Professional Lusmagh keep Leinster dream alive with solid win over Ballyfin

IT wasn't very comfortable but Lusmagh looked like they would have more than enough to beat Laois opponents Ballyfin almost from start to finish of a keenly contested Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final in Birr on Saturday afternoon.

Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final

Lusmagh 0-17

Ballyfin 1-9

The Offaly senior B champions gave a solid and professional display with their defence excellent throughout and their five point winning margin was well justified.

Clearly hungry to make their mark at this grade, Lusmagh laid the foundations for victory when they went in ahead by 0-8 to 0-6 at half time after playing against the wind.

Five points without reply from Aaron Kelly, Darren Healy, Eimhin Kelly, Paul Kinsella (free) and Daire Temple pushed them 0-13 to 0-6 ahead 11 minutes into the second half and it looked all over.

Ballyfin played their best hurling in the next few minutes and did very well to get back into it with 1-2 without reply. Points from Allan Connolly and Gareth Dunphy (free) sandwiched a fortunate 43^rd minute goal from Ronan Carroll when Lusmagh goalie Alan Kelly batted a Dylan Kelly delivery into his path – Kelly possibly should have let it go and suddenly there was only two points in it.

Lusmagh's response was the most impressive part of their afternoon. They tightened up all over the field, raised their intensity levels and points from Andy Flynn, Kinsella (free) and Eoin Quinlan put them 0-16 to 1-8 ahead with eight minutes left.

The Laois side never threatened a second revival as Lusmagh defended well and Dunphy (free) and Aaron Kelly exchanged late points to leave five in it at the final whistle.

Ballyfin played with number six David Connolly as a sweeper in the first half and that was a debatable tactic with the wind as it allowed Lusmagh to defend very comfortably with Eimhin Kelly sitting deep and dealing with a lot of ball.

Connolly was very good in his role but in a first half that never really sparked to life, Lusmagh managed to lead 0-8 to 0-6 at half time and had one foot in the semi-final against Meath's Ratoath. That was a great position for them to be in and Lusmagh were clearly the better side in the first half with Ballyfin looking very limited for much of it. The sides were level on four occasions but Lusmagh got three of the last four points for a deserved half time lead that oput them in a strong position – Paul Kinsella got five of their points from frees while three of Ballyfin's came from Gareth Dunphy placed balls.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh): David Connolly was excellent as a sweeper for Ballyfin, mopping up a lot of ball and using it well. As often happens in these cases, however, it left Lusmagh with an extra man at the back and Eimhin Kelly thrived for them. Kelly was brilliant throughout, reading the game well, cutting out ball and speeding forward. He got an inspirational point, set up a few scores and was the man of the match.

Andy Flynn, Graham Lynch, Darren Healy and Aaron Kelly were among the others that impressed for Lusmagh in a very satisfactory display.

THE SCORERS

Lusmagh: Paul Kinsella 0-7 (7f), Aaron Kelly 0-3, Darren Healy 0-2, Andy Flynn, Eimhin Kelly, Daire Temple, Eoin Quinlan, Graham Lynch 0-1 each.

Ballyfin: Gareth Dunphy 0-5 (5f), Ronan Carroll 1-0, Jack Heffernan, Eamon Duff, Shane Connolly, Allan Connolly 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

LUSMAGH: Alan Kelly; Rory Quinlan, Andy Flynn, Ruari Kelly; Lorcan Troy, Eimhin Kelly, Daire Temple; Eibheann Kelly, Graham Lynch; Eoin Quinlan, Darren Healy, James Kelly; Paul Kinsella, Aaron Kelly, Luke Bowe. Subs – David Kelly for James Kelly (50m), Aidan Byrne for Bowe (61m).

BALLYFIN: Eoin Connolly; Conal Rowney, Sean (B) O'Neill, Sean ( R) O'Neill; James Finn, Dylan Kelly, Max Connolly; Shane Connolly, Darragh Connolly; Jack Heffernan, Gareth Dunphy, Eamon Duff; David Connolly, Allan Connolly, Ciaran Culleton. Subs – Ronan Carroll for Duff (HT), Gary Hoffmesiter for Heffernan (50m), George Lanham for Culleton (58m), Darragh Lyons for Kelly (61m),

Referee – Matthew Redmond, Kildare.

REFEREE WATCH

A consistently competent referee, Matthew Redmond had another good game with no big issues. He let a bit go at times with Ballyfin straying close to the line on a few occasions but he kept tight control of it.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Lusmagh's 14^th point in the 48^th minute was an important score. It came after Ballyfin had got the deficit back to two points and were on top. It was also a very inspirational strike with Eimhin Kelly doing very well to break the line and off loading to Andy Flynn who split the posts from midfield.

VENUE WATCH

Birr hosted the fixture very well and the pitch held up well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Lusmagh go onto the semi-final against Ratoath of Meath in two weeks time.

STATISTICS

Wides: Lusmagh - 5 (1 in first half); Ballyfin – 6 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Lusmagh – 1 (Lorcan Troy); Ballyfin - 0

Red cards: 0