Ballina left waiting after late defeat to Cashel

GAA: FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1

Cashel King Cormacs 2-23

Ballina 0-26

Report: James Hayden in Borrisoleigh

Ballina are left waiting to see if they have progressed to the knockout stages of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship after falling just short to Cashel King Cormacs in an enthralling group 1 clash on Saturday afternoon.

In a game that kept a sizeable attendance the edge of their seats throughout both sides served up some serious championship fare as they went at it hammer and tongs from the very get-go despite the showery weather conditions in evidence throughout.

A heavy pre-match shower left a greasy sheen on the pitch, but both sides coped admirably with the slippery underfoot conditions.

Playing with the aid of a diagonal breeze, Andy Moloney’s charges kept pace with the north side for the first twenty minutes in what was very much a nip and tuck contest.

During that opening spell, free-taker Anthony Walsh converted three placed balls and together with points from Ger Browne and the imperious Ronan Connolly (3), the Ollie Moran coached side were well and truly able to keep pace with a Ballina outfit which saw Matthew Power convert two placed balls while Charlie King, Steven O’Brien, Jack Collins and Cathal O’Donnell were all in target for the men in blue.

Ballina were well primed for this encounter as they needed the win, and this was noticeably evident in their well-rehearsed puckouts and pre-planned plays.

In the middle of the park, David Kelly was causing untold problems for Cashel while Steven O’Brien was the main threat in a dangerous attack.

And it was this attack which really went to town on Cashel between the 20th & 29th minutes. A sweet point from Brian Hurley together with a well-orchestrated Cathal O’Donnell effort fired Ballina two clear before Steven O’Brien helped himself to a brace to double the Lakesiders advantage. Cashel managed to stem the rising tide with an Eoghan Connolly free before Matthew Power arrowed over a close-range free.

Anthony Walsh (free) hit back for Cashel but Ballina’s response was swift with both Matthew Power (free) and Brian Hurley on target. Leading by five, Ballina were in the ascendancy but an overthrown Michael Breen handpass looped over goalkeeper Martin McKeogh’s head and out for a 65’ which Eoghan Connolly converted.

However, this slight blip in Ballina’s excellent opening half play served to upset their momentum and ushered in a game-levelling purple patch for the West men. Cashel whittled down Ballina’s lead in time added on with a Johnathan Walsh point coupled with a cracking Ger Browne goal after he pulled first time on Paddy Fahy’s incisive through ball to ensure the West men went in level at the break, 1-11 to 0-14.

Cashel emerged determined to build upon their impressive finish to the first half and quickly snatched the lead thanks to a cracking Ross Bonnar point straight from the re-start.

The third quarter proved a very tight affair with the sides level on no less than seven occasions. Steven O’Brien, Matthew Power (3 frees), Eoghan Power, Charlie King all raised white flags for Ballina while Cashel kept pace with an Eoghan Connolly free, a second from Ross Bonnar and a brace from Ger Browne coupled with points from the influential James Cummins and Cathal Quinn ensuring the sides were locked at 0-21 to 1-18 on 44 minutes.

Cashel then struck for what was the pivotal score, a 45th minute Conn Bonnar goal after a last-ditch goal-line attempt to prevent it by Ballina’s wing-back, Jack Collins only managed to clear James Cummins’ low goal-bound drive into the path of the inrushing Bonnar. The goal rejuvenated Cashel’s collective effort but Ballina were nothing if resilient and by the 54th minute the deficit was back down to a point thanks to successive Matthew Power frees.

Ballina drew level seconds later after Michael Breen was fouled and Matthew Power once more duly obliged from a placed ball before Cashel made a brave call to bring a clearly bemused Ger Browne ashore with the game still in the melting pot.

Jack O’Connor was drafted into the fray, and it proved a very beneficial decision by the Cashel management after he edged the men in red into a two-point advantage with a sublime effort after Cathal Quinn had fired over an audacious effort from long-range to hand Cashel a 58th minute advantage.

Ballina were forced to go all-in in a bid to close the gap, but a missed Matthew Power free in the 62nd minute hampered their efforts to get back on terms. Despite being in the depths of time added on game could have swung in either direction still but up stepped James Cummins to arrow over an all-important point to guarantee a top spot finish for an impressive Cashel side while Ballina must wait on the outcome of the re-fixed Moyne-Templetuohy v St Mary’s game to see if they progress on score difference.

Ballina can count themselves unlucky not to have come away with something out of what was a hugely entertaining clash with big performances from Steven O’Brien, David Kelly, Matthew Power, Jack Collins, Brian Hurley, Charlie King, Paddy O’Donovan, and Cathal O’Donnell while Eoghan Connolly, Ronan Connolly, Ross Bonnar, Ger Browne, James Cummins and Cathal Quinn and Conn Bonnar were impressive for Cashel.

Player of the Match: Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)

Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne (7); Pauric Brosnan (6), Simon Delaney (7), Ciaran Quinn (7); Ronan Connolly (0-3, 8), Eoghan Connolly (0-4 (3f, 1 65’) 8), Conor O’Dwyer (7); Anthony Walsh (0-5, 4f, 7), Cathal Quinn (0-2, 7); Ross Bonnar (0-3, 7), Paddy Fahy, James Cummins (0-2, 7); Jonathan Walsh (7), Ger Browne (1-3, 8), David McGrath (7).

Subs: Conn Bonnar (1-0, 7) for A Walsh (38); Daniel Moloney (7) for Brosnan (44); Adrian Cummins (6) for D McGrath (46); Jack McGrath (6) for J Walsh (48); Jack O’Connor (0-1, 7) for G Browne (55).

Ballina: Martin McKeogh (7); Paddy O’Donovan (7), James Hanly (7), Conor Power (7); Jack Collins (0-1, 7), Michael Breen (7), Terry O’Halloran (7); Sam Loughran (7), David Kelly (8); Eoghan Power (0-1, 7), Matthew Power (0-14, 12f, 7), Brian Hurley (0-2, 7); Charlie King (0-2, 7), Steven O’Brien (0-4, 8), Cathal O’Donnell (0-2, 7).

Subs: Zach Egan (6) for Loughran (48); Ben King (6) for Hurley (52); Diarmuid Whelan (NR) for O’Halloran (56).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).