Skeheenarinky win all-south Tipperary clash by two goals in relegation battle

Skeheenarinky 4-16 Ballybacon/Grange 2-16

Skeheenarinky maintain their intermediate status while Ballybacon/Grange have one more chance to do so following an absorbing all-South Tipperary FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Championship Relegation semi-final at Cahir.

A clash of two clubs separated by less than ten miles added an edge to a relegation dogfight.

It’s not often that Tipperary hurling legend and All-Ireland-winning Under 20 manager, Brendan Cummins, is beaten four times in a game but there was little he could do about the goals from John Martin, Tomás Vaughan, Oisín Power and Darragh Brennan that gave Skeheen’ a six-points cushion.

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Cummins crashed home a penalty for Ballybacon, as well as pointing three frees, but Skeheenarinky deserved to shade a close encounter.

A big difference between the sides was in finishing, Skeheenarinky scoring 4-7 from play, Ballybacon just 1-5, with big Skeheen’ displays from Riain O’Callaghan and James Barry in defence, Oisín Brennan and Oisín Power at midfield and Darragh Brennan, Conor Sweeney, John Martin and Tomás Vaughan upfront.

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Skeheenarinky led 1-3 to 0-5 midway through the first half, the goal coming from John Martin after seven minutes. Their points came from Darragh Brennan, Oisín Brennan and a Tomás Vaughan free, to five Ballybacon replies, all from frees, four from Oisín Ryan and one from Brendan Cummins.

Two times All-Ireland Tipperary senior medal winner, and team captain James Barry orchestrated his side’s performance in his role as sweeper, clearing up any loose Ballybacon deliveries and finding his team mates with precision passing. Upfront, Tomás Vaughan, Conor Sweeney, John Martin and Darragh Brennan were proving hot to handle for the Ballybacon defence.

The second Skeheen’ goal came in the 20th minute following a foul on Darragh Brennan. Vaughan took a short free to Brennan and as the move developed, took the return pass to shoot past Cummins.

Oisín Ryan frees, and fine scores from Billy Hewitt and Brian Dillon, were keeping Ballybacon in touch, until Skeheen’ struck for their third goal a minute before the break, Conor Sweeney setting up the chance for Oisín Power.

Ballybacon hit back with two Oisín Ryan frees, both following fouls on the industrious Billy Hewitt, to leave them trailing at the break by three points, 3-6 to 0-12. But then two goals of their own within ten minutes of the restart had them in front for the first time, 2-12 to 3-8. Skeheen’ hit the first two scores of the half, pointed frees from Tomás Vaughan, followed by two goals in three minutes from Ballybacon.

Billy Hewitt was pulled down in the square from a sideline cut into the danger area, and Brendan Cummins came up from his goal to bury an unstoppable penalty.

Three minutes later Shane Ryan created the chance for Gerry Cronin to shoot one-handed past Walsh again. Ryan turned from provider to scorer in the next move to push the Ballybacon lead out to two, and the momentum was very much with them.

However, the Skeheenarinky goal machine was re-ignited within two minutes, when superb defensive play from full back Riain O’Callaghan started a flowing move that was finished with the goal of the game from Darragh Brennan to restore their lead.

And it was a lead that they never relinquished, outscoring Ballybacon eight points to three in the final quarter – two each from Conor Sweeney and John Martin, a Tomás Vaughan free and three late frees from Darragh Brennan who took over the free-taking duties after Vaughan took a heavy knock.

Ballybacon’s replies were from three frees, two from Brendan Cummins and one from Oisín Ryan. Ballybacon also finished the game with fourteen players with a straight red card for Philip Walsh deep into injury time.

Ballybacon will need to up their intensity, and prove more potent in front of goal, if they are to beat Drom/Inch’s second string in the relegation final. In goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, team captain Sean Nagle, Michael Barlow, Billy Hewitt, Gerry Cronin, Shane Ryan and Oisín Ryan they have the players capable of doing it.

Skeheenarinky: Glen Walsh, Seamus O’Callaghan, Riain O’Callaghan, Eoin Morrissey, Christy English, James Barry, Dean Finn, Oisín Brennan 0-1; Oisín Power 1-0; Tomás Vaughan 1-6, 6f; Conor Sweeney 0-2; Mikey Maher. John Martin 1-3; Darragh Brennan 1-4, 3f; Tommy Sweeney. Subs: Kevin O’Mahoney for Mikey Maher, Josh Kearney for Christy English.

Ballybacon/Grange: Brendan Cummins 1-3, 1-0 penalty, 3f; Philip Walsh, Eoin Wash, Sean Nagle, John Condon, Michael Barlow, Jack O’Neill, James O’Mahoney, Michael O’Sullivan, Shane Ryan 0-1; John English, Gerry Cronin 1-0; Billy Hewitt 0-3; Brian Dillon 0-1; Oisín Ryan 0-8f. Subs: Luke O’Brien for James O’Mahoney, Sean Cunningham for Brian Dillon.

Referee: Anthony Owens (Solohead).