Ballyporeen advance to senior football final in south Tipperary

Ballyporeen 0-17  Grangemockler/Ballyneale 0-15

Two late points from Conor Sweeney and Darragh Brennan saw Ballyporeen edge out Grangemockler/Ballyneale in a competitive Clonmel Oil South Tipperary Senior Football Cup semi-final at Monroe on Sunday evening, and they will now meet Clonmel Commercials in the final.

Ballyporeen didn’t lead until the 42nd minute, when a huge two-pointer free from Darragh Brennan proved to be an inspirational score as it edged them 0-13 to 0-11 ahead.

Another from play from the outstanding Brennan put them three ahead, but Grangemockler/Ballyneale were back in front with six minutes to go, with goalkeeper David Power and Jamie Walsh pointing frees, and then Power kicking his second two-pointer free of the game.

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However, Ballyoreen showed tremendous resilience to fight back again, Darragh Lyons drawing them level after strong pressure, before Sweeney and Brennan secured the victory.

Conor Sweeney has long been the side’s marquee forward, with a stellar inter-county career including a highlight of leading Tipperary to Munster title glory in 2020. He has since retired from the county scene but Darragh Brennan is stepping up to take his role.

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After an impressive inter-county season with Philly Ryan’s side in league and championship, he turned in a man of the match display on Sunday to help turn the tide in Bally’s direction after Grangemockler looked the stronger side in the first half. He dominated midfield, scoring six points from play as well as the crucial two- point free and one other free.

Conor Sweeney kicked five frees, many for fouls on himself, as he showed that his club career remains very much active.

However, Ballyporeen were slow to settle as Grangemockler raced into a three-points lead in five minutes. Mark O’Meara, proving to be a real threat to the Ballyporeen defence with his darting runs, opened the scoring in the first minute and won the kickout to set Brian Walsh up for the second, with Tom Regan adding the third.

Conor Sweeney opened Ballyporeen’s account from a free before Grangemockler goalkeeper David Power restored his side’s three-point advantage from a free.

Ballyporeen then hit two in a row from Darragh Brennan and Charlie English, with Ben Comerford replying for Grangemockler. Ballyporeen were level at 0-5 each by the 18th minute with scores from Dean Finn fisting over and a Conor Sweeney free.

Tom Brett for Grangemockler and Darragh Brennan exchanged points, but despite playing with fourteen men for the last seven minutes of the half, following a black card for midfielder Michael Meaney, Grangemockler were ahead 0-8 to 0-7 by half-time.
David Power came out from goal again to kick a huge two-pointer free, with a Conor Sweeney free wrapping up the first half scoring.

Grangemockler extended that lead to three just two minutes into the second half, winning possession from the throw-in, with Mark O’Meara feeding Lorcan Magorrian for the finish, and Jamie Walsh pointing a free that was brought forward after Ballyporeen had failed to hand over the ball immediately after committing the foul – it was not the only time they did it and will need to be careful not to repeat the mistake in the final.

Darragh Brennan had his side’s first point of the second half in the third minute, with Jamie Walsh restoring the Grangemockler three-point lead from a free after good work from Tom Regan.

Then a purple patch from Ballyporeen changed the course of the game in six minutes. Pointed frees from Sweeney and Brennan narrowed the gap, before Dean Finn tied the scores following a great catch from Brennan.

Then it was Brennan again to kick a monster two-pointer free to put his team ahead for the first time, 0-13 to 0-11. His low shot for goal minutes later was just wide, but his point from play put them three ahead.

But in a game of so many fluctuations, it looked like careless fouls were going to cost them. David Power and Jamie Walsh pointed frees for Grangemockler before Ballyporeen were too slow to return the ball again, and goalkeeper Power - his side’s top scorer – pointed from outside the arc, but nearer to goal, to edge them one ahead again with six minutes remaining.

However, Ballyporeen dominated those closing minutes as they pressed forward in waves with points from Darragh Lyons, a Sweeney free following a foul on Brennan, and then Brennan himself when on an advantage.

The final action was a Ballyporeen 45 after a Brennan shot was deflected over the line by a defender, with Sweeney kicking the ball over the sideline when told it was the last play of the game.

So Ballyporeen march on to the final, when they will expect an even sterner test against Clonmel Commercials, who overcame holders Moyle Rovers after extra time in the other semi-final. However, they will be encouraged by the nature of their victory against Grangemockler, recovering from a slow start to dominate the game when it mattered most.

Ballyporeen: Glen Walsh, Eoin Morrissey, Mikey Maher, John Kearney, Charlie English 0-1; Tomás Vaughan, Kevin O’Mahoney, Riain O’Callaghan, Darragh Brennan 0-9, 1 2pt f, 1f; Darragh Lyons 0-1; Christopher English, Dean Finn 0-1; Fionnan Ó Suilleabháin, Conor Sweeney 0-5f; Tommy Sweeney.

Sub: Oisín Power for Ó Suilleabháin.

Grangemockler/Ballyneale: David Power 0-6, 2 2pt f, 2f; John Lyons, Conor Hahessy, James Daly, Tom Regan 0-1; Michael Meagher, Darragh Shelly, Michael Meaney, Ben Comerford 0-1; Lorcan Magorrian 0-1; Brian Walsh 0-1; Paudie O’Shea, Jamie Walsh 0-3f; Mark O’Meara 0-1; Tom Brett 0-1.

Sub: Willie Wallace for Brett.

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Fr Sheehy’s).