Treacys extend their senior stay

GAA: Tipperary Senior Hurling – Seamus O Riain Cup Relegation Playoff

 

Sean Treacy’s    2-27
Ballingarry         2-17

Report: Michael Dundon in Cashel

MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Patrick Carey (Sean Treacys)
SCORERS - Sean Treacy’s: Patrick Carey 1-17 (0-12 frees); Patrick Deegan, Brian Carey 0-3 each; Jody Ryan 1-0; Michael Feehan 0-2; Christy Egan, Shane Stapleton (free) 0-1 each.
Ballingarry: Dylan Walsh 1-12 (1-0 pen, 0-12 frees); Philip Ivors 1-2; Conor Vaughan 0-2; Patrick Ivors 0-1.

Sean Treacy’s consolidated their senior status for another year with an emphatic ten-point win over Ballingarry in the O Riain Cup senior hurling relegation play-off on Saturday.

Last year’s intermediate champions were full value for their win, a powerful last quarter burying the fading hopes Ballingarry entertained of avoiding the drop in a contest that up to the closing stages was well contested with whole-hearted endeavour on both sides.

What tipped the balance in Treacy’s favour was the brilliance of Patrick Carey in attack. Carey was impeccable from placed balls (0-10) but he also contributed handsomely otherwise, 1-7 of his tally coming from open play in what was a truly astonishing man of the match performance.
Ballingarry came with high hopes of avoiding the drop but from an early stage the initiative was with Treacy’s. After Dylan Walsh opened for Ballingarry with a point, Carey set the tone for Treacy’s with a fifth minute goal after a handling error in defence.

He hit all but one point of Treacy’s first quarter total of 1-7 as they led at the first water break 1-7 to 0-5.  However, Ballingarry did better on resuming. With Dylan Walshe deadly accurate from frees they chased down their rivals, greatly helped by his 21st minute penalty goal after Michael Ivors was fouled.

Just a point ahead (1-8 to 1-7), Treacy’s had a battle on their hands and at the end of a keenly fought second quarter they enjoyed a slender advantage, 1-13 to 1-11, still very much anybody’s game.

In the second half, Treacy’s, with Patrick Carey, Brian Carey and goalie Shane Stapleton on the scoreboard, quickly extended their advantage to six points but nearing the second water break, Ballingarry came right back into the picture with Philip Ivors goal after a great run by Adrian Cleere. Treacy’s responded with three points and Ballingarry were denied a third goal when Shane Stapleton saved from Michael Ivors.

At the start of the last moiety, Treacy’s were ahead 1-22 to 2-15 but Ballingarry never subsequently “laid a glove on them”, In that closing quarter, Treacy’s outscored their opponents by 1-5 to 0-2, their goal coming from Jody Ryan (R) after 53 minutes for an eight point lead. This broke Ballingarry resolve and in the closing minutes Sean Treacy’s pushed further clear to ensure themselves of senior hurling again next year.
Patrick Carey stole the show for Treacy’s but Seanie Ryan, Patrick Deegan, Brian Carey, Sean Hickey, and goalie Shane Stapleton also played key roles.

Ballingarry were not helped by the loss through injury of Sean Doheny after only four minutes but they were chasing the game from an early stage doing well to stay in touch without ever threatening to take control. Dylan Walsh’s free taking (1-12) was a huge boost to them with Adrian Cleere, Philip Ivors, Patrick Ivors, and Ger Fennelly also making significant contributions, however, the South Tipp side fall back into the intermediate grade for the first time since 1979.

TEAMS - Sean Treacy’s: Shane Stapleton (7); William Mackey (6), Sean Hickey (7), Paul Nolan (6); Emmet Ryan (6), Seanie Ryan (7), Philip Deegan (6); Christy Egan (6), Patrick Deegan (7); Donncha O’Brien (6), Michael Feehan (6), Brian Carey (7); Patrick Carey (9), Jody Ryan (R 6), Darragh Kennedy (6).
Subs: Shane Fahey (6) for O’Brien (43); Tom Hickey (6) for Philip Deegan (47); Andy O’Brien (NR) for Nolan (58); Stevie Carr (NR) for Egan (59); Brendan O’Dwyer (NR) for E Ryan (60).
Ballingarry: David Walsh (6); Cillian Tuohy (6), Jack Fennelly (6), Ciaran Shelly (6); Shane Fitzgerald (6), Ger Fennelly (7), Cillian Tuohy (6); Conor Vaughan (6), Dylan Walsh (7); Aidan Rya n(6), Sean Doheny (NR), Ian Ivors (6); Philip Ivors (7), Michael Ivors (6), Patrick Ivors (6).
Subs: Brian Norton (6) for Shelly (4 inj), Paidi Maher (6) for I Ivors (48).
Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne-Templetuohy).