Silvermines fall to strong Ballybrown challenge

GAA: All-Ireland Junior ‘B’ Hurling Series - Munster Final

Ballybrown 0-18

Silvermines 0-15

Report: James Hayden at Páirc Íde Naofa, Killeedy

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Andrew Cliffe (Ballybrown)

SCORERS – Ballybrown: Andrew Cliffe 0-9 (4 frees, 1 ’65); Ethan Keyes 0-3; Mark Doolan, Paul O’Neill 0-2 each; Sean Healy, Peter O’Rourke, Barry O’Connor 0-1 each.

Silvermines: Ronan Cunneen 0-8 (6 frees, 1 ‘65); Orrie Quirke 0-3; Gerard Leamy 0-2; Sean Spillane, Brian Leamy 0-1 each.

Silvermines fell to a strong Ballybrown challenge in what proved an enthralling Munster Junior ‘B’ Hurling final on Saturday afternoon.

Played in what can only be described as ‘soft and sticky’ underfoot conditions following a week of incessant rain in west Limerick, Silvermines put in a superb final quarter effort but Ballybrown staved off the best the Tipperary champions could muster to be crowned Munster kingpins.

Following on the success of their neighbours Kildimo-Pallaskenry in 2025, Ballybrown’s hard-fought three-point victory ensured the Michael Fitzmaurice Memorial Cup remains in the Treaty County.

The Dave Flaherty coached Limerick side laid the foundations for a hard-earned victory with an outstanding opening quarter and belied the boggy conditions by forging an early lead that a determined Silvermines side struggled to reel in.

Both sides could very well meet up again in the All-Ireland decider with Silvermines now facing Leinster champions, Tommy Larkins of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final while Ballybrown will face Leinster runners-up St. Rynagh’s in their semi-final clash.

Ballybrown opened the scoring through pacy wing-forward, Paul O'Neill but it was their full-forward, Andrew Cliffe, Ballybrown’s former senior hurling captain, who really did the damage on the day. Cliffe finished with a haul of nine points (five from placed balls) as the former inter-county footballer proved a constant thorn in the side of Silvermines.

Silvermines, who were with the services of the suspended Michéal Hogan and the injured Eamonn Corcoran, opened their account thanks to a well-struck Seán Spillane effort before Ben Adams and Andrew Cliffe responded for the men in green & white.

Orrie Quirke's long-range point from midfield pulled one back for the ‘Mines but efforts from Ethan Keyes, and a well-flighted Andrew Cliffe 65' after David Shanahan had excellently denied Mark Doolan's goal-bound first-timed effort on the line, propelled Ballybrown into an early 0-5 to 0-2 advantage.

Ballybrown continued to motor in the difficult conditions and enhanced their advantage with a close-range Andrew Cliffe free before Paul O’Neill doubled his own personal tally with a sublime score from range in the 14th minute, 0-7 to 0-2.

Ronan Cunneen's pointed free pulled one back for Silvermines before Ballybrown encountered a bout of ‘squanderlust’ in front of goal, firing four decent chances wide of the target before Ronan Cunneen cut the gap to three with a well-struck point from play.

However, the Limerick club got back to scoring ways with a long-range pointed free from Andrew Cliffe on the twenty-minute mark but Gerard Leamy responded quickly for the ‘Mines following a pinpoint accurate delivery from the impressive Cathal Gleeson at centre-back.

Mark Doolan retorted for Ballybrown with a sweet 24th minute point before Ronan Cunneen arrowed over a long-range free to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the ‘Mines.

With the interval fast approaching, Ballybrown piled on the pressure once more and further points from Mark Doolan and Andrew Cliffe (free) ensured the Limerick champions took a deserved five-point lead with them to the dressing-room, 0-11 to 0-6.

Silvermines re-jigged their side at the break introducing the experienced Niall Curran and the pacy Brian Leamy into their attack and emerged determined to reel in a physical Ballybrown side, with Orrie Quirke bisecting the uprights after just 24 seconds.

Andrew Cliffe responded with a close-range free, before the Clarina outfit re-asserted their dominance with back-to-back points from Cliffe and midfielder, Seán Healy, 0-14 to 0-8.

Indeed, Ballybrown could have extended their advantage further had they capitalised on a mix-up in the Silvermines defence with Mark Doolan’s goal-bound flick held up in the sticky goalmouth surface on 38 minutes.

Silvermines responded well to Ballybrown’s near miss and it appeared to kick-start a massive final quarter challenge. Upping the intensity and dominating in most quarters, Silvermines fought their way back into contention thanks to successive Ronan Cunneen frees and a gem of a point from substitute, Brian Leamy.

Silvermines missed the opportunity to narrow the gap to two on 47 minutes when Ronan Cunneen’s close-range free just tailed past the left upright and Ballybrown capitalised immediately, with the dangerous Ethan Keyes plucking the resulting puckout and arrowing over one of the scores of the half.

Cunneen atoned for his wayward effort with a 49th minute free but Keyes popped up again with yet another crucial point for the Limerick side. Ballybrown continued to turn the screw with efforts from Cliffe and Peter O'Rourke to put six points between the sides with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Silvermines refused to throw in the towel and fought tooth and nail in the closing minutes. Orrie Quirke pointed from range in the 56th minute before Conor O'Neill brought off a tremendous point-blank save from a Niall Curran snapshot in front of goal. Ronan Cunneen converted the resulting 65' and narrowed the deficit further with his sixth pointed free of the day, 0-15 to 0-18.

In what proved a pulsating climax, Silvermines threw everything at Ballybrown in the four additional minutes but just couldn’t snatch that all important goal to send the tie to extra-time as the Limerick champions held out to record a three-point victory.

TEAMS - Ballybrown: Conor O'Neill (7); Mark Sheehan (7), Luke Doran (7), Peter Kiely (7); James Bohan (7), Kevin Foster (Capt 8), Lee O'Reilly (7); Seán Healy (7), Peter O'Rourke (7); Paul O'Neill (7), Ben Adams (6), Ethan Keyes (8); Barry O'Connor (7), Andrew Cliffe (8), Mark Doolan (7).

Subs: Rob O’Brien for Adams (40); James Smith for Doolan (57); Niall Quane for Keyes (60+2).

Silvermines: David Shanahan (7); Ben Claffey (7), Eddie Ryan (Capt, 7), Sean Ryan Prendiville (7); Seán Murphy (7), Cathal Gleeson (7), Tiernan Flynn (7); Patrick Steed (7), Orrie Quirke (8); Eoin Seymour (7), Willie Keogh (6), Ciarán Timmons (6), Ronan Cunneen (8), Gerard Leamy (7), Sean Spillane (0-1, 7).

Subs: Niall Curran (7) for Keogh (HT), Brian Leamy (0-1, 7) for Timmons (HT), Daniel Keogh (6) for G Leamy (44); Daniel Ryan (6) for Spillane (55); Eamonn Corcoran (NR) for Seymour (60).

Referee: Ciaran Murphy (Cork).