Ballina complete North Junior 'C' Hurling three-in-a-row

GAA: The Watch Centre North Tipperary Junior 'C' Hurling Championship Final

Ballina 1-14

Silvermines 0-13

Report: Joe Scully in Portroe

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jerry O’Brien (Ballina).

SCORERS – Ballina: David Hickey 1-7 (0-6 frees); Domhnall McKeogh, Kevin Cosgrove 0-2 each; Ger Sheehy, Paul Ryan, Daniel Tighe 0-1 each.

Silvermines: Fionn Ryan Mulqueen 0-7 (6 frees); Will Power, David Boland 0-2 each; John Ryan, Conor Ryan 0-1 each.

Ballina are North Tipperary Junior ‘C’ Hurling champions for the third year in a row after overcoming Silvermines in the final on Sunday.

This latest success adds to their Junior ‘B’ title won a few weeks ago with both clubs now through to county semi-finals.

Over the course of the hour, it was a deserved win for the Lakesiders, although Silvermines will look back at some of the missed opportunity and with some better finishing, especially the goal chances they spurned there might have been a different outcome.

The game itself while low on quality at times but was a hard-hitting, fierce encounter with every ball contested and every score hard earned. 29 frees were awarded and six yellow cards handed out as tempers did threaten to boil over a few times, but never getting out of hand.

Silvermines opened the scoring through a Fionn Ryan Mulqueen free in the opening minute. Ballina’s response was swift and were level almost straight away through Kevin Cosgrove and were ahead in the fifth thanks to an effort from David Hickey.

David Boland had Silvermines level four minutes later when his shot from close range flashed over the bar when a goal was on. The ‘Mines were back ahead in the 12th minute when a mis-hit free fell to Will Power who pointed.

A Hickey free had the sides level, before a free from Ryan Mulqueen had the ‘Mines back in front in the 17th minute.

A brilliant Conor Ryan point a minute later extended the lead before the games decisive moment came in the 19th minute when a Ballina free dropped into the danger area and David Hickey got a touch to the ball before the keeper and the ball kind of in slow motion hit the post and went across the goal-line, with the umpire raising the green flag.

David Boland levelled proceedings in the 22nd minute, but Ballina finished the half stronger and four frees-in-a-row from Hickey meant they led 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Within 28 seconds of the restart, Silvermines had the gap reduced via a John Ryan effort, and another Ryan Mulqueen free.

David Hickey got his side off the mark in the half in the 33rd minute. The back and forth nature continued with two Ryan Mulqueen frees, before Ballina responded through Ger Sheehy after being set up by Kevin Cosgrove and then Cosgrove himself added another after Jack O’Mahony had seen his shot saved. A Ryan Mulqueen free left the score 1-10 to 0-11 with twelve minutes left.

Paul Ryan extended the Ballina lead and after an overhit clearance by a Silvermines defender before Domhnall McKeogh added another to put Ballina four up after 55 minutes.

Fionn Ryan Mulqueen reduced the gap a minute later when a goal was on but his shot ended over the bar rather than under. He added a free in the 58th minute to leave just two in it with the game starting to heat up now, but a superb Domhnall McKeogh effort from out the field in added time before he turned provider for Daniel Tighe to hit the insurance score in the 63rd minute.

Silvermines had a late chance from a 30-metre free, but with the goal filled with Ballina players, they chose to go short but it went completely wrong as they missed the connection and then the taker pulled on the ball before anyone else touched it and although Ryan Mulqueen blasted to the back of the net, referee Tommy Hogan had already awarded Ballina a free out, and not long after blew the final whistle much to the delight of the Ballina players and fans.

TEAMS – Ballina: David Nolan (7), Enda Scully (6), Jonny Kenny (6), Rody Kennedy (7), Thomas Grace (6) Jerry O’Brien (8), Stephen Stritch (6), Donal Kent (6) Domhnall McKeogh (7), Eoin Kent (8), Ger Sheehy (6), Paul Ryan (6), David Hickey (8), Kevin Cosgrove (7), Jack O’Mahony (6).

Subs: Donncha Houlihan (6) for O’Mahony (43), Eoin Sheehy (6) for Kenny (43); Daniel Tighe (7) for G Sheehy (52); Daniel Frawley (6) for Grace (56); James O’Sullivan (NR) for Scully (60+5).

Silvermines: Luke O’Connor (7), Kevin Kennedy (6), Mark Leamy (6), Shane Ryan (7), Patrick Quigley (7), Damien Boland (7), TJ Timmons (6), Will Murphy (6), Cathal Gleeson (7), John Ryan (7), Daniel Keogh (6), Will Power (7), Conor Ryan (7), David Boland (7), Fionn Ryan Mulqueen.

Subs: David Ryan (6) for Kennedy (HT), Sean Quirke (6) for Power (43); Sean Ryan Prendiville (6) for D Ryan (54); Niall O’Sullivan (NR) for Timmons (60+2); Sean Quinlan (NR) for D Keogh (60+3).

Referee: Tommy Hogan (Toomevara).