‘Mines withstand Ballina fightback

GAA: North Tipperary Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Silvermines 3-11

Ballina 1-16

(After Extra Time)

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

A great start and a flying finish were just about enough to see Silvermines survive a Ballina revival and take their place in the North Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling final after what was a splendid game, on Sunday.

The ability to create goals, at vital times; a splendid display of goalkeeping by Luke O’Connor plus a tight marking defence were the ingredients needed to seal victory as Silvermines will meet champions Borris-Ileigh in a repeat of last year’s decider.

The first half began in frantic fashion with ‘Mines corner back Sean McGrath opening the scoring after two and a half minutes. Ballina’s response was immediate but Silvermines keeper Luke O’Connor pulling off a splendid point blank save to deny Tadgh McKeogh.

Silvermines, playing with a diagonal breeze, were more direct and by the tenth were three in front after points by Danny Quinn and Conor Ryan. Minutes later, Ryan would have to leave the field with a shoulder injury but by then the ‘Mines were 1-3 to nil in front after Danny Quinn latched on to poor defensive play by Ballina to find the net.

Ballina had plenty chances but a plethora of shots dropped short for Luke O’Connor to clear while the ‘Mines half backline of Daniel McKelvey, Luke O’Brien, and Brehon O’Donnell were very much to the fore.

Indeed, it was the same at the other end as Zack Egan and Jack Collins were reading the game very well and any chances that fell to Silvermines were missed as the normally accurate Sean Nolan had a poor day on frees throughout the first half, 1-3 to no score.

Who would ever see a team failing to score in thirty minutes of hurling but Ballina can take credit for that statistic but they were quick to redeem themselves as they scored three points in the opening three minutes of the second half with Billy Collins scoring two points either side of another on the left wing by Jack Collins.

Silvermines recovered some ground as Sean Nolan found his radar with a free quickly followed by a Cynan Bailey score from play in the 35th minute. The game had really opened up now as Ballina came again with the deficit reduced to the minimum after Billy & Jack Collins raised a white flag each before Paddy Bradley pointed a close range free after a foul on Charlie King following a blistering run by Brian Bourke.

Ballina had the upperhand but a gap in their defence saw Jack Quinn Jones find an unmarked Darragh Treacy find a path for goal from close range. Another Nolan free in the 48th minute had the homeside six in front, 2-6 to 0-6.

The margin was quickly reduced by half after Charlie King and Billy Collins scored from play with Jack Collins adding a 65 following a great save by Luke O’Connor who denied Charlie King.

Substitute Eoin Grace found the target for the ‘Mines with his first touch but Ballina were back in the driving seat when their next puckout went long and the ball broke nicely for Tadgh McKeogh whose ground shot flew past a helpless Luke O’Connor. Ballina had the lead for the first time just in time for the hour mark.

Over two minutes of added time were signalled and one last attack by Silvermines saw Eoin Grace fouled and Sean Nolan showed his experience to level and force extra time, 2-8 to 1-11.

Memories of Eoin Murchan’s goal for Dublin in the 2019 All-Ireland Football final sprung to mind when Luke O’Brien scored a similar goal after running deep from half-way within fifteen seconds of the resumption.

Billy Collins replied with his fifth point before the ‘Mines went four in front after another Nolan free plus a Darragh Treacy score from play. The splendid Jack Collins had now moved to the attack from centre back and he scored back-to-back frees to see the scoreline read 3-10 to 1-14 at the change of ends.

The second period was very stop-start as tired limbs and cramping spoiled the flow of the game, and as the ten official minutes increased to almost fifteen there were three more scores on offer, the first a Danny Quinn score from play; Jack Collins replied with a free but both defences did their jobs splendidly as leaving Jack Collins with the final say, a free two minutes from time but they fell one point short as Silvermines progress to the final.

Player of the Match: Luke O’Connor (Silvermines).

Silvermines: Luke O’Connor (8); Sean Murphy (0-1, 7), Sean Ryan Prenderville (7), Sean McGrath (7); Daniel McKelvey (8), Luke O’Brien (1-0, 8), Brehon O’Donnell (6); Darragh Treacy (1-1, 7), Patrick Steed (6); Cynan Bailey (0-1, 6), Sean Nolan (0-4f, 6), Cathal Treacy (7); John Ryan (6), Danny Quinn (1-2, 7), Conor Ryan (0-1, 6).

Subs: Jack Quinn Jones (6) for J Ryan (24 inj); Eoin Grace (0-1, 7) for Quinn Jones (54); Ronan Cunneen (6) for C Ryan (59); Conor McGrath (6) for O’Donnell (HT ET); Jack Quinn Jones for Cunneen (20 ET).

Ballina: Simon Grace (7); Jack Grace, Zac Egan (7), Sean Lyons (7); Ronan Coughlan (6), Jack Collins (0-5, 5F, 1 65) 8), JP Mbokha Tansia (7); Ollie Ryan (6), Thomas Shanahan (0-1, 7); Paddy Bradley (0-1f, 6), Charlie King (0-1, 7), Brian Bourke (6); Tadgh McKeogh (1-0, 7), Billy Collins (0-5, 8), Luke Power (6).

Subs: Enda Tormey (6) for Coughlan (38); Jack Quinn (6) for T McKeogh (7 ET inj); Luke McKeogh (NR) for B Collins (18 ET inj).

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Eire Og).