Ballinahinch make light work of Nenagh

GAA: The Watch Centre North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Ballinahinch 2-19

Nenagh Eire Og 0-5

Report: Liam Hogan in Toomevara

Just ten months after been relegated to the junior grade, Ballinahinch are in a North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling final following their one-sided victory over Nenagh Eire Og in their semi-final at rain soaked Toomevara on Friday evening.

Ballinahinch were never in trouble once they took the lead seven minutes in. Nothing would stop them, no matter what, not even the driving rain, wind plus thunder & lightning, not to mention the many splashes of water that plagued for most of the game and definitely not the darkness that threatened the game in the final quarter when one wondered if it were wise to allow the game to continue.

However, this game came at a cost to Ballinahinch who lost their best forward in David Gleeson to a straight red card following an incident in the 47th minute with Nenagh Eire Og’s Tauri Shayanewako, who was also dismissed. Both players might question their dismissals.

The red card left a sour note, but it didn’t take away from the excellent team performance by the winners who overcame a slow start when conceding the first two points inside ninety seconds before Evan Kearns and David Gleeson had scores level by the fifth minute. It was the first of seven points for Gleeson in an excellent performance throughout the opening half.

With sheets of rain falling incessantly, Ballinahinch continued to display excellent form to which helped take a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after Gleeson pointed twice, the second from a free before Brian Keane added another from play.

Further back the field, Shane McGrath and the Kelly brothers, Joey & Karl, were excellent at half back and their supply kept their attack very busy and in the fifteenth minute they struck gold when a splendid one-two involving Ger Grace and Paddy Kelly saw the former through for a well-taken goal.

The one-sided nature of the play continued with Ballinahinch picking off great scores, eight more with Gleeson adding four (3 from play) while Adam Ryan, Brian Keane and Adam Kelly were also on target. Ballinahinch’s lead might have been greater but for Mark Tuite producing a great save to deny David Gleeson just before half time at which the scoreline read, 1-13 to 0-2.

Despite trailing by fourteen points, we wondered if Nenagh Eire Og would be able pull back the deficit now that they had the use of the breeze and the driving rain at their backs. After Paddy Kelly increased Ballinahinch’s lead, the ever present Niall Madden replied with a free. However, that’s as close as Nenagh came to rocking the boat because in the 33rd minute the game was as good as over after Brendan Ryan doubled on a high delivery from Paddy Kelly to send the ball crashing to the net.

Two Niall Madden frees was the best that a disappointing Nenagh team could offer over the next few minutes as Ballinahinch dominated the remaining eighteen minutes and after Gleeson and Shayanewako were red carded, they added five more points through Ger Grace, Brendan Ryan (2 frees), David Kelly, and Paddy Kelly.

So Ballinahinch are back in the north final for the first time since 2002 when they last won the final and went on to add a county title as well. Their drop in grade from intermediate has certainly done them no harm as their hurling which was so crisp despite the horrible conditions. The experienced Kevin Fitzpatrick, Shane McGrath, Ger Grace, and Paddy Kelly stood out but the new kids on the block such as the Kelly brothers, Karl & Joey, while Cathal Ryan, Brian Keane and Evan Kearns proved they have the ability to go further in the coming weeks as they face Roscrea in the final.

Nenagh will have to regroup if they are to make progress in this grade. They were very disappointing. Niall Madden, Conor Bonnar, and Cian O’Farrell tried hard. Adam Gratton made an impression when he came on as a substitute. It was Gratton’s first appearance since he sustained a cruciate injury for the senior team in the county preliminary quarter final eleven months ago.

Player of the Match: Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)

Ballinahinch: Darragh McGrath (6); Adam Ryan (0-2, 7), Kevin Fitzpatrick (6), Cathal Ryan (6); Joey Kelly (0-1f, 7), Karl Kelly (7), Shane McGrath (8); Brian Keane (0-2, 7), James Lynch (7); Ger Grace (1-1, 8), Paddy Kelly (0-2, 8), Davie Gleeson (0-7, 2f, 7); Evan Kearns (0-1, 6), David Ryan (6), Adam Kelly (0-1, 7).

Subs: Brendan Ryan (1-1, 0-1f, 7) for Kearns (HT); John Foley (6) for Grace (41); David Kelly (0-1, 6) for A Kelly (53); Niall Harrington (NR) for S McGrath (57).

Nenagh Eire Og: Mark Tuite (7); Billy Moran (6), Brian Tuite (7), Paul Ryan (6); Charlie Kavanagh (6), Conor Bonnar (6), Dan Donovan (7); Tauri Shayanewako (6), Christopher Ryan (0-1, 6); Cian O’Farrell (6), Brian Maxwell (6), Jamie Cottrell (0-1, 6); Jack Sheedy (6), Zack Keller (6), Niall Madden (0-3, 2f, 7).

Subs: Adam Gratton (7) for Shayanewako (29); Paul McLoughlin (6) for P Ryan (HT); Aodhan O’Connor (6) for B Tuite (33 temp); Brian Connolly (6) for Maxwell (44); Tauri Shayanewako for C Ryan (44); Brendan Long (6) for Cottrell (45 temp); Sean Ferry (6) for Keller (57 inj).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).