 to 1-11.

At full strength and on top of their game, Ballina would be stretched to beat this very talented Clonmel Commercials side. Understrength, their chances were very slim and so it transpired as Commercials dictated from the start, were never in any bother, and could afford to wind down their effort after the break without ever being under threat.

Dominating possession from the start, Commercials had points from Sean O’Connor and Peter McGarry inside four minutes and then O’Connor hit their first goal after six minutes.

O’Connor added another point before Teddy Doyle, Ballina’s best player, landed a two-pointer free, followed quickly by a Ben King point after thirteen minutes.

Trailing 0-3 to 1-3, Ballina seemed to be settling but it was Commercials who played all the football, Ballina did not score again before the interval by which time Commercials had chalked up 1-11 and were home and dried. Sean O’Connor (1-3) and Peter McGarry (0-4) led the way applying the finishing touch to the excellent build-up play of their colleagues.

Ballina had a better second half with subs Charlie King, Cathal O’Donnell and Terry O’Halloran adding energy to their game, but Commercials had eased down though they might have had a couple of more goals with Michael Quinlivan coming close on a few occasions.

Commercials’ second goal arrived shortly before the final whistle when Sean O’Connor was set up by Ryan Lambe and steered his shot clear of Dara King in the Ballina goal.

Stiffer challenges may lie ahead but, on this form, Clonmel Commercials are going to take beating. They have a wealth of talent at their disposal and with some new faces introduced, there is a greater energy and hunger about the team. However, the old guard still lead the way.

Seamus Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Michael Quinlivan, and Tadhg Condon controlled the game. Peter McGarry was flying in attack but the man of the match was Sean O’Connor who hit 2-4 from play and added a point from a free for good measure.

Next up for Ballina is tie with Ardfinnan. Following their first round win over Granemockler/Ballyneale, the clash with Ardfinnan was always going to be a campaign defining moment for the North lads who, despite this heavy defeat, will give themselves every chance of a success that could carry them through to the knock-out stages. It is still very much all to play for and with the full complement available Ballina are well capable of going through.

Teddy Doyle was Ballina’s best player and showed his county qualities as he sought to get his side moving.

Charlie Grace also worked very hard as did Daniel Tighe and JP Mbokha Tansia, while Charlie King, Terry O’Halloran and Cathal O’Connell all did very well when introduced in the second half.

Player of the Match: Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials)

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan (6); Mark Corcoran (6), James Morris (6), Rory Slattery (6); Kevin Fahey (0-1, 6), Seamus Kennedy (0-1, 7), Tadhg Condon (7); Jack Kennedy (0-2, 7), Darragh O’Connor (6); Cian Smith (6), Sean O’Connor (2-5, 0-1f, 9), Rory O’Dowd (6); Ryan Lambe (6), Michael Quinlivan (0-2, 7), Peter McGarry (0-5, 8).

Subs: Ross Peters (6) for O’Dowd (40), Jamie Ahern (6) for S Kennedy (45).

Ballina: Dara King (6); Daniel Tighe (7), Cillian Ryan (6), Sean Lyons (6); Conor Power (0-1, 7), David Coughlan (6), Eoghan Power (6); JP Mbokha Tansia (7), Paddy Bradley (6); Charlie Grace (7), Teddy Doyle (0-5, 2x2ptf, 1f, 7), Finn Looney (6); Ben King (0-1, 6), Jack O’Mahoney (6), Matthew Power (6).

Subs: Charlie King (7) for Bradley (HT); Cathal O’Donnell (7) for M Power (HT); Terry O’Halloran (7) for Lyons (40); Cian O’Donoghue (6) for Coughlan (45); Ronan Coughlan (6) for Looney (50).

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly).