Ballinamere rally powerful in second half for crucial win

MOST of their team are too old for coming of age wins and that statement can no longer be applied to Ballinamere but there was still something very significant about their Senior Hurling Championship win over Coolderry in Birr on Friday evening.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 2

Ballinamere 1-22

Coolderry 2-16

With some of the best hurlers in Offaly on their side, Ballinamere need to be making real progress now and it was very important for them to beat a Coolderry side who are in transition but still command complete respect and are hard to beat.

Level at 0-10 each at half time, Ballinamere got away in the fourth quarter and were full value for their win. It was a lot more clearcut than the final scoreline suggests. Coolderry's two goals came from Brian Carroll in injury time and the second from a penalty was with the penultimate puck of the ball.

The final scoreline flattered Coolderry a small bit and the 1-22 to 0-16 scoreline going into injury time was probably a more accurate reflection of the way the second half went in particular.

It is a big year for Ballinamere. The minimum requirement is to come out of the group and they are in the toughest one along with Coolderry, Shinrone, Belmont and Seir Kieran. This was their first game and sets them up nicely now but Ballinamere's bar will have to be set a lot higher than a mere knockout place. If Shinrone can win a championship, Ballinamere have to believe they can do the same and with an outstanding generation emerging in Kilcormac-Killoughey, this could be the best chance to do it.

Ballinamere won't want that pressure and it is strange territory for this club but the talent at their disposal have heightened expectations and interest in them. It is, however, one step at a time and this was a big win for them.

Coolderry dug deep, as you would expect, and fought every inch of the way but Ballinamere found the right answers and were eventually able to get away in the second half. For a while, they were shooting themselves in the foot as they missed a few decent goal chances before Kevin McDermott eventually found the net in the 52nd minute – McDermott had missed two good earlier chances but made no mistake this time after a delightful ball from Ross Ravenhill sent Joe Maher racing on and he offloaded to the Durrow man.

That goal gave Ballinamere a 1-18 to 0-15 lead and they extended it to 1-22 to 0-16 before those late Coolderry goals.

While their touch was sloppy at times and not everything worked out, Ballinamere certainly played the better hurling on the evening. They were very efficient with short handpassing, running off the shoulder and generally using the ball well. Coolderry did not do the same and relied on a more direct approach – one that was often swept up by an honest Ballinamere defence.

Ballinamere's big players stepped up, particularly in the second half. Ross Ravenhill and Brian Duignan were outstanding all day, Ciaran Burke was almost flawless at full back and the Bourke brothers Sam and Dan Bourke really came to their milk in the second half, getting some sensational scores from distance. Dan Ravenhill made his senior debut and he also came good in the second half. The Maher's Aaron and Joe weighed in with important scores with Joe particularly influential - John Murphy was missing while the one negative for Ballinamere was that it took them a long time to put Coolderry away and for a while, it looked like they were doing their best to lose it.

It was a thought provoking defeat for Coolderry who lost to Belmont in the first round. They will now have to beat Belmont and Seir Kieran and are in danger of an early exit. They tried so hard here but were swimming into the tide most of the way, even in the first half when they were neck and neck with Ballinamere. Brian Carroll was once again kept in reserve until half time and while he did what Coolderry needed with 2-2, 1-2 from play, the fact that he is in this role shows the difficulty Coolderry face. Cian Burke was very good with 0-4 from play and they were very honest but have absolutely no complaints at losing.

The first half was a real tit for tat tussle with almost nothing between the sides in any facet of play. Coolderry had a slight wind advantage but Ballinamere were marginally the better side in the opening twenty minutes, without ever threatening to open up a gap – they could have got in for a couple of goals with Dan Bourke and Joe Maher getting points that were at least half chances of a three pointer while a couple of other shots were blocked.

Both sides took most of their chances and the 0-10 each half time score was a perfect reflection of the way it went.

The sides were level on seven occasions in the first half and neither got more than two ahead. Ballinamere were 0-6 to 0-4 and 0-7 to 0-5 ahead before a run of three unanswered points from Conor Molloy, Daniel Miller (free) and Kevin Connolly gave Coolderry the lead for the second time.

Coolderry were 0-10 to 0-8 ahead near half time before Ballinamere levelled it up with scores from Aaron Maher and Brian Duignan (free) – Daniel Miller should have given Coolderry the lead in injury time but had a wide from a free.

It stayed the same for a while in the second half. The sides were tied twice more and it was 0-13 each after 44 minutes. Ballinamere then began to turn the screw. Sam and Dan Bourke and Duignan (free) got three in a row by the 47th minute. Coolderry got it back to two but a Brian Duignan free was followed by McDermott's goal and Ballinamere put the after burners on.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ross Ravenhill (Ballinamere): There is a strong case to be made for Brian Duignan, who was excellent while Sam and Dan Bourke had super second half displays. Over the hour plus, however, Ross Ravenhill has to get the nod. After missing most of the county season with injury, he had a great game. His work rate was exemplary, his hurling intelligence shone through while he broke tackles and used the ball so efficiently - he showed a great ability to make space with his almost languid style.

THE SCORERS

Ballinamere: Brian Duignan 0-9 (6f), Sam Bourke, Dan Bourke and Dan Ravenhill (2f) 0-3 each, Kevin McDermott 1-0, Joe Maher and Aaron Maher 0-2 each.

Coolderry: Brian Carroll 2-2 (one goal from a penalty), Daniel Miller 0-6 (6f), Cian Burke 0-4, Kevin Connolly 0-2, David King, Conor Molloy 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BALLINAMERE: Mark Troy; David Magner, Ciaran Burke, Gerry Spollen; Chris McDonald, Jack Fogarty, Sam Bourke; Dan Bourke, Ross Ravenhill; Dan Ravenhill, Brian Duignan, Aaron Maher; Ronan Cleary, Joe Maher, Kevin McDermott. Subs – Conor Wyer for McDonald (HT), Willie O'Brien for Aaron Maher (55m),

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Stephen Connolly, Stephen Burke, Paddy Maher; Conor Molloy, Billy Burke, Gearoid McCormack; David King, Cian Burke; Shane Ryan, Eoghan Parlon, Kevin Connolly; Eoin Burke, William Malone, Daniel Miller. Subs – Brian Carroll for Malone (HT), Andy Connolly for Eoin Burke (40m), James Tooher for Ryan (53m), Cathal Burke for Parlon (56m),

Referee – Simon Whelahan (Birr).

REFEREE WATCH

Simon Whelahan had a good game. He showed common sense and allowed play to run. He did throw in the ball at one stage in the second half after a Coolderry player went down holding his head with Ballinamere in possession – that probably should have been an indirect free for Ballinamere but overall, he made very few mistakes and was very fair.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Kevin McDermott's 52nd minute goal was crucial and Ballinamere would have found it hard to win without it.

VENUE WATCH

As usual, Birr were excellent hosts – their senior side were playing in Banagher and fair play to them for having plenty of stewards. Wet weather made the pitch slippy but it held up well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballinamere play Seir Kieran in round 3 while Coolderry have a bye.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballinamere – 7 (3 in first half); Coolderry – 6 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballinamere – 0; Coolderry – 1 (Gearoid McCormack).

Red cards: 0.