Rovers survive as Ballinahinch fall to Junior ranks

GAA: FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Relegation Final

Shannon Rovers 1-17

Ballinahinch 0-14

Report: James Hayden in Toomevara

Shannon Rovers ensured their intermediate survival, and in the process, consigned Ballinahinch to the Junior 'A' ranks of hurling in Tipperary following a hard-fought intermediate relegation final on Saturday.

Having been promoted to the intermediate ranks following their memorable junior ‘A’ county title winning campaign of 2002, their twenty-year spell in third tier of hurling brought with it many memorable moments, most notably the club’s first ever North title in 2016, but alas, all good things must come to an end

This season proved a decidedly tricky one for Pat Cremin’s charges and after a disappointing county campaign the men in saffron and blue found themselves staring down the barrel of a relegation pistol.

Shannon Rovers, who also slipped up on more than one occasion in what was a tricky campaign for the side from Lower Ormond, also found themselves in a scrap for survival but going into this do-or-die relegation trapdoor clash many fancied them to emerge on the winning side.

Ballinahinch had different designs on the outcome however, and despite a nervy start they were well in contention coming towards the thirty-minute mark, even managing to fashion a slender solitary point interval cushion as they took the game to a stronger Shannon Rovers side.

There was little to warm the cockles on what was a breezy, bright yet chilly October afternoon with just one point registered by either side in the opening quarter. Despite playing into the teeth of a gusting breeze blowing into the scoreboard end the Rovers had the better of the exchanges while Ballinahinch struggled to harness the elements in their favour.

The Rovers were first to register thanks to a John O’Meara point before Ballinahinch responded through a David Gleeson free on nine minutes, but the Rovers were wasteful early on with four wides from scorable positions. Midway through the half Tom Hogan and Karl Kelly traded frees for their respective sides before a searing run from the impressive Andrew Byrne set Tom Hogan up for his first point from play.

Obviously unhappy with their set-up Ballinahinch’s backroom team enforced a double substitution after 23 minutes with Ger Grace and Alan Kelly introduced and they also re-jigged their attack in a bid to take the game to the Rovers. The switches paid dividends in fairness and Ballinahinch finally sparked to life in the closing five minutes of the half.

A brace from the dangerous David Gleeson in the 27th minute edged Ballinahinch in front for the first time before John O’Meara responded with a fine effort for the men in red and white.

Shane McGrath retorted with an angled effort and David Gleeson arrowed over a beautifully struck point from close to the side-line on the cusp of half-time to edge Ballinahinch two clear.

Shannon Rovers hit back though with a sublime Austin Tierney effort after fine approach work by Tom Hogan to narrow the gap to the bare minimum, and it remained so until the half-time whistle with the Rovers trailing 0-5 to 0-6 but with the added benefit of the gusting breeze for the second-half to factor into their plans.

Three Rovers points without reply within the opening six minutes of the second half heralded a sign of what was to come. Tom Hogan (free), Austin Tierney and Eamonn Hough were all on target and the dominance of George Hannigan and Conal Moran under the dropping ball proved telling.

Alan Kelly hit a timely riposte for the Bally boys but once again the Rovers were equal to the best Ballinahinch could muster with George Hannigan and Tom Hogan both raising white flags, 0-10 to 0-7.

Karl Kelly and Tom Hogan traded frees on the 40-minute mark before Conal Moran’s growing influence on the game saw him fire over the first of four points from play. Moran knifed over a fine 42nd minute strike before Tom Hogan quickly added a brace as the Rovers raced into a lead they would never relinquish, 0-14 to 0-8.

Ballinahinch were in no way going to die soft though with Shane McGrath setting up Alan Kelly for a close-range effort on 46 minutes. Conal Moran bisected the uprights in reply before back-to-back efforts from David Gleeson brought Ballinahinch to within four with nine minutes remaining.

Ballinahinch’s revival of sorts was soon quelled though thanks to a well-taken 50th minute goal from the stick of John O’Meara after Austin Tierney’s well-placed hand-pass afforded him the opportunity of a shot on goal.

O’Meara again raided in the very next attack but on this occasion Darragh McGrath pulled off a fine save in the Ballinahinch goal.

With time ticking away Conal Moran and David Gleeson (free) both arrowed over points before Moran knocked over his fourth of the game and the Rovers final score on 57 minutes.

Shannon Rovers enforced a rear-guard action for the closing stages and although Ballinahinch added two further points thanks to David Gleeson (one from play and one from a free) they couldn’t breach the Rovers’ defence for a badly needed goal which would have brought them right back into contention.

In the end, Shannon Rovers held firm to preserve their intermediate status for another year, but they were pushed all the way by a battling Ballinahinch side who just didn’t possess the necessary wherewithal to maintain a strong enough challenge.

Impressive for the Rovers were Conal Moran, Tom Hogan, John O’Meara, Andrew Byrne, Alan Hannigan, Austin Tierney, and Michael Slattery while David Gleeson, Karl Kelly, Joey Kelly, Shane McGrath, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Donnacha McGrath and Alan Kelly were to the fore for Ballinahinch.

Player of the Match: Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers) Shannon Rovers: Paddy Heenan (7), Kieran O’Sullivan (7), Alan Hannigan (7), Marcus Esmonde (7); Oisin McMahon (7), Michael Slattery (7), Emmet Moran (7); Austin Tierney (0-2, 7), Conal Moran (0-4, 8); Matt Tierney (7), George Hannigan (0-1, 7), Andrew Byrne (8); Tom Hogan (0-7, 4f, 7); Eamon Hough (0-1, 7), John O’Meara (1-2, 8). Subs: Conor Ryan (NR) for M Tierney (57); Padraic O’Meara (NR) for J O’Meara (58); Derek Horan (NR) for Byrne (60+1); Sean Moran (NR) for A Tierney (60+4). Ballinahinch: Darragh McGrath (7), James Lynch (7), Paddy Kelly (7), Frank Troy (7), Kevin Fitzpatrick (7), Karl Kelly (0-2f, 7), Joey Kelly (7); Cathal Ryan (6), John Ryan (6); John Foley (7), Brian Keane (6), Shane McGrath (7); Brendan Ryan (6), Davey Gleeson (0-9, 5f, 7), Adam Ryan (6). Subs: Ger Grace (7) for J Ryan (23); Alan Kelly (0-2, 7) for Keane (23); Donnacha McGrath (7) for A. Ryan (HT); Cathal Ryan (B, NR) for C Ryan (52). Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch/D).