Toomevara grind their way past Ballina in North U21 'A' Hurling semi-final

GAA: North Tipperary Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Toomevara 0-14

Ballina 0-11

Report: Joe Scully in Ballina

Toomevara qualified for the North Tipperary Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Final with a deserved three-point semi-final victory over Ballina on Sunday.

Both teams deserve immense credit for producing such a highly entertaining game despite the awful conditions as heavy showers fell throughout the game, making ground conditions very difficult as the game wore on especially in the second half.

The Greyhounds were the better team throughout, and were never behind, led by the excellent Darragh McCarthy, who top scored with ten points and caused problems for the Ballina defence all game.

The Blues gave it their all and never gave up but just lacked a cutting edge in their forward line, with moves breaking down on several occasions, when they were in dangerous positions, by taking the wrong option or giving the wrong pass.

Toome opened the scoring in the second minute through Jake Hackett, but Ballina were level with a Brian Bourke effort from play. This would be the only time the sides were level as Toomevara were back ahead shortly after via a Darragh McCarthy free, which he then followed up with an effort from play.

Ballina had the gap back to a point through Paddy Bradley, but Toomevara would then hit the next three scores first a McCarthy free, then one each from Kenneth Ryan and Tim Flaherty.

The Blues had the gap cut again with two scores of their own through two Matthew Power efforts, the second a great score after a one-two with Cathal O’Donnell. McCarthy was on target again to leave it 0-7 to 0-4 after twenty minutes.

Ballina had a great goal chance not long after, but Brian Bourke’s effort was brilliantly saved by Cormac Hogan in goal, with Power knocking over the resultant 65. Darragh McCarthy hit the last two scores of the half to leave it 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.

The second half was a very even contest under very difficult conditions with the pitch very wet which made for difficult circumstances for both sides, with players slipping at crucial stages when in promising attacking situations.

Toomevara were off the mark first with a Darragh McCarthy free, with Brian Bourke next on target for the home side. Then, McCarthy and Matthew Power traded the next four scores, as Ballina couldn’t get the gap below four points at any stage.

Next up was a superb effort from James Meagher with a free from halfway, which was again followed up by Power and McCarthy again trading the next three scores. Power was again on the mark in added time to leave just three in it, and as much as Ballina pushed for a late goal to level things, Toomevara stood strong and emerged victorious.

Player of the Match: Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara).

Toomevara: Cormac Hogan (6); Cathal Frend (7), James Duff (7), Joshua Powell (7); Cian Ryan (6), Daniel Farrell (7), Oisin Troy (6); James Meagher (0-1, 7), Jake Hackett (0-1, 6); Adam Hall (6), Darragh McCarthy (0-10, 7f, 9), Kieran Boyle (6); Tim Flaherty (0-1, 6), Kenneth Ryan (0-1, 8), Conor Grace (6).

Subs: Eoin Healy (6) for Grace (48), Ted Evans (NR) for Duff (55), Joe Coffey (NR) for Meagher (59), Jack Doran (NR) for Flaherty (60+3).

Ballina: Simon Grace (7); David Coughlan (7), Kian Donnelly (7), Billy Collins (6); Zak Egan (6), Sam Loughran (7), Dara King (6); Jack Collins (8), JP Mbokha (6); Brian Bourke (0-2, 8), Matthew Power (0-8, 7f, 8), Josh Egan (6); Paddy Bradley (0-1, 7), Cathal O’Donnell (6), Charlie King (6).

Subs: Charlie Grace (6) for Bradley (45); Cillian Ryan (6) for Mbokha (54).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).