Newport ‘eclipse’ Ballina to claim ‘A’ title

GAA: North Tipperary Minor ‘A’ Football Final

Newport 2-1-9 (17)

Ballina 2-0-5 (11)

Report: James Hayden in Shallee

Newport claimed the North Tipperary Minor ‘A’ Football Championship title following an entertaining encounter with reigning champions Ballina on Wednesday last.

The Mulcair boys proved that little bit too strong when it mattered most, producing an impressive third-quarter display that ultimately laid the foundations for a deserved five-point victory.

The timing of Newport’s decisive burst was particularly striking, coming during a period when they fired 1-3 without reply, while an almost total solar eclipse cast an eerie gloom over proceedings and provided an unique backdrop to the contest.

Newport had already established a strong platform by half-time, leading 1-7 to 0-4. In truth, they could have been further ahead inside the opening ten minutes, but some heroic goalkeeping from Ballina’s Donnacha Morgan twice kept them at bay.

Newport did eventually get their reward when Harry Noone produced a sweet finish to open the scoring on seven minutes. Ballina responded through Ollie Shanahan after eleven minutes, but Newport quickly regained control.

A 14th minute Ollie Roche free was followed three minutes later by a superbly taken Conor McLoughlin goal, leaving Newport firmly in the driving seat.

Ronan O’Mahony and Josh Moroney exchanged points before Newport extended their advantage when Charlie Tobin landed a booming two-pointer from just outside the arc.

Ballina refused to surrender though and Luke McKeogh reduced the deficit with a 23rd minute point, but Newport finished the half the stronger as captain Enda Tormey and McLoughlin raised white flags going into the interval holding a commanding six point lead.

Ballina came flying out of the traps after the restart and were rewarded with a penalty after just two minutes when Charlie Tobin was adjudged to have pulled down wing-forward Gary Slevin as he bore down on goal; David Nolan made no mistake from the spot, expertly dispatching the penalty beyond Cillian Healy.

Ballina sensed an opportunity to get right back into the contest and came agonisingly close to a second goal moments later, however, Newport goalkeeper Healy produced a magnificent point-blank save to deny the inrushing Ryan Angley and preserve his side’s advantage.

That save proved crucial. Having survived the early Ballina onslaught, Newport regained their composure and reasserted their authority. Colm Ryan, McLoughlin, and Roche, from a free, all found the target as Newport stretched their advantage once more.

Then came the decisive score. On 45 minutes, substitute James Ryan made an immediate impact, finding the net with his first touch. The goal came after a powerful Kevin Fitzpatrick drive sliced through the heart of the Ballina defence, leaving Ryan with the simplest of finishes from close range.

At 2-10 to 1-4, Newport appeared to have put the destination of the title beyond doubt.

Credit to Ballina, however, they responded almost immediately. Josh Moroney flicked a high dropping ball to the net for their second goal, reducing the deficit to six points, and briefly offering the champions renewed hope.

Newport, though, refused to panic. They dominated the closing quarter and, remarkably, struck the Ballina crossbar on no fewer than three occasions.

While the scores eventually dried up, with both sides adding just a point each to their tallies, Newport had done more than enough to secure the North title.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Newport who combined greater efficiency in attack with a strong defensive effort when Ballina threatened to make a comeback.

Conor McLoughlin was outstanding for the winners, while Kevin Fitzpatrick, Colm Ryan, Charlie Tobin, Ronan Gaffrey, Harry Noone, Ollie Roche, and goalkeeper Cillian Healy also made significant contributions.

For Ballina, Enda Tormey, Ryan Angley, Ollie Shanahan and Josh Moroney were among those who caught the eye, but ultimately, they were unable to retain the title.

Player of the Match: Conor McLoughlin (Newport).

Newport: Cillian Healy; Jack Landers, Sean Carrig, Tom McCabe; Ronan Gaffrey (Capt), Oisin Kennedy, Ronan O’Mahony (0-1); Kevin Fitzpatrick, Charlie Tobin (0-2pt); Harry Noone (0-1), Conor McLoughlin (1-3), Colm Ryan (0-2); Luke McIntyre, Darragh Healy, Ollie Roche (0-2, 1f).

Subs: James Ryan (1-0) for McIntyre (44); Michéal Shanahan for O’Mahony (60+1).

Ballina: Donnacha Morgan; Gearoid Morgan, Jack Grace, Fionn Coonan; Ollie Shanahan (1-1), Enda Tormey (Capt 0-1), Ger McWey; Luke McKeogh (0-1f), Ryan Angley; Gearoid O’Shaughnessy, Josh Moroney (1-2), Gary Slevin; Sam Collins, David Nolan, Eoin Russell.

Sub: Luca McKeogh for Russell (55).

Referee: Shane Hodgins (Knockshegowna).