Late Ballina surge secures knockout berth

Two goals in the frantic last five minutes of this highly competitive County Senior Football Championship tie on Friday evening kept Ballina’s interest alive in the campaign, as they dumped Upperchurch/Drombane out.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 3

Ballina 2-7

Upperchurch/Drombane 0-9

Report: Noel Dundon at Lacken Park, Newport

With all three teams in the group ending up on two points each, the Upperchurch/Drombane men crashed out with Ballina and Cahir going through by the slenderest of margins on score difference – a scenario which didn’t seem likely with five minutes of normal time remaining in this game.

Although the fare was rather pedestrian for long periods, the climax more than made up for it with Ballina finishing very strong and finding the wherewithal to not just seal the win, but also to generate enough of a gap to stay in the championship.

The North men started very well and were three points in front after ten minutes with Brian Carson (2) and Tom Lee scoring.

They could have conceded a goal in the ninth minute had Dara King not beaten away a Paul Shanahan effort for the ‘Church for what would have been their first score of the game. Instead, they had to wait until the twelfth minute and a Niall Grant free to get them off the mark.

Upperchurch/Drombane had settled by the start of the second quarter and even though Josh Egan extended the Ballina lead, the ‘Church hit back with four unanswered scores in a fine spell from Conor Fahey, Paul Shanahan (2) and Sean Ryan to leave them one ahead as half time approached.

The Mid men were dominating proceedings and Dara King was again forced into action to save from Matt Ryan just before half time – a goal at that stage would have been a major score in what was a tight game, but King kept his side in the mix.

There had been a plethora of handling errors in the first half and both sides continued to cough up possession in the second half too, though some noticeable improvement had materialised. Players found a little more time on the ball but there were a number of flash points which referee Seanie Peters had to deal with – Ballina finishing with fourteen men with corner back Kian Donnelly receiving a second yellow card in the 59th minute.

Upon the resumption, Jim O’Dwyer had a third Upperchurch/Drombane goal chance but his effort crashed off the woodwork and Ballina were off the hook again -their net would not be breached thanks to Kings efforts.

Charlie King and Conor Fahey exchanged scores as Jack O’Mahony and Luke Shanahan. Crucially though Ballina midfielder Tom Lee was black carded in the 37th minute, leaving his side with a numerical disadvantage and Upperchurch/Drombane made the most of it as they raced into a three point advantage – sub Luke Shanahan grabbing two having made a big impact upon his introduction.

The Ballina revival had not been telegraphed but when Charlie King fashioned a goal out of nothing in the 57th minute to tie up the game, it still wasn’t enough for his side to survive in the championship.

David Kelly kicked a point just before Donnelly’s dismissal, and remarkably a minute later Jack O’Mahony hit the back of the net again after a break up-field caught the ‘Church cold.

Now Ballina had a favourable scoring difference and Upperchurch/Drombane needed to find something, but it just would not happen for them, and expiring time extinguished their chances of advancing.

It had been an incredible about turn and one which left Upperchurch/Drombane in a degree of shock at the end.

They could not have foretold the outcome and credit has to go for Ballina for fighting tooth and nail to stay in the mix. Somehow, they found a way and the leadership shown by Charlie King, Jack O’Mahony, Eoin Power and Terry O’Halloran in particular was crucial to their victory, as were the heroics of keeper Dara King who played a major role in the victory.

Player of the Match: Charlie King (Ballina)

Ballina: Dara King (8), Kian Donnelly (6), Cillian Ryan (7), Paddy O’Donovan (6), James Hanly (7), Charlie King (1-1, 8), Terry O’Halloran (6), Harry Byrne (6), Tom Lee (0-1, 7), Eoin Power (6), Brian Carson (0-2, 7), Josh Egan (6), Jack O’Mahoney (1-1, 0-1f, 7), Charlie Grace (0-1, 7), David Kelly (0-1, 6).

Subs: Sam Loughran (6) for Hanly (30+1); Ben King (6) for Egan (37); Zac Egan (6) for Grace (47); Matthew Power (6) for O’Halloran (47); David Grace (6) for Lee (47); Colm O’Neill (NR) for Carson (56).

Upperchurch/Drombane: James Griffin (6), Michael Lavery (6), Michael Griffin (7), Ger Grant (7), Ailbe O’Donoghue (6), Keith Ryan (7), Matt Ryan (6), Sean Ryan (0-1, 6), Jim O’Dwyer (6), Colm Ryan (6), Pat Ryan (5), Paul Shanahan (0-2f, 7), Oisin Treacy (7), Niall Grant (0-1f, 7), Conor Fahey (0-2, 7).

Subs: Luke Shanahan (0-3, 2f, 8) for O’Dwyer (35); Dean Carew (6) for S Ryan (35); Sean Shanahan (NR) for K Ryan (56).

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).