Kilruane finish off Ballybacon in extra time

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Hurling League Division 5 Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-26

Ballybacon/Grange 1-18

(After Extra Time)

Report: Michael Dundon at St Michael’s Park, Holycross

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Eoin Hogan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Brian O’Meara 0-9 (6 frees); Conor Cleary 1-2; Seamus Hennessy, Cormac Kennedy, Eoin Hogan 0-3 each; Cillian Healy 0-2; Cathal England, Mark O’Neill 0-1 each.

Ballybacon/Grange: Paul Cummins 0-12 (9 frees); Shane Ryan 1-3; Gerry Cronin, Brian Dillon, Jack O’Neill 0-1 each.

A powerful second period of extra time by Kilruane MacDonaghs swept them to a comfortable eight point win over Ballybacon/Grange in the County Hurling League Division 5 final on Tuesday of last week.

It should never have taken extra time to secure the win. MacDonaghs were five points up with the hour almost run but were caught by a late Ballybacon/Grange surge that yielded 1-2 in a four minute spell sending the game to extra time, 1-15 to 0-18.

Ten first half wides didn’t help the Kilruane cause as they forged an interval lead of 0-11 to 0-6. Brian O’Meara (3), Eoin Hogan (2) and Cillian Healy (2) were prominent on the scoresheet for the winners with Ballybacon relying heavily on Shane Ryan (3) and Paul Cummins (2) for their quota. All the indications were that the north boys would win with something to spare due largely to their greater range of attacking options, and their slicker inter-play.

Nothing changed for much of the second half and with just three minutes of the hour left, Kilruane were 0-18 to 0-13 in front. Then, Billy Hewitt set up Shane Ryan for a Ballybacon goal followed quickly in injury time by points from Paul Cummins and Jack O’Neill to level at 1-15 to 0-18, Kilruane, in free-fall, the happier to hear Brendan Ryan’s long whistle.

Making the most of the opportunity to re-group, Kilruane resumed with points from Brian O’Meara and Seamus Hennessy but two frees by Paul Cummins levelled for Ballybacon. Back came Kilruane for points from Brian O’Meara and Cormac Kennedy to lead 0-22 to 1-17 at the break.

Kilruane were doing the front-running but Ballybacon were still in the hunt at this stage. However, things changed dramatically when play resumed. Conor Cleary twice pointed for the winners before notching a match-winning goal after four minutes off a Fiachradh Ahearne-Woods feed. That goal really put the game beyond a fading Ballybacon’s reach, Brian O’Meara and Seamus Hennessy extending the lead before Paul Cummins late point for the losers.

The silverware will give Kilruane a welcome boost as they face into the championship season. For league purposes this team is officially their second string, but some of these lads will likely figure at a higher level as the season progresses. Eoin Hogan at wingback gave a man of the match performance with three points from play. Brian O’Meara’s accuracy from frees was vital. Conor Cleary’s extra time burst tipped the scales irrevocably in their favour while Mark O’Neill, Cormac Kennedy and Cillian Healy also played prominent parts.

Former Tipperary All-Star goalkeeper Brendan Cummins lined out for the Suirsiders with his son Paul a key figure in attack. Shane Ryan and Michael Barlow were Ballybacon’s top performers with Gerry Cronin, Eoin Walsh, Billy Hewitt and Eoin Walsh also to the fore.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Kevin Naughnane (6); Paul Molloy (6), Eanna Hogan (J-Capt 6), Eamon Coonan (6); Paddy Ryan (7), Cormac Doheny (6), Eoin Hogan (9); Cathal England (6), Cormac Kennedy (7); Eoin Carroll (J-Capt 6), Mark O’Neill (7), Brian O’Meara (7); Cillian Healy (6), Conor Cleary (7), Charlie Kennedy (6).

Subs: Seamus Hennessy (7) for Carroll (42); David O’Sullivan (6) for Molloy (52); Michael Hennelly (6) for Healy (58); Fiachradh Ahern-Woods (6) for Cleary (60).

Ballybacon/Grange: Brendan Cummins (6); Jack O’Neill (6), Eoin Walsh (7), John Condon (6); Sean Nagle (6), Michael Barlow (7), Luke O’Brien (6); Johnny English (6), Ronan Myles (6); Paul Cummins (7), Gerry Cronin (7), Shane Ryan (7); James Murphy (6), Billy Hewitt (7), Brian Dillon (6).

Subs: Aaron Lonergan (6) for Murphy (HT); Oisin Ryan (6) for Condon (52); Cian Walsh (6) for Dillon (55); James O’Mahoney for Cronin (15 ET).

Referee: Brendan Ryan (Ballina).