Ballina exit after Ardfinnan late surge

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 1

Ardfinnan 1-0-13 (16)

Ballina 1-0-10 (13)

Report: Michael Dundon in Drombane

Ballina’s bid for a quarter-final spot in the County Senior Football Championship failed narrowly on Friday evening where they had to give best to Ardfinnan after a fine contest between two well-matched teams.

Unbeaten champions Clonmel Commercials top the group and this was essentially a shoot-out between these sides to see who would join them in the quarter finals. Ardfinnan got the nod but not before they had to absorb a serious challenge from the Shannonsiders, who, as third placed in the group, have the consolation of a Cusack Cup semi-final coming up.

The stakes were high and there was no holding back as both sides gave it everything in a rousing encounter that was in the balance to the very end.

Ballina went ahead after fourteen minutes when Matthew Power netted off a Ben King pass for a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

Ardfinnan bounced back, a two-pointer from Ronan Myles and a point from Daire O’Leary giving them a 0-6 to 1-2 lead at the end of a lively first quarter.

The balance then tipped in Ballina’s favour, three points from Steven O’Brien, Charlie King and Ben King from a free, getting them back in front on twenty minutes.

Back came Ardfinnan for a Gerry Cronin goal off a Ronan Myles feed after 23 minutes. The half finished with Shane Ryan for Ardfinnan and Ballina’s JP Mbokha Tansia swopping points to leave the Suir-siders ahead 1-7 to 1-6 after a right good first half.

The second period was not as free-flowing but it was very competitive. Both sides expended a lot of energy in closing down and tackling with Ardfinnan defending their slender lead tenaciously. They had goalie Cian O’Mahoney to thank for a top-drawer save to deny Charlie King a goal after 42 minutes. What a goal would have done for Ballina at that stage is anybody’s guess.

O’Mahoney again foiled Ballina’s Sam Loughran after fifty minutes and Ardfinnan stretched their advantage to three points with eight minutes to go. Ardfinnan then had Jack O’Neill red-carded after a melee involving a number of players from both sides. His Tipperary team-mate Steven O’Brien got a yellow card for his involvement.

With an extra man, Ballina piled forward chasing a levelling goal. In injury time they were awarded a fourteen-metre free when Josh Egan was fouled. Steven O’Brien had a blast for a goal but his effort was beaten out and referee Joe Leahy blew time on an excellent contest.

Disappointing certainly for Ballina, but they will draw encouragement from this display. The two goal chances could have tipped the balance in their favour but they showed a tenacity and ambition throughout that might have carried them through on another day. They will have a chance to finish their season well when they contest the Cusack cup semi-final and, on this display, they could well lift the trophy for the first time.

Charlie King and Steven O’Brien were their leaders on the field and they got great support from Kian Donnelly, James Hanley, Dara King, and JP Mbokha Tansia.

Ardfinnan’s delight at their win was understandable after a few years struggling to avoid relegation. They too showed lots of determination, particularly in the closing stages when defending their lead while a man short.

Sean Nagle led by example at number six with Gerry Cronin, Michael Barlow, Ronan Myles, Darragh O’Leary and goalie Cian O’Mahoney all contributing handsomely to the win.

Player of the Match: Sean Nagle (Ardfinnan).

Ardfinnan: Cian O’Mahoney (7); Darragh O’Brien (6), Robbie Condon (6), Shane Keating (6); Darragh O’Leary (0-1, 7), Sean Nagle (8), Johnny English (6); Jack O’Neill (6), Ronan Myles (0-2, 7); James Murphy (0-1, 6), Michael Barlow (0-4, 2f, 7), Gerry Cronin (1-0, 7); Luke O’Brien (0-2, 6), Billy Hewitt (0-1, 6), Shane Ryan (0-2, 6).

Subs: Conor Makim (6) for Keating (41); Aaron Lonergan (6) for Hewitt (51); Oisin Ryan (NR) for Myles (60).

Ballina: Conor Shanahan (6); Cillian Ryan (6), Kian Donnelly (7), David Coughlan (6); James Hanley (7), Charlie King (0-1, 7), Thomas Shanahan (6); Conor Power (0-1, 6), JP Mbokha Tansia (0-1, 7); Matthew Power (1-1, 6), Steven O’Brien (0-2, 7), Dara King (0-1, 6); Ben King (0-2f, 6), David Grace (0-1, 6), Sam Loughran (6).

Subs: Eoghan Power (6) for C Power (HT); Zak Egan (6) for Grace (40); Paddy O’Donovan for Hanley (55); Josh Egan (NR) for Shanahan (58).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).