Late Ryan goal sends Ballina down preliminary route

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

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-16

Ballina 1-15

Report: John O’Shea At Sean Treacy Park, Kilcommon

Upperchurch/Drombane came within seconds of crashing out of the County Premier Hurling Championship on Saturday before a Gavin Ryan free from all of seventy-five metres went direct to the Ballina net for a late late victory that saw them top the group and send Ballina into a preliminary quarter final.

This was a very tight marking contest of high intensity with very little open play. During a tense opening thirty minutes never more than two points separated the sides, with every score hard earned.

Upperchurch were quickly off the mark when Toby Corbett found the unmarked Paddy Phelan with a pin-point pass to register the opening score after just thirty-five seconds.

Three minutes later, Gavin Ryan doubled their advantage from a long range free. From the puck-out Zak Egan attacked before opening his sides account with a well-taken point.

Luke Shanahan and Jack Collins exchanged minors before Gavin Ryan picked out Phelan with a neat pass to make it 0-4 to 0-2.

Matthew Power drew a close range free which he converted before Eoghan Power brought the sides level. Luke Shanahan tapped over a free following an accidental trip on Pat Ryan. In their next attack, Ballina, through Zak Egan doubled his account.

Paddy Phelan was finding space in a tight game and again was picked out by Toby Corbett around midfield, to register his third point. Jack Collins finished a good attacking move following an inter-change with his namesake Billy, to tie the game for the third time.

Scores were at a premium, with both defences giving little away. Eoghan Power latched on to a clearance from Micheal Breen to put over his second minor from a narrow angle.

Gavin Ryan hit a huge point from midfield, Toby Corbett again being the provider. Eoghan Power hit his third before Luke Shanahan converted two frees coming up to half time, easing his side back in front. Matthew Power tied the game for the fifth time to leave the half time score at 0-9 apiece.

After the restart, with both sides were playing cagey, no real pattern emerged. Charlie King eased Ballina back in front but Pat Ryan restored parity. Billy Collins won a puck-out from Simon Grace and split the posts before Paudie Greene, who had been introduced as a substitute, brought the sides back on level terms.

With only four points in thirteen minutes, this game was waiting for a wake-up call. For the first time, Ballina hit three on the bounce in a ninety-second spell coming up to the end of the third quarter.

From this quick burst of scores, Upperchurch realised that they were in a game, and they responded well. Conor Fahey and Paddy Phelan cut the deficit to the minimum with twelve minutes remaining.

Gavin Ryan hit his second long range free to tie the game for the eighth time, before Paudie Greene eased them back in front from a placed ball, with four minutes of normal time remaining.

The final four minutes plus added time certainly brought the crowd to the edge of their seats. Matthew Power brought the sides level from a placed ball.

Then a long delivery from JP Mbokha Tansia broke kindly for Power inside the defence, and he beat Ciaran Shortt from close-range to go three up as the game entered added time.

Paudie Greene cut the deficit from a placed ball on 61 minutes, before the final drama would emerge. A free from around seventy five metres by Gavin Ryan which was floated into the Ballina goalmouth and went directly to the net, off Simon Grace’s hurley to give Upperchurch victory at the death.

Upperchurch now advance to the quarter finals as group winners, while Ballina take the preliminary quarter final route as North champions.

Player of the Match: Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch/Drombane)

Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (6); Mikey Lavery (7), Keith Ryan (6), Dean Carew (7); Niall Grant (7), Gavin Ryan (1-3, 1-2f, 7), Toby Corbett (7); Diarmuid Grant (6), Aaron Ryan (6); Conor Fahey (0-1, 7), Paul Ryan (6), Paul Shanahan (6); Paddy Phelan (0-4, 8), Luke Shanahan (0-4, 3f, 7), Pat Ryan (0-1, 6)

Subs: Paudie Greene (0-3, 2f, 7) for Paul Ryan (36); Sean Ryan (6) for Pat Ryan (51), Colm Ryan (NR) for L Shanahan (60+1).

Ballina: Simon Grace (7); Michael Grace (6), Michael Breen (7), David Coughlan (6); Paul McKeogh (7), Jack Collins (0-2, 7), Zak Egan (0-2, 7), Terry O’Halloran (6), Thomas Shanahan (6); Josh Egan (0-1, 6), Billy Collins (7), Cathal O’Donnell (6), Charlie King (0-1, 6), Eoghan Power (0-3, 7), Matthew Power (1-4, 0-4f, 6).

Subs: J P Mbokha Tansia (7) for Grace (25 inj), Steven O’Brien (6) for O’Donnell (44), Brian Bourke (6) for J Egan (58).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)