Tierney goal edges Rovers to North Junior 'B' Football title

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Final

Shannon Rovers 1-6

Ballina 0-6

Report: James Hayden in Puckane

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers)

SCORERS – Shannon Rovers: Austin Tierney 1-0; George Hannigan (1 free), Andrew Byrnes 0-2 each; Padraic O’Meara, John O’Meara 0-1 each

Ballina: Daniel Tighe 0-2; Mark Loughran, Matthew Power, Dara King, Charlie King 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers were crowned North Junior ‘B’ football champions following an absorbing battle with Ballina on Friday evening.

In the end, it was a second-half Austin Tierney goal which proved the difference between the sides as a well-drilled Rovers side took the spoils over a battling Ballina outfit.

With little or no breeze to contend, Ballina were first off the mark with a sweetly struck Dara King effort before a terrific surge up field resulted in a well-taken fisted point for the impressive corner-back Daniel Tighe.

Ballina had the brighter start but once the Rovers got to grips with Ballina’s set-up they dominated for the majority of the half. With Padraic O’Meara and George Hannigan pulling the strings in defense and attack, Enda Hogan’s charges opened their account with a sixth minute right-footed effort from George Hannigan. Three minutes later, Hannigan popped over a close-range free before Eamonn Hough set up Padraic O’Meara for a twelfth minute point to duly send Shannon Rovers into a lead they would never relinquish.

The Rovers continued to dominate as Ballina noticeably struggled to cope with the power and pace of the Rovers attack. Andrew Byrnes knifed over a sixteenth minute effort before a scything run up field from Marcus Esmonde provided John O’Meara with the opportunity to fire the Rovers into a three-point advantage, 0-5 to 0-2.

The Rovers could have been further ahead though with four missed clear-cut point-scoring opportunities in front of goal coupled with a rasping effort which cannoned off the Ballina crossbar leaving the door open for a comeback.

Ballina did regather their momentum as the half drew to a close with full-forward Matthew Power cutting the deficit to two points in the 27th minute. George Hannigan had the opportunity to restore his side’s three-point lead right on the cusp of half-time, but he pulled his close-range free to the right to leave his side two points to the good at the break, 0-5 to 0-3.

Shannon Rovers were forced to plan without full-forward Michael Tierney for the second half after he suffered a burst lip just before the break. Rovers’ manager Enda Hogan was forced to re-jig his attack and introduce Matthew Hardy on a permanent basis for the second half. Ballina also rang the changes with county minor Charlie King drafted into the fray.

Within three minutes of the re-start, the Rovers had extended their advantage thanks to a second point from the boot of Andrew Byrnes. Daniel Tighe responded for the boys in blue with a fantastic 37th minute effort as Ballina sought a route back into the contest.

A goal was always going to prove pivotal in this encounter and it came in the 41st minute from the boot of Austin Tierney after he gathered a high looping effort into the edge of the square from Padraic O’Meara following impressive approach play from George Hannigan and Marcus Esmonde. Tierney gathered well and beat the Ballina keeper at the near post to fire the Rovers 1-6 to 0-4 clear.

For the Rovers it was their final score of the game as they fought a rearguard action for the closing quarter. Ballina’s corner forward Mark Loughran cut the deficit with a 49th minute point before Charlie King arrowed over a 55th minute effort to leave just a goal between the sides.

Both sides were also guilty of poor shooting in the closing stages with Ballina setting their sights on the levelling goal. George Kealy became the main target man on the edge of the square, but the Rovers defense held firm. Charlie King broke through on goal as the game slipped into time added on, but his effort was also well-saved and cleared to safety.

Shannon Rovers saw the game out though for a well-deserved three-point victory over a Ballina side who battled right to the death but were unable to secure that all important leveler. Impressive for the Rovers were George Hannigan, Padraic O’Meara, Marcus Esmonde, Andrew Byrnes, Eamonn Hough and Jack O’Sullivan awhile Daniel Tighe, Tom Lee, George Kealy, Matthew Power, and Charlie King caught the eye for Ballina.

TEAMS - Shannon Rovers: Dinny Cahalan (7), James O’Sullivan (7), Jack O’Sullivan (7), Matthew Tierney (7); Marcus Esmonde (7), Padraic O’Meara (Capt 8), Emmet Moran (7); Andrew Byrnes (8), Derek Horan (8); Eamonn Hough (7), George Hannigan (8), John O’Meara (7); Paddy Heenan (6), Michael Tierney (6), Austin Tierney (7).

Subs: Michael Hardy (7) for M Tierney (30 inj); Cathal Hogan (NR) for Horan (56); Vincent Mulvihill (NR) for Moran (60).

Ballina: Jerry O’Brien (7), David Coughlan (7), Kian Donnelly (7), Daniel Tighe (8); Conor Shanahan (6), Tom Lee (Capt, 8), Cian Molloy (7); JP Mbokha (7), George Kealy (7); Finn Looney (7), Eoghan Dalton (7), Paddy Bradley (6), Mark Loughran (7), Matthew Power (7), Dara King (7).

Subs: Charlie King (7) for Bradley (HT); Jack Grace (6) for Shanahan (41); Simon Grace (6) for Loughran (53); Cian O’Donoghue (NR) for Molloy (60).

Referee: Mark Houlihan (Lorrha).