Super sub Moloney helps Ballina to back-to-back North titles in victory over Silvermines

North Tipperary Junior C Hurling Championship Final

Ballina 3-14

Silvermines 1-17

By James Hayden

Ballina secured back-to-back North Junior ‘C’ hurling titles following a hard-fought victory over a gallant Silvermines outfit in what proved an absorbing decider in Templederry on Saturday.

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Despite the blustery, squally and damp conditions, both sides served up a hugely entertaining clash with last year’s champions staving off a late Silvermines challenge to secure a deserved three-point victory.

Mark Lyons’ 12th-minute goal proved the difference at the break, with Eoin Kennedy’s charges taking a 1-10 to 0-10 lead to the dressing room. Having played with the advantage of a very stiff breeze in the opening half, Ballina would have hoped to be farther ahead, and at the break, many would have fancied Silvermines, who last annexed the title in 2023, to push on in the second half.

Silvermines, as expected, were back on terms by the 36th minute in what proved a fruitful third quarter for Willie Forde’s side before the introduction of pacy Ballina substitute Jack O’Mahoney served to turn the game entirely on its head.

O’Mahoney proved hugely influential in rotating the game in Ballina’s favour, netting a second Ballina goal in the 51st minute before creating a third for the unmarked Kevin Cosgrave three minutes later.

O’Mahoney continued to cause the Silvermines defence all sorts of bother before arrowing over a 55th-minute effort from a considerably difficult angle to fire Ballina eight points clear with five minutes of normal time remaining.

The opening half had proved a tight affair, illuminated by the outstanding Sean Spillane with the Silvermines corner forward firing over six of his side’s opening half tally of ten points.

Ballina opened their account with the first of five Domhnall McKeogh frees before Sean Spillane replied with two from play for the ‘Mines. Domhnall McKeogh, who was in scintillating form throughout, replied with a fine effort from range to level proceedings, 0-3 apiece.

Sean Spillane and David Hickey were on target for their respective sides before Spillane knifed through the Ballina cover only to see his shot ricochet off the Ballina crossbar and away to safety in the tenth minute. What could have been a goal at one end turned into one at the other with Rody Kennedy’s booming clearance bouncing awkwardly in front of the Silvermines goalkeeper, Luke O’Connor. Ballina’s wing-forward, Mark Lyons reacted quickest though and flicked the sliotar to the back of the Silvermines net, 1-4 to 0-4.

Buoyed by the goal Ballina pushed on and quickly raced into a six-point lead with a sweet David Hickey point and successive Domhnall McKeogh frees but the ‘Mines fought hard to narrow the deficit with Eoin Grace, Sean Spillane and David Boland all on target.

Domhnall McKeogh arrowed over a well-taken 28th minute free to put five between the sides but an impressive finish to the half from the 'Mines coupled with a long-range free and well-struck 65’ from the stick of Sean Quinlan ensured Ballina’s 12th minute goal remained the difference between the sides at the break, 1-10 to 0-10.

Silvermines emerged determined to peg back the deficit and were back on terms within six minutes thanks to three unanswered points. Sean Quinlan got the ball rolling with a well-struck free before a gloriously-struck sideline cut narrowed the gap to just a solitary point. Silvermines substitute Billy Shanahan restored parity with a 36th minute effort before David Hickey edged Ballina back in front with a 37th minute effort.

Sean Spillane and Domhnall McKeogh (free) both raised white flags in the 42nd minute before Sean Quinlan brought Silvermines upsides once more in the 44th minute with a close-range free.

Kevin Cosgrave responded for Ballina with a fine point before recently introduced substitute, Jack O’Mahoney turned the game entirely on its head with clinical finish after a scything Eoin Sheehy run through the heart of the Silvermines defence and deft pass provided O’Mahoney with the opportunity to rattle the ‘Mines net in the 51st minute.

O’Mahoney turned provider three minutes later after he took on the ‘Mines defence, raiding down the right flank before finding full-forward Kevin Cosgrave all on his own in front of the Silvermines goal. Cosgrave gathered with ease and unleashed a low drive past Luke O’Connor in the ‘Mines goal to fire Ballina into a 3-13 to 0-15 lead.

Seconds later O’Mahoney raided again to arrow over a resplendent point and fire his side into a seemingly unassailable eight-point lead. Ballina emptied their bench in the 58th minute with a raft of substitutions but Silvermines refused to capitulate and responded with a Sean Quinlan goal after his low free found its way into the top corner of the Ballina net. Quinlan arrowed over a long-range free seconds later, and suddenly the gap was down to four.

With five minutes of injury time signalled by the referee, Philip Kelly Silvermines threw everything at Ballina in an attempt to cut the deficit. Substitute Shaun Forde brought the gap down to three with a lovely point, and suddenly it was Ballina who appeared in trouble.

Scrambling all their players back into defence the reigning champions were forced to fight a rearguard action in time added on. Silvermines threw everything at Ballina in the dying moments, but it wasn’t to be as Ballina’s defence held fast to run out victorious by a three-point margin.

Impressive for Ballina were Jack O’Mahoney, Domhnall McKeogh, Jerry O’Brien, Paul Ryan, David Hickey, Eoin Sheehy, Kevin Cosgrave, Donal Kent and Johnny Kenny, while Sean Spillane, Sean Quinlan, Sean Quirke, Kevin Kennedy and Jack Corcoran were to the fore for Ballina.

Ballina: Damien Healy; Brian Williams, Johnny Kenny, Rody Kennedy; Paul Ryan, Jerry O’Brien, Daniel Frawley; Donal Kent (0-1), Donnacha Houlihan; Domhnall McKeogh (0-8, 0-5f), Eoin Kent, Mark Lyons (1-0); Eoin Sheehy, Kevin Cosgrave (1-1), David Hickey (0-3).

Subs used: Donal Tigh for Houlihan (42); Jack O’Mahoney (1-1) for Lyons (46); Thomas Grace for Cosgrave (55); John Sage for Williams (58); Eoin Ryan for Frawley (58); Des Morgan for Sheehy (58).

Silvermines: Luke O’Connor; Mark Leamy, Sean Quirke, Kevin Sheahan; Kevin Kennedy, Jack Corcoran, TJ Timmons; Will Power, Will Murphy; Sean Quinlan (1-6, 1-3f, 0-1 sl-cuts), Eoin Grace (0-1), John Ryan; Justin Ryan Donnellan, David Boland (0-1); Sean Spillane (0-7).

Subs used: Billy Shanahan (0-1) for Power (18); Michael Young for Ryan (25); Ronan Clifford for Grace; Shaun Forde (0-1) for Ryan Donnellan (39); Eoin Grace for Boland (49); Damien Egan for Timmons (55); David Boland for Forde (64); Will Power for Sheahan (64).

Referee: Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch)

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