Tipperary have yet another club featuring in a Munster final after impressing in semi-final win

Munster Junior B Hurling Series Semi-Final

Silvermines 1-20 

Ballyclough 0-11

By Michael McCarthy

Silvermines became the sixth Tipperary Junior B champion in a row to book their place in a Munster Junior B Hurling Final with a commanding but hard-earned victory over a stubborn Ballyclough side in Kileedy on Saturday afternoon.

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While the final margin suggests comfort, this was a contest that demanded patience and composure from the Mines, with the Cork champions battling gamely throughout before the Tipp men pulled clear in the second half.

Silvermines made the ideal start and were on the board inside the opening minute through Orrie Quirke. Ballyclough responded immediately, but a first placed ball from Rónan Cuneen and a fine score from Willie Keogh had the Mines 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the fifth minute.

Seán Spillane stretched that advantage further before Cuneen added his second on nine minutes. When substitute Ger Leamy got on the scoresheet soon after, Silvermines had opened up a 0-6 to 0-1 lead and looked firmly in control.

To their credit, Ballyclough rallied well and struck two points in quick succession to steady themselves. However, Cuneen punished indiscipline with two more frees to restore a three-point cushion at 0-8 to 0-5 by the 20-minute mark.

Late points from Willie Keogh, Eoin Seymour and another Cuneen free saw Silvermines take a deserved 0-11 to 0-6 advantage into the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Silvermines dictating the tempo and working the scoreboard efficiently. Seymour and Cuneen, who continued to be a constant threat from placed balls, extended the lead to 0-14 to 0-6 early on.

Ger Leamy, introduced from the bench and having a major influence, added a point to make it 0-15 to 0-6 before the decisive moment arrived on 20 minutes. Leamy struck for a superb goal, finishing clinically to effectively put the game beyond Ballyclough’s reach at 1-15 to 0-9.

Danny Keogh, introduced for Cuneen, made an immediate impact by converting a free, while Quirke added his second from play. Further late points from Niall Curran and Keogh rounded off a strong second-half showing as Silvermines closed out a deserved 1-20 to 0-11 victory.

Ballyclough can take pride in their effort and organisation but ultimately could not live with the depth and efficiency of the Silvermines bench in the closing stages.

Silvermines now advance to the Munster Junior B Hurling Final on January 31, where they will face Ballybrown of Limerick, continuing a remarkable run for Tipperary clubs in the competition.

Ger Leamy was named Man of the Match after an outstanding cameo off the bench that yielded 1-2 and decisively swung the tie in Silvermines’ favour.

Silvermines: David Shanahan; Ben Claffey, Eddie Ryan, Tiernan Flynn; Mícheál Hogan, Cathal Gleeson, Seán Murphy; Eoin Seymour (0-2), Orrie Quirke (0-2); Seán Spillane (0-1), Willie Keogh (0-2), Ciarán Timmons; Rónán Cunneen (0-7, 0-3f), Eamon Corcoran, Patrick Steed (0-1).

Subs used: Dan Ryan, Danny Keogh (0-2f), Niall Curran (0-1), Brian Leamy, Ger Leamy (1-2).

Ballyclough: Edmond O’Connor; Seán Walsh, Tadhg Healy, Colin Moynihan; Mark Buckley, Denis O’Neill, Adam Finnegan; Shane Buckley, Kevin MacDonnell; Seán O’Leary, David Ludgate, Aaron Finnegan; Tomás O’Neill, Damian Buckley, Jack Moynihan.

Subs used: Conor Duffy, Luke Moynihan, Jack O’Shea, Liam Fitzgerald, Dylan Finnegan, Eoghan Kelleher, Cormac Fitzgerald.

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