Silvermines aim to deny Ballina back-to-back titles

GAA: Liam Buckley Car Sales North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Liam Hogan

BALLINA v SILVERMINES

MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Sunday, 12th July

Throw-in @ 2.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)

For the third year running there is a derby in the final of the North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship as holders Ballina face neighbours Silvermines in the final next Sunday.

Now in its fifth year, last year’s final saw Ballina overcome Burgess to win by two clear goals just twelve months after Burgess defeated Silvermines by two points.

Next Sunday’s final will surely revive memories of bye gone days. In 1972, a talented Silvermines had an easy win over Ballina in a North Intermediate final with a fourteen point win. It was the ‘Mines first Intermediate title since 1948. From there the team went from strength to strength to collect a North senior title two years later.

In 2012 the sides met for a second time in the North Intermediate final with the ‘Mines winning again, seven days after the sides met in the County Final at Semple Stadium with Silvermines winning by a big margin.

That 2012 victory was the eleventh for Silvermines and their last but was part of a great twelve month period for the club. After their county final success they won the Munster Intermediate title, lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Clara before reaching the North Senior Final losing to Kiladangan.

In the intervening time, Silvermines have struggled to keep close with the top table in the Premium Intermediate grade and were two games from relegation in 2024.

Since then, the ‘Mines have improved and last Saturday’s semi-final win over Moneygall epitomised the great spirit of the team. With a number of key injuries to Ronan Sherlock, Padraig Fogarty and Conor McKelvey, they overcame a slow start, trailing by four points for the second time 0-9 to 0-5 after a quarter of an hour.

The concession of a goal put them five in arrears 1-13 to 0-11 on 41 minutes but strong leadership by Michael Corcoran and Darragh Nolan saw them fight the cause before Oisin Murphy’s goal in the 57th minute paved the way for a two point victory.

There is no doubt that Ballina do things the hard way. The five-time North Junior champions (the last in 1994) they have slowly progressed to be a contender for Intermediate honours and after losing in finals in 2007 and the aforementioned 2012 defeat at the hands of Silvermines, they eventually came good in 2013 with their first North final win against Shannon Rovers. They went on to add a County title defeating Moyne-Templetuohy at Semple Stadium.

Since then, Ballina have had mixed results at Senior and Seamus O Riain level before steadying the ship to be contenders for Premier Intermediate silverware and after last year’s North success over Burgess they were seconds from knocking Upperchurch/Drombane out of the championship with the Mid side not looking back and going onto win the All-Ireland Intermediate title.

The are back in the final after emerging from a titanic semi-final with Lorrha. The game needed eighty minutes to decide the outcome. Ballina were the best side in the opening quarter with championship debutant Luke McKeogh scoring 1-2. The second half was a see-saw affair with Lorrha taking charge but Ballina led by Michael Breen and Patrick O’Donovan kept their nerve and with Matthew Power equalising in the 62nd minute. Power was coolness personified with 0-14, with 12 very accurate frees.

Silvermines are a real battling team. Their defence gives little away with Daragh Nolan, Luke O’Brien, Darragh McKelvey, and Michael Corcoran showing they have plenty of experience. Newcomer, Eoin Grace provides a welcome boost to the attack with Sean Nolan also a threat. However, much depends on Jason Forde, their brilliant talisman.

Ballina are lively in every sector with plenty youth to carry the day in Paul McKeogh, James Hanley, Terry O’Halloran, Tomas Shanahan, Enda Tormey and Paddy Bradley. Simon Grace is an inspiring goalkeeper. That youth plus the experienced Michael Breen and a very fit looking Steven O’Brien makes them a more complete team and they should win by five that’s if they take their scores.

Verdict: Ballina.