Ballinamere click into top gear in second half to take giant step towards semi-finals

DESPITE blowing hot and cold at times, Ballinamere were more than worthy winners over Kinnitty to put themselves on themselves on the verge of a semi-final berth in the Senior Hurling Championship at Banagher on Sunday afternoon.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 4

Ballinamere 2-23

Kinnitty 0-9

It wasn't a performance that will win a championship but the result was all that counted here and with their group programme completed, it looks like they will top it and make the semi-finals.

Kinnitty had done very well to date, shocking Belmont and coming back from the dead to draw with Shinrone but never looked like another upset here. The performance was not as polished as Ballinamere would have liked. Their shooting was way off in the first half in particular but their dominance was considerable and they did more than enough to win.

In its own way, this win was as impressive as some of their more clinical, free flowing displays. They kept working and doing the right thing when it went wrong for them in the first half and they finally clicked into gear in the closing quarter, when they played some delightful hurling and their conversion rate improved dramatically. As Kinnitty heads dropped late on, Ballinamere went for the jugular, scoring some quality points for a very comprehensive win.

Ballinamere looked very nervous, anxious in the first half and could have had the game in the bag at half time. As it was, Ballinamere's interval lead of 1-8 to 0-4 was a decent one and a fairer reflection of the way the game was progressing but the door was still open for Kinnitty.

Ballinamere had ten wides in the first half, many of them fairly straightforward chances, while they also had three other goal opportunities before they eventually found the net. They also dropped a few balls short and nerves appeared to be a big factor for them in the first half.

Ballinamere were the better side in the first half, they moved the ball better and created plenty of chances but just didn't finish them. Kinnitty worked very hard and did well to put Ballinamere under pressure but they also had a few poor wides. They also had seven wides, a few of them good chances, and on much less ball, these were every bit as costly as Ballinamere's if not more so.

Balliunamere held a slender 0-5 to 0-4 lead after 24 minutes and Kinnitty were very happy to be that close. The groans from the Ballinamere support was audible at some of their wides but they changed the complexion of the game with 1-3 without reply before the interval.

The goal came in the 29^th minute from Dan Bourke after Dan Ravenhill made a spectacular catch from a long ball. Bourke's first strike was half hooked but he did well to stroke home the breaking ball from an acute angle and a seven point half time lead was a much better indication of the way the half went than the one point they held just a short few minutes earlier.

Ballinamere played much better in the second half, way more clinical and made way less mistakes. The nerves disappeared and they seemed much more tuned in. They led by 1-11 to 0-7 after 42 minutes but the gap was 1-15 to 0-8 seven minutes later and it was all over.

Kinnitty didn't help their own cause with some poor misses. One of those came from sub Conor Meaney when there was an opening for a goal that they had to get but he went for point and Ballinamere found top gear late on.

Sub Mike O'Brien flicked home their second goal in the 52^nd minute and Ballinamere more or less did as they wished late on as the wheels finally came off for Kinnitty, who had really brightened up the championship with their opening displays.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ross Ravenhill (Ballinamere): Ballinamere had all the contenders and you could pick anyone of half a dozen. Mark Troy's deliveries in goals were a huge asset to them and Ciaran Burke, Ronan Cleary, Sam Bourke, Kevin McDermott and Brian Duignan were others who really impressed. McDermott was very close for the second successive game, putting in another excellent all round performance, scoring three points but also having a few wides.

Ross Ravenhill is the choice. He wasn't spectacular but he was rock solid at centre half back, never putting a foot wrong. He stopped many a raiding forward in his tracks, did his main defensive duty so efficiently and ensured that Kinnitty made no headway whatsoever through the centre of the Ballinamere defence.

THE SCORERS

Ballinamere: Brian Duignan 1-11 (6f and 1 '65'), Dan Bourke 1-1, Kevin McDermott 0-3, Mike O'Brien 1-0, Sam Bourke, Dan Ravenhill and John Murphy 0-2 each, Aaron Maher and Darragh Wyer 0-1 each.

Kinnitty: Odhran Kealey 0-5 (4f), James Hardiman, Cathal Robinson (sideline), Peadar Robinson and Eoghan Callaghan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BALLINAMERE: Mark Troy; Chris McDonald, Ciaran Burke, Ronan Cleary; Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill, Sam Bourke; David Magner, Kevin McDermott; Dan Bourke, Brian Duignan, Aaron Maher; Dan Ravenhill, Joe Maher, John Murphy. Subs – Mike O'Brien for Joe Maher (35m), Darragh Wyer for Dan Bourke (55m),

KINNITTY: Niall Corrigan; Willie Molloy, Paddy Rigney, Patrick Dooley; James Hardiman, Paddy Delaney, Brian Coughlan; Danny Flanagan, Shane Ryan; Cathal Robinson, Peadar Robinson, Aodhan Kealey; Shane Kinsella, Conor Hardiman, Odhran Kealey. Subs – Conor Meaney for Cathal Robinson (39m), Eoghan Callaghan for Ryan (46m),

Referee – Brian Gavin (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin had a very steady game. A couple of first half frees looked soft but were fouls, though not the type of ones he always penalises. He was in control and there were no issues.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Dan Bourke's 29^th minute goal changed the whole complexion and gave Ballinamere the launching pad to pull away in the second half.

VENUE WATCH

The Banagher pitch was in great order and St Rynagh's produced their traditional welcome for all visitors.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kinnitty play Birr while Ballinamere's group programme is completed.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballinamere – 11 (10 in first half); Kinnitty – 13 (7 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballinamere – 0; Kinnitty – 2 (James Hardiman and Shane Ryan).

Red cards: 0