Ailing Ballina leave revival too late

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 1

Cahir 0-10

Ballina 0-8

Report: Michael Dundon at The Ragg

A strong finish was not enough to avoid defeat for Ballina in the opening round of group 2 of the County Senior Football Championship on Sunday, the loss to Cahir leaving the north division representatives with some work to do if they are to stay in the title race.

Frustratingly for Ballina, they will feel they left the points behind them, a disappointing first half when they scored just one point, a Teddy Doyle free, leaving them chasing the game after the break.

Two likely goal chances went abegging in the second half and, to compound a day of misery for Ballina, they lost county under 20 star Charlie King, their best player, to injury at the three quarter stage just when they seemed to be making inroads on the Cahir lead.

All that on top of the absence of county senior captain Steven O’Brien, injured the previous week in the hurling championship, puts Ballina in a difficult position with a victory in round 2 against Upperchurch/Drombane of this three team group, imperative to keeping their hopes alive.

The first half showing of Ballina was well below their normal standard. They were particularly ineffective in front of goal, chances from play and frees yielding nothing. Teddy Doyle got their only point of the half in the tenth minute, a score which gave them the lead after an earlier Ben King effort which won a white flag from one umpire, was over-turned.

Subsequently, Ballina were every bit as much in the game in terms of possession, but Cahir were the more efficient in front of goal, and substitute Conor O’Brien, introduced after eight minutes when Ger Quinn was injured, kicked five points, four from frees, for a half-time lead of 0-5 to 0-1 after what can most kindly be described as a modest first half.

Things got worse for Ballina before they got better. Jack O’Mahoney had an early point for them on resuming but then Cahir had points from Kevin Grogan and Conor O’Brien. Ballina were showing more cut now and David Kelly was unlucky to see a goal-bound effort charged down with his return shot striking the woodwork.

Ben King pointed two frees for Ballina and in the 41st minute Teddy Doyle’s drive for a goal was brilliantly saved by Cahir goalie Aaron Wall. What a goal from either of those chances would have done for Ballina is anybody’s guess and on the three quarter mark, with just three points between them (0-8 to 0-5), they lost Charlie King to injury, a huge blow as his surging runs from defence were giving Cahir a lot of problems.

Cahir had the next two points from Liam Casey and Conor O’Brien to go five clear with eight minutes to play. Cahir lost Jake Kiely to a black card, prompting a late push by Ballina. Teddy Doyle pointed a free and added another from play as the game moved into injury time. He had yet another from a free in the 62nd minute but time was again the North lads and Cahir held on for victory.

All is not lost for Ballina, the north division’s sole representative in the senior championship but there are no margins for error left now. They must defeat Upperchurch-Drombane in the next round and they will be hoping that both Steven O’Brien and Charlie King will be available for that crucial game.

Their second half showing will give them encouragement, but they have a considerable task on hand. Charlie king was their main man in this encounter with Cillian Ryan, Jack O’Mahoney, Ben King, and Teddy Doyle others to feature prominently.

Cahir have every reason to be happy with the points which put them in a strong position going into round 2. They have former county man Liam Casey back in the fold, a huge addition. Sub Conor O’Brien made a big impact when introduced with Stephen Grogan, Jessie Kiely, Kevin Grogan, and Ian Flannery others to catch the eye for them.

Player of the Match: Charlie King (Ballina).

Cahir: Aaron Wall (7); Sean Leahy (6), Michael O’Connor (7), Eoin Donaghy (6); Jessie Kiely (7), Stephen Grogan (7), Colin McEniry (6); Kevin Grogan (0-1, 7), Eddie Kendrick (6); Jake Kiely (6), Liam Casey (0-1, 7), Ian Flannery (7); Ger Quinn (NR), Niall McKenna (6), Craig Guiry (0-1, 6).

Subs: Conor O’Brien (0-7, 5f, 7) for Quinn (8 inj); Dylan Butler (6) for Guiry (51); Ciaran Condon (6) for Jessie Kiely (53); Nicholas Reidy (NR) for McEniry (59); Craig Guiry for Jake Kiely (60).

Ballina: Dara King (6); David Grace (6), Cillian Ryan (7), Paddy O’Donovan (6); James Hanly (6), Charlie King (8), Terry O’Halloran (6); David Coughlan (6), Michael Breen (6); Eoghan Power (6), Brian Carson (6), Teddy Doyle (0-4, 3f, 7); Jack O’Mahoney (0-2, 7), David Kelly (6), Ben King (0-2f, 6).

Subs: Charlie Grace (6) for Power (HT); Harry Byrne (6) for Kelly (38); Daniel Tighe (6) for C King (45 inj); Zak Egan (6) for Carson (50); Colm O’Neill (NR) for B King (59).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne-Templetuohy).