Ballinamere celebrate welcome success as amalgamated outfit go down

Not a classic, but that won’t matter to Ballinamere as they have emerged to secure the 2023 Junior A championship title and claiming their place in next season’s intermediate championship.

Molloy Envirormental Systems Junior Hurling Championship final

Ballinamere 0-13

Brosna Gaels 0-07

Ballinamere got the opening two scores with two frees from Stephen Fitzgerald, with Brosna Gaels missing a glorious goal opportunity as Declan Buckley found Eoin Murphy in space but the effort was drilled just wide off the post.

Ballinamere began to hit some poor enough wides with the majority of them coming from long range frees and shooting from distance. Both sides were defended well enough to keep chances limited, with hooks and blocks being scattered all across the pitch. 

By the 17th minutes Ballinamere held a commanding lead, as Stephen Fitzgerald was allowed the freedom of Kilcormac to add a further four points, with three coming from play and leaving Brosna Gaels scratching their heads at the back as to how to limit his service. 

Brosna Gaels finally registered their opening score through an Eoin Murphy free coming after 20 minutes, however Ballinamere restored their advantage with Daryl Troy getting off the mark with his first score from long range, with Fitzgerald adding his seventh, after Luke Wyer’a goal attempt fired off the post. 

Fitzgerald added to his tally as he had nine points by the 26th minute and was making all the difference between the two sides as Ballinamere were quite hugely on top all across the pitch. 

Brosna Gaels were made to rue some of their missed chances as they went into halftime with six wides and eight points down in what looked like game over already. 

The second half began much like the first, with both teams looking to find their feet, the opening 10 minutes of the half saw a moment of pure brilliance once again from Fitzgerald as his sideline cut from the narrowest of angles went over and gave Ciaran Buggy’s side a commanding nine point lead. 

Brosna Gaels however began pushing and hit the next three scores with John Egan, Bernard Allen and Lee Colgan all pulling it back to a six point game with just 10 minutes to go. 

Donal Shirley landed his first long range free of the day to reduce it to five with just over six minutes remaining on the clock, but Ballinamere when called upon to defend did so professionally and continued to dominate in the fullback line.

Ballinamere were in control coming towards the end and a Brosna Gaels were struggling to break down their defence as Shane Guinan blew the whistle for full time and Ballinamere secured promotion back to intermediate for the 2024 season. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Stephen Fitzgerald (Ballinamere): A performance to remember for Stephen Fitzgerald as he hit 0-12 with some fabulous scores coming from play and one incredible sideline cut which just epitomised the way Ballinamere went about their business today. He was the difference maker across the pitch.

THE SCORERS

Ballinamere: Stephen Fitzgerald 0-12 (7frees, 1 sideline); Daryl Troy 0-1.

Brosna Gaels: Eoin Murphy 0-3 (3frees); John Egan, Bernard Allen, Lee Colgan and Donal Shirley (1free) 0-1 each

THE TEAMS

Ballinamere: Daniel Wyer; Brian Cleary; Danny O’Brien; Luke Nolan; Conor Doran; Barry Cleary; Andrew Walsh; Jack O’Brien; Sean Duignan; Daryl Troy; Micheal Murphy; Cormac Spollen; Luke Wyer; Stephen Fitzgerald; James Scully. Subs: Steven Doran for Murphy (42m); Colin Waters for Cleary (44m); Ken Molloy for Doran (56m); Billy Fogarty for Troy (60m); Luke Waters for Walsh (62m). 

Brosna Gaels: Kevin Lynam; Ultan Carroll; Sean Backett; Lee Colgan; Donal Shirley; Cormac Ryan; Joe Lowry; Bernard Allen; Gary Larkin; Sean Farrell; Declan Buckley; Andrew Buckley; Ciaran Allen; Eoin Murphy; Ger Buckley. Subs: Richard Fox for Farrell (25m); John Egan for Lowry (34m); Eoghan Hennessy for Buckley (46m); Lawlor for Carroll (48m)

Referee – .Shane Guinan (Drumcullen)

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan: Shane refereed the game well and let the game flow without any major incidents to report. A few scuffles here and there between players but nothing to force the Drumcullen man into dishing out any discipline red cards.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH:

Stephen Fitzgerald’s sideline cut on 38 minutes was unbelievable. From a difficult angle and on wet grass, it was just scintillating and summed up his day and pushed Ballinamere on towards victory. 

VENUE WATCH: 

Kilcormac was a great venue for today's game, with the pitch in great knick considering the weather at this time of the year and plenty of parking available all around and a great attendance for this decider. 

WHAT'S NEXT:

The season is now over for both teams. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballinamere 8   –  5 in the first half, 3  in the second half;Brosna Gaels 11  –  6 in the first half, 5 in the second half 

Yellow cards: Ballinamere - (2 )  Brian Cleary, Conor Doran; Brosna Gaels - (1) Richard Fox

Black cards: Ballinamere -  (0);Brosna Gaels (0).

Red cards: Ballinamere  – (0); Brosna Gaels – (0).