Munster a game too far for Ballincollig hurlers as they exit away to St Mary's
Ballincollig's Brian Keating breaks clear of St Mary's Ross Peters during the AIB Munster GAA Hurling intermediate club championship game in Clonmel. Picture: John D Kelly Photography.
St Mary's made home advantage count as they outplayed Ballincollig in this AIB Munster hurling Intermediate Club Championship quarter final at Clonmel on Sunday.
Before a massive crowd the Tipperary men were ultimately more clinical in front of goal while they always kept Ballincollig at arm’s length when they briefly threatened a comeback in the closing quarter.
Tipperary senior panelist Peter McGarry was magnificent and his total of 0-9 was massive while Tadgh Condon’s goal on 45 minutes proved the decisive score of the game.
Ballincollig were always brave but some poor first-half shooting proved costly while Harry Ahearne was desperately unlucky as his shot came back off the post in the 27th minute when a goal look certain.
Kilbrittain’s Jamie Wall’s is the St Mary's coach, and he was naturally thrilled, as his side made home advantage count
“We are obviously delighted to win and there is no doubt that playing at home is a huge advantage," Jamie Wall said.
"The lads play and train here and know every blade of grass here. Ballincollig hit the post at the end of the first half when a goal looked certain and Seamus Kennedy landed a monster point from the clearance, that was huge and a four-point swing really.
"Very fine margins when you consider the winning margin was only four.”
Ballincollig’s Danny Miskella opened the scoring in the opening minute, but St Mary’s replied within seconds through Tipperary senior panelist Peter McGarry.
Ballincollig went back in front through the hard-working Darragh O’Mahony.
Tipperary senior star Seamus Kennedy was superb all through and he landed a monster equaliser all of 70m out to thunderous approval from the home support. Both sides squandered a number of chances through nerves and a tricky breeze.
The Clonmel side edged in front with a brace from livewire McGarry. The sides looked evenly matched early on as Ballincollig’s Cian O’Driscoll replied with a magnificent brace from play, 0-4 each after 15 minutes. McGarry clipped over another placed effort before Theo Morgan landed an equaliser.
St Mary's enjoyed a real purple patch and Ballincollig wouldn't score again in the half. McGarry nailed another placed effort before corner-forward Harry Lawlor landed the score of the game with an over-the-shoulder score from out on the wing.
Moments later, a sweeping Ballincollig move ended up with Harry Ahern hitting the post after an exquisite pass from Stephen Wills. From the clearance and let-off a booming point from Seamus Kennedy ensured the Tipperary men led by 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time.
On resumption, Ballincollig reduced the gap to three with a fine point from Danny Miskella. St Mary's introduced substitute Thomas Charles, and he converted with his first touch and minutes later put through Tadgh Condon for a crucial goal.
Ballincollig introduced their talisman Brian Keating, who has been such a super sub in the county final run as he recovers from injury, and he clipped over a nice point.
But in truth, St Mary's were always in control and the magnificent McGarry clipped over after Ballincollig scores from lively sub Tadhg O’Connell and James Dwyer.
Another St Mary's substitute Michael Murphy slipped inside the cover but a brilliant save from James Linehan prevented a goal.
To their credit, Ballincollig kept plugging away with points from Tadgh O’Connell, Steven Wills (2) and Ross O’Donovan but the St Mary's defence was mean and the goal chances never materialised.
Following their magnificent county final victory, the consensus among the travelling Ballincollig supporters was we were in bonus territory heading into the lion’s den at Clonmel. And so it proved.
Nevertheless, this season has been a hugely significant one for Ballincollig hurlers who will look forward to Senior A hurling next season.
P McGarry 0-9 (0-5 f), T Condon 1-0, T Charles 0-3, S Kennedy 0-2, H Lawlor, A Cagney 0-1.
C O’Driscoll, J Dwyer, T O’Connell, S Wills (0-1 f), Danny Miskella 0-2 each, Theo Morgan, D O’Mahony, B Keating, C Dalton, R O’Donovan 0-1 each.
G Buckley; R Gunne, R Peters, D O’Connor; T Sheehan, S Kennedy, J Morris; T Condon, S Ryan; A Cagney, P McGarry, S Kennedy; H Lawlor, C Deely, J Power.
T Charles for S Ryan (h-t), R Peters for J Power (40), M Murphy for H Lawlor (45), J Higgins for S Kennedy.
J Linehan; J Murray, F Denny, R O’Donovan; K O'Leary; B Coleman, D O’Leary, J Dwyer; T Morgan, H Ahearne; D O'Mahony, S Wills, C O’Drisoll; A Wills, D Miskella.
B Keating for B Coleman (35), T O’Connell for D O’Mahony (47), D O’Sullivan for J Murray (50), P Kelly for D Miskella (55), C Dalton for T Morgan (55).
Kieran Guina (Limerick).
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