Floyd's lucky 13 as Newport beat Ballina

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Newport 0-23

Ballina 1-14

Report: Liam Hogan in Templederry

A man of the match performance by Colin Floyd and greater use of possession helped Newport secure victory over neighbours Ballina in a rather disappointing North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter final on Friday evening.

Floyd scored 0-13, including seven points from play, and was the ideal target man and Newport used him to the very last as most of their scores came through well intentioned direct ball from a solid defence led by Rob Houlihan, Odhran Floyd, and Conor Floyd at half back.

On the other hand, Ballina were the direct opposite. While showing plenty of effort and much running their short ball policy went array so many times and into the bargain over the hour they hit a massive eighteen wides, some of which were in explicable, six more than Newport.

A strong diagonal breeze assisted Ballina in the first half, but Newport were 0-3 to 0-1 in front after Oisin O’Brien scored in the fifth minute. Sean O’Brien’s return to the first fifteen was short lived as he limped off with a hamstring injury after just five minutes. Oisin O’Neill replaced him with Oisin O’Brien moving to the defence where he operated as a sweeper with a good display.

Ballina took advantage and were in front by the seventh minute when David Kelly superbly found the back of the net as Paul Hogan could do nothing about it in the Newport goal. Ballina continued to dominate and by the 20th minute were 1-6 to 0-5 in front after Eoghan Power found the target.

After Conor Floyd replied with a point there was more from Ballina as Michael Breen, excellent both from play and frees, scored two more points, including a ninety metre monster to bring his tally to six giving Ballina an 1-8 to 0-6 lead with five minutes to go to half time.

It was Ballina’s biggest lead to date, one that could have been much greater had they matched scores with the extra amount of possession enjoyed but they took their eye off the ball as Newport dominated the remainder of the half with four unanswered points, the first from Odran Floyd with Colin Floyd scoring the next three from frees making it Ballina 1-8 Newport 0-10 at half time.

Newport went into the dressing rooms happy in the knowledge that they had the help of the breeze in the second half, but they fell three in arrears after points by David Kelly and Donie Phelan inside the opening minute of the restart.

Points by Colin Floyd and Cian Flanagan kept Newport in touch, but Cathal O’Donnell had two Ballina points either side of a Kealan Floyd point in the 39th minute before Newport came level in the 43rd minute after a brace of points by Peter O’Sullivan and Colin Floyd.

Floyd’s equaliser was the commencement of a five-point run with Cian Flanagan, Jack Delahunty and Colin Floyd (free and 65) to make it 0-20 to 1-12 with eight minutes remaining.

One minute later, Ballina almost scored a goal, but Donie Whelan’s shot from close range struck the upright and went wide. Play was called back for a free which Whelan converted.

The response from Newport was perfect with Colin Floyd winning Paul Hogan’s lengthy puckout before scoring a point.

Kian Donnelly’s response left Ballina three in arrears once more and they should have narrowed the gap to two but Donie Whelan’s close range free was struck wide. He wasn’t the first as Mikey Breen was also guilty from two long rangers it was all about Newport in those final minutes and a place in the semi-final was confirmed as three points in a row from Colin Floyd, Paul Hogan (free) and Oran Connors sealed the tie.

Player of the Match: Colin Floyd (Newport)

Newport: Paul Hogan (0-1f, 7); Conor Hickey (7), Sean O’Brien (NR), Robbie Houlihan (7); Odhran Floyd (0-1, 8), Conor Floyd (7), Aidan Moloney (7); Cian Flanagan (0-2, 7), Peter O’Sullivan (0-1, 7); Conor O’Mahony (6), Oisin O’Brien (0-1, 6), Kealan Floyd (0-1, 6); Oran Connors (0-2, 7), Colin Floyd (0-13, 5f, 1 65) 8), Jack Delahunty (0-1, 6).

Subs: Oisin O’Neill (7) for S O’Brien (5 inj); Andrew Hickey (6) for Moloney (43).

Ballina: Eoin Sheedy (7); Paddy O’Donovan (7), James Hanly (7), Diarmuid Whelan (7); Terry O’Halloran (6), Mikey Breen (0-6, 3f, 7), Sam Loughran (7); Conor Bourke (6), David Kelly (1-1, 7); Cathal O’Donnell (0-2, 7), Kian Donnelly (0-2, 7), George Kealy (6); Donie Whelan (0-2, 7), Eoghan Power (0-1, 6), Conor Power (6).

Sub: Brian Hurley (6) for Kealy (35).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).