Ballinahinch stave off late Roscrea surge to claim North Junior Hurling title

GAA: The Watch Centre North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final

Ballinahinch 1-14

Roscrea 1-13

Report: James Hayden in Templederry

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)

SCORERS – Ballinahinch: Brendan Ryan 1-3 (0-3 frees); Ger Grace, Karl Kelly (2 frees) 0-3 each; Shane McGrath 0-2; James Lynch, Alan Kelly, Evan Kearns 0-1 each.

Roscrea: Dylan Hogan 1-2; Conor Donovan 0-4 (3 frees); Liam Seacy 0-3 (1 free); Enda Moloney (free), Conor Phelan, Brian O’Rourke, Robert Tynan 0-1 each.

Ballinahinch were crowned North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling champions following a 21-year hiatus after a hard-fought victory over a resilient Roscrea side on Saturday.

Having last been crowned champions at this grade in 2002 but spending all that intervening time in the Intermediate grade prior to their relegation last year, Ballinahinch staved off a strong second half Roscrea surge to prevail by just a solitary point in what was an eighth title win for the men in saffron and blue if you count Knockmeal Rangers’ annexing of the title in 1949.

Ballinahinch were made work right to the very death though by a Roscrea side who refused to lie down and in retrospect the Rossie’s will rue nine first half wides, a number of which were from very scorable positions. Had Roscrea taken the opportunities presented to them they would have undoubtedly been in a far stronger position come the business end of the clash.

Following an impressive group campaign, the men in saffron and blue came into this decider following a comprehensive win over Nenagh Éire Óg, although they lost key forward David Gleeson to a red card, and he missed this final through suspension. Meanwhile, Roscrea overcame Toomevara in a close-fought semi-final battle played in monsoon like conditions.

The Kenyon Park pitch looked resplendent in the early September sunshine and with little or no breeze to contend with it was Roscrea who seized the early initiative thanks to an impressive brace from centre-forward, Liam Seacy, the first coming from a close-range free.

Ballinahinch settled quickly though and by the seventh minute Eddie O’Sullivan’s charges were back on terms thanks to a Ger Grace opener and a well-struck Brendan Ryan free.

Ger Grace was on hand seconds later to snaffle up a poor Ros’ clearance and arrow over his second point of the game before corner-forward, David Healy brought the best out of Enda Moloney in the Roscrea goal with a rasping first-time attempt. Roscrea were struggling to find their range though but wrestled back the advantage thanks to a long-range Robert Tynan effort and a second Liam Seacy point from play.

Ballinahinch responded in style with Brendan Ryan rattling the back of the Roscrea net with a cracking fifteenth minute goal, before points from Karl Kelly (free) and Ger Grace fired the Bally boys into a four-point advantage with eighteen minutes elapsed.

Roscrea were really struggling to get any sort of grip on the game at this stage and were noticeably over-elaborate in their approach as Ballinahinch streaked further ahead with Karl Kelly banging over a free and another from play before midfielder James Lynch sent over a booming effort from range, 1-8 to 0-5.

Roscrea’s Conor Donovan managed to stem the tide with a 26th minute point but Brendan Ryan tapped over a late close-range free after Paddy Kelly was bundled to the ground to ensure Ballinahinch took a commanding 1-9 to 0-5 lead to the dressing room.

Roscrea cut a different look in the second half though and were far more direct in their play, a tactic that brought them right back into contention. Although Ballinahinch were first to register thanks to a well-taken Alan Kelly point Roscrea retorted with efforts from Dylan Hogan and Conor Donovan. Shane McGrath bisected the uprights on 37 minutes before two unanswered points from Brian O’Rourke and Dylan Hogan again narrowed the gap to five.

Ballinahinch substitute Evan Kearns kept the scoreboard ticking over with a sweet point on 45 minutes before Roscrea hit back with a screamer of a goal from Dylan Hogan. It served to ignite Roscrea’s challenge with Conor Donovan adding a further point from a free to narrow the gap to just two points. Game on!

Shane McGrath, who mopped up a huge amount of ball throughout, capitalised on a mix-up between two Ros’ players in midfield to fire over a 54th minute effort before successive points from Conor Donovan (free) and Conor Phelan ensured the bare minimum separated the sides with just five minutes remaining.

In what proved a frantic finale, both sides were guilty of squandering chances. Ballinahinch were denied what appeared to be a clear-cut 65’ before a Conor Donovan free tailed to the left for Roscrea. With six minutes of injury time on the board, Roscrea piled on the pressure and almost grabbed an all-important leveller, but a superb diving block from Joey Kelly denied Conor Donovan a chance to restore parity before Brendan Ryan stepped up to fire over a 36th minute free to put two between the sides.

Roscrea were afforded one last opportunity though after Joey Kelly was adjudged to have fouled Conor Donovan and goalkeeper Enda Moloney was called upon from his netminding duties to take the free. With a goal needed in order to snatch victory Moloney’s effort arrowed high over the crossbar and with it went Roscrea’s last chance.

Ballinahinch prevailed by a solitary point to bring the O’Keeffe back to the parish following what was a very entertaining decider. Impressive for Ballinahinch were Kevin Fitzpatrick, Cathal Ryan, Karl Kelly, Joey Kelly, Ger Grace, Brendan Ryan, James Lynch, Brian Keane, and Shane McGrath while Conor Donovan, Owen Tynan, Liam Seacy, Dylan Hogan, Robert Tynan, and Conor Phelan were to the fore for Roscrea.

TEAMS - Ballinahinch: Darragh McGrath (7), Adam Ryan (7), Kevin Fitzpatrick (7), Cathal Ryan (7); Karl Kelly (7), Joey Kelly (7), Shane McGrath (8); Brian Keane (7), James Lynch (7); Ger Grace (8), Paddy Kelly (7), Brendan Ryan (7); David Healy (6), Dave Ryan (6), Alan Kelly (7).

Subs: Evan Kearns (7) for D. Ryan (36); John Foley (6) for Kelly (46); John Ryan Bawn (6) for Keane (53)

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (7), Bryan McCabe (7), Eoin Larkin (7), Graham Hogan (7); Lee Doran (7), Conor Phelan (7), Conor Shanahan (7); Owen Tynan (7), Conor Donovan (7); Brian O’Rourke (7), Liam Seacy (7), Robert Tynan (7); Dylan Hogan (7), Conor Bergin (7), Diarmuid McLoughlin (7).

Sub: Josh McMahon (6) for Seacy (51).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).