Loughmore Castleiney stumble to a final group win over strong 14-man Ballina effort

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 2 - Round 3

Loughmore Castleiney 1-13

Ballina 3-5

By Ronan Loughnane

Ballina’s winning run came to an end in Moneygall on Saturday afternoon last when a more streetwise Loughmore outfit had just enough in hand to see off their stern challenge. This was always going to be a step up in class for the new kids on the block and Loughmore’s vast experience proved the difference. Ballina certainly played their part in the game however and will pose plenty of questions for Commercials in the quarter-finals.

Conditions were ideal for football on a beautiful sunny afternoon with little or no breeze. The game was very stop/start early on and we waited until the 6th minute for the opening strike, a nice point from Dara King.

The same player was fouled a minute later and a quick free found Bernard King who finished to the net to get Ballina off to a flyer. Liam McGrath eventually opened Loughmore’s account from a free in the 9th minute which saw Sam Loughran receive a yellow card.

A stray kick out from Jerry O’Brien in the 14th minute landed in Brian McGrath’s hands who gleefully kicked it back over his head and into the net to bring the sides level. Ballina had played with great abandon in their opening two games with their forward line enjoying plenty of possession, but Loughmore flooded that space on Saturday, affording their opponents very little space.

Ballina needed to show patience on the ball but far too often they carried the ball into the tackle and were easily turned over by a disciplined Loughmore defence. At the other end Ballina were guilty of poor tackling with Liam McGrath tacking on four pointed frees in the second quarter without reply to leave Loughmore 1-5 to 1-1 ahead at the break.

Ballina had begun the day without the services of Tom Lee and Charlie King while Lee’s replacement, Steven O’Brien, injured himself in the warm-up and played no part. Influential wing-back Conor Power succumbed to injury in the 5th minute while Paddy O’Donovan was black-carded in the 24th minute.

The odds were certainly stacked against them as the second half began and Noel McGrath stretched their lead with Loughmore’s first point from play in the 32nd minute.

Ballina were thrown a lifeline in the 36th minute when Eoin O’Connell’s attempt to find goalkeeper Shane Hennessy from a sideline ball went horribly wrong and Eoghan Power kicked their second goal to close the gap to two. An excellent team move had them in front four minutes later when David Kelly landed goal number three to leave the score at 3-1 to 1-6 after 40 minutes.

Ballina had their tails up and were back to their full complement, but unfortunately lost Sam Loughran to a second yellow on 42 minutes. A man up it was here that Loughmore showed that bit more composure. Having kicked only one point from play in 40 minutes, they had five by the 53rd minute courtesy of Liam McGrath (2), Conor Ryan and Tomas McGrath.

Liam McGrath also added two frees while Ballina had only two points from Cathal O’Donnell and Bernard King in this period to leave Loughmore 1-12 to 3-3 in front on 57 minutes. Eoghan Power’s free closed it to two before Liam McGrath replied with his tenth of the day.

Teddy Doyle’s free proved to be the last score of the day as Loughmore advanced as group winners on a 1-13 to 3-5 scoreline. They will be happy with many aspects of their play as they build momentum toward the business end of the season. Liam McGrath was in excellent kicking form while John Ryan, Brian McGrath, Tomas McGrath and Conor Ryan were to the fore. They now take on Moyle Rovers in the last eight.

While Ballina will be disappointed not to have topped the group, they will have learned many lessons. More patience in possession and more discipline in the tackle will be key going forward and if they return to full strength, they will test Clonmel in the quarter-finals. Eoghan Power, Teddy Doyle, David Kelly, and Paddy O’Donovan were best on the day.

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, Tomas McGrath (0-1); John Ryan, Eoin O’Connell, Tommy Maher; Aidan McGrath, Liam Treacy; Liam McGrath (0-10, 0-3f), Brian McGrath (1-0), Noel McGrath (0-1); Conor Ryan (0-1), Ciaran McGrath, John McGrath.

Subs used: Ed Meagher for Treacy; Philip O’Connell for Ciaran McGrath.

Ballina: Jerry O’Brien; Sam Loughran, James Hanley, Terry O’Halloran; Paddy O’Donovan, Teddy Doyle (0-1,’45), Conor Power; Michael Breen, Matthew Power; Michael Grace, Dara King (0-1), Eoghan Power (1-1); Bernard King (1-1), David Kelly (1-0), Cathal O’Donnell (0-1).

Subs used: David Coughlan for Conor Power (inj); Daniel Tighe for Grace; George Kelly for D King.

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)