O'Brien strikes late to come up trumps for Ballina in a share of the spoils with Moneygall

FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship - Group 1 - Round 2

Ballina 2-19 

Moneygall 3-19

By Liam Hogan 

Steven O’Brien’s 61st-minute point helped Ballina claim a share of the points when his equaliser saved Ballina from defeat against Moneygall in what turned out to be a very entertaining Premier Intermediate second round championship game played at sunny MacDonagh Park last Saturday afternoon.

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But O’Brien’s intervention came after Sean Kenneally had scored what looked like a winner on the hour mark, thus ending Ballina’s run of championship victories, including the North semi-final and final.

Their performances so far turned many heads with their attractive, free-flowing and mostly direct style, but the prowess of Michael Breen, Jack Collins, Tom Shanahan, and Josh Egan was curtailed due to the equally direct and attractive style of Moneygall.

Were it not for the might of David Kelly, Charlie King (1-3), plus the influence of Eoghan Power, the Shannonsiders might well be seeking a remedy in order to find a remedy to make a quarter-final spot a certainty when they meet Upperchurch Drombane in the final round robin game.

Moneygall, for their part, have certainly put the disappointment of their dismal North semi-final defeat to Burgess in the dustbin.

Ed Doughan continues to be their main tallies man as the young wing forward scored 2-7 (all bar three points from play) with his two goals giving Moneygall a strong 2-10 to 0-9 lead after just 26 minutes. Adam Hogan, Joe Fogarty, Brendan Toohey, Jack Kirwan, and Roddy Teehan were others to shine.  

Earlier in the first half, the teams were level four times in the opening quarter after Charlie King made it 0-5 each. Seconds later, Ed Doughan had the game’s opening goal after an assist by the ever-present Aodhan Ryan, before Joe Fogarty made it 1-6 to 0-6 in response to a very prominent David Kelly point. 

As play continued, both sides traded scores, starting with Matthew Power’s eighty metre free with Tadgh Whyte (M), Josh Egan (B), and Paddy Fogarty each on target. 

Ballina had not moved Billy Collins from the forty to bolster their midfield area, but Joe Fogarty and Adam Hogan continued to keep control with back-to-back points to see their team five in front 1-10 to 0-8.

Sean Kenneally’s effort from the left had drifted wide in the 27th minute. Simon Grace’s immediate puckout went astray, and Doughan took full advantage.

A seven-point margin was big, but Charlie King replied with a vital score as the teams retired for a well-deserved interval break. Moneygall 2-10 Ballina 0-10. 

Both Eoghan Power and Cathal O’Donnell came into the action at half-time, and both players made an impression straight away as Ballina hit three points inside four minutes, two from  Matthew Power (free and from play), either side of a Cathal O’Donnell score from play. 

An Ed Doughan free kept Moneygall straight, but Ballina continued their ascendency as Michael Breen’s long delivery dropped on the edge of the small square where goalkeeper Mark Fanning appeared to have everything under control. However, possession was lost before Charlie King scraped the ball over the line in a crowded goalmouth. Did Moneygall have grounds for complaint? 

Not so said John Cleary, and when play resumed, Simon Grace was in action at the other end when he denied Adam Hogan with a good save before Ballina went two in front after Jack Collins, Eoghan Power, and Charlie King made it 1-6 to 2-11 and twelve on the clock.

But not to be outdone, Moneygall responded by coming level after Eoghan Doughan scored twice, the second an excellent score from play. 

A foul on David Kelly saw Matthew Power push Ballina back in front before an unusually quiet Michael Breen stormed downfield to make it 1-18 to 2-13. It was end-to-end, and in the 53rd minute, it was Moneygall’s turn to regain the lead when Eoghan Doughan put Adam Hogan through on goal before firing low past Simon Grace. 

Seconds later the energetic Eoghan Power hit back with a Ballina goal  However, in a game where scores were level eight times and the lead changed hands many times, it was Moneygall’s turn to take up the baton and the Black and Red raced to the finish line with three unanswered points through Ed Doughan, Adam Hogan and a brilliant lead score by Sean Kenneally.

It all looked good for the Dubh agus Dearg, but the evergreen Steven O’Brien stole the limelight with the match equaliser just five minutes after leaving the subs bench. 

Scorers: Ballina: Matthew Power (0-7, 0-5, 0-1 65), Charlie King 1-3, Eoghan Power 1-1,  Josh Egan 0-2, Michael Breen, Jack Collins, Zak Egan, David Kelly, Steven O’Brien, Cathal O’Donnell all 0-1 each.

Moneygall: Eoghan Doughan (2-7, 0-3f), Adam Hogan 1-3, Joe Fogarty, Sean Kenneally 0-2 each, Paddy Fogarty, Tadgh Whyte 0-1 each.

Ballina: Simon Grace; Michael Grace, Michael Breen, David Coughlan; Terry O’Halloran, Jack Collins, Zak Egan; David Kelly, Thomas Shanahan; Josh Egan, Billy Collins, Brian Bourke; Charlie King, Paddy Bradley, Matthew Power.

Subs used: Eoghan Power for Bradley (HT); Cathal O’Donnell for Bourke (HT); Brian Bourke for M Power (43-44 blood sub); Steven O’Brien for O’Donnell (56); JP Mbokha Tansia for Kelly (61, inj). 

Moneygall: Mark Fanning; Shay Gleeson, Andy Hoolan, Roddy Teehan; Jack Kirwan, Brendan Toohey, Cian Ryan; Joe Fogarty, Adam Hogan; Paddy Fogarty, Aodhan Ryan, Bob Kenny; Eoghan Doughan, Tadgh Whyte, Sean Kenneally. 

Subs used: Eoin Whyte for Kenny (51); Niall Maher for T Whyte (57).

Referee: John Cleary (Knockshegowna)

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