Ballina earn vital two points in championship first round against divisional rivals

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship - Group 1 - Round 1

Ballina 2-16

Silvermines 1-17

A man of the match performance from Eoghan Power propelled Ballina to a crucial win over neighbours Silvermines in this opening round game of group 1 of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Power’s five points from play, plus his all-round workrate were decisive in holding off their fast finishing opponents to claim the two points.

In a group that also contains the fancied Carrick Swan and Upperchurch/Drombane, even at this stage this felt line a winner-takes-all contest and a strong start to the second half in which they opened an eight point lead proved to be the platform Ballina needed. However, they will be concerned that, like in the North semi-final, they allowed a strong lead evaporate in the face of a Silvermines revival where Jason Forde was again to the fore with thirteen points, five from play.

It was Conor McKelvey’s goal in the 38th minute that ignited the Silvermines revival, getting on the end of a measured delivery from Oisin Murphy to ground stroke the ball to the net, one of the great skills of hurling we don’t get to see often in the modern game.

It brought Silvermines back within three points and when Ballina’s target-man Steven O’Brien was forced off with a leg injury soon after, things looked to be turning in favour of the defeated North finalists.

Ballina went fourteen minutes without a score as their lead was cut to the minimum as they struggled to make the ball stick in attack. However, county man Michael Breen really stepped up when needed and an inspirational point from play on 55 minutes really galvanised those around him for one last push which was enough to secure the win.

Breen finished with six points, five from placed balls with two of them coming late in the contest as he and Tipperary colleague Jason Forde went head to head, and for much of the contest it was the Silvermines man who had the upper hand when he scored three of his five from play in the opening half.

Conor McKelvey contributed well again with 1-2 from play and the ‘Mines will rue a great goal chance he had on 59 minutes as he caught an angle delivery from Forde, but a brilliant block denied the former Tipp underage player a near certain goal and with it the lead. McKelvey did win a free as he was fouled in the process with Forde blasting inches over the bar and with it went Silvermines best chance of snatching victory.

The game overall played out as expected, well contested with little between the sides. Ballina’s first goal came on seven minutes when an angled ball from Jack Collins found Steven O’Brien whose power on the turn got him past Ronan Sherlock before beating Conor Murphy at his near post.

That goal was more or less what separated the sides in the opening half with a late point from David Kelly giving Ballina a 1-8 to 0-7 half time lead.

Within two minutes of the restart, Kelly scored Ballina’s second goal following a fine flowing move began by Jack Collins with the quick hands of Kian Donnelly and Steven O’Brien leading to Kelly getting in behind the Silvermines cover to finish well.

Silvermines hit back with Jason Forde’s fourth point from play but subsequent points from Ballina’s key players on the day Power and Breen put them into a 2-10 to 0-8 lead and were in a good position to push on, but Silvermines had other ideas.

Ballina: Simon Grace; Paddy O’Donovan, David Grace, Charlie King; Terry O’Halloran, Michael Breen (0-6, 5f), James Hanly; David Coughlan, Jack Collins (0-2f); Kian Donnelly, David Kelly (1-1), Ben King; Eoghan Power (0-5), Steven O’Brien (1-0), Josh Egan (0-1).

Subs used: Cillian Ryan for Donnelly (43); Cathal O’Donnell (0-1) for O’Brien (43 inj); Billy Collins for B King (48); Zak Egan for Egan (60).

Silvermines: Conor Murphy; Michael Hogan, Ronan Sherlock, Daragh Nolan; Michael Corcoran; Luke O’Brien, Darragh McKelvey, Noel Quirke; Eddie Ryan, Darragh Treacy (0-1); Conor McKelvey (1-2), Jason Forde (0-13, 7f, 1 65), Cathal Treacy; Andy Hayden, Oisin Murphy.

Subs used: Mark Daniels for Hogan (HT); Orrie Quirke for Quirke (46); Danny Quinn for O Murphy (47); Gerard Leamy for Hayden (50).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)