Second-half Gortnahoe Glengoole goal blitz sinks battling Ballina in Templederry

FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final

Gortnahoe Glengoole 2-24

Ballina 2-19

Two quick-fire goals inside ninety seconds set the platform for a fully deserved Gortnahoe Glengoole victory over a battling Ballina side in an absorbing county Premier Intermediate quarter-final at a sun-splashed Templederry on Saturday afternoon.

READ NEXT: Four red cards brandished as Tipp U17 hurling semi-final descends into farce at final whistle

Trailing by a solitary point at half-time, the reigning Mid champions turned the screw in the second half with two rapid Ronan Teehan goals in the 39th and 40th minutes, providing Keith Corbett’s charges with the impetus to pull clear and record a five-point win.

Ballina arrived on the back of a preliminary quarter-final victory over Thurles Sarsfields but came up against a well-drilled, pacy, and skilful Gortnahoe Glengoole side. Adrian Hurley’s team matched Gortnahoe throughout a nip-and-tuck opening half, with Ballina taking an early lead after three unanswered points from Matthew Power, two from frees and one from play.

Keane Hayes opened Gortnahoe’s account with a seventh-minute free before Ronan Teehan began his 2-6 haul from play. Ballina’s Charlie King netted in the 12th minute to give the North champions a 1-3 to 0-2 lead, but Gortnahoe soon steadied, with points from Teehan, Adrian Maher, and full-back Davy Nolan bringing them back on terms by the 19th minute.

The half continued to swing, with exchanges of scores keeping the sides level until four unanswered points from Teehan, Conor Gleeson, Fionn Cleary, and Maher put Gortnahoe ahead. Ballina’s Billy Collins replied with a point, and a long-range free from Simon Grace sent Ballina to the break trailing 1-11 to 1-13.

The second half began with Charlie King immediately extending Ballina’s lead, only for Gortnahoe to respond with points from Bryan Maher and Aidan Guilfoyle. Successive points from Hayes and Teehan edged Gortnahoe further ahead before Teehan’s two rapid goals in the 38th and 39th minutes broke the game open, giving them a commanding 2-18 to 1-13 advantage.

Ballina fought hard, with efforts from David Kelly, Eoghan Power, and Billy Collins reducing the deficit to four points, but Gortnahoe responded with points from Hayes (free), Damien Corbett, and Teehan. A late consolation goal from Eoghan Power could not prevent the North champions from bowing out, as Gortnahoe Glengoole progressed to the county semi-finals with a polished and deserved performance.

Impressive for Ballina were Simon Grace, David Kelly, Jack Collins, Charlie King, Matthew Power, and Eoghan Power, while Ronan Teehan, Keane Hayes, Adrian Maher, Davy Nolan, and Brian Maher led Gortnahoe Glengoole.

Scorers: Ballina: Matthew Power (0-6, 0-5f), Eoghan Power 1-3, Charlie King 1-2, David Kelly (0-2, 0-1f), Billy Collins 0-2, Thomas Shanahan, Josh Egan, Steven O’Brien all 0-1 each, Simon Grace 0-1f.

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Ronan Teehan 2-6, Keane Hayes (0-8, 0-5f), Adrian Maher 0-3, Damien Corbett, Davy Nolan, Brian Maher, Aidan Guilfoyle, Conor Gleeson, Jack Moore all 0-1 each.

Ballina: Simon Grace; Paul McKeogh, Zak Egan, David Coughlan; David Kelly, Michael Breen, Terry O’Halloran; Thomas Shanahan, Jack Collins; Charlie King, Billy Collins, Eoghan Power; Josh Egan, Steven O’Brien, Matthew Power.

Subs used: Cathal O’Donnell for M. Power (43); Paddy Bradley for Shanahan (52).

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Timmy Dunne; Philly Purcell, Davy Nolan (0-1), Davy Lanigan; Karl Campion, Brian Maher, Fionn Cleary; Jack Moore, Conor Gleeson; Adrian Maher, Ronan Teehan, Aidan Guilfoyle; Damien Corbett, Darragh Maher, Keane Hayes.

Subs used: Billy Hogan for D. Maher (52); Liam Hayes for Corbett (57); Gearoid Fahey for Guilfoyle (60); Bobby Doheny for Moore (63).

Referee: Shane O’Neill (St Mary’s)

READ NEXT: WATCH: Seamus Callanan wondergoal goes viral after helping Drom & Inch to epic victory