CJK Mullinahone 0-17 Ballingarry 1-12
The sweat of human endeavour adds savour to any challenge or sacrifice. A battle wearied Mullinahone dug deep, and in truth they had to, to finally see off a gutsy Ballingarry on Saturday evening to claim a place in The South Senior Hurling Final for the third consecutive season.
The decent gathering belied the imminent showers that were to follow in the second game, and the teams took to the field on a playing surface that was indeed a credit to the Moyle Rovers ground staff. It may have been the concluding round of games in the round-robin format, but such as the table developed, we now had de facto semi-finals, and the prosaic nature of league Hurling was very much replaced with the energy-charged passion of knock-out action.
Ballingarry, buoyed by their impressive win over Swans in the previous round, knew only too well that a positive start was imperative in this game, and an Ian Ivors goal inside 60 seconds was the perfect tonic. Ivors pounced when a deflected Trevor Ivors effort deceived the Mullinahone inside backline and wrong footed goalkeeper Alan Walsh. James Logue then scored a huge long range free, serving as a shot across the bow; Ballingarry had got their start.
Sean Curran steered over a point in response for Kickhams in an effort to dust off the cobwebs. Logue was very much orchestrating things with his long radar-like puckouts, finding Philip Ivors and Dylan Walsh time and time again. Walsh, developing a reputation as the top young forward in South Tipperary, seized on a Logue delivery and scored an exquisite point from the narrowest of angles. Eoin Kelly pointed two frees either side of a great Enda Keane score, and moments later a Graham Horan point levelled proceedings at 1-2 to 0-5 after 13 minutes. Ballingarry, in need of a score, found one through Ian Ivors who wriggled past his marker and split the posts. Alan Curran returning to the side today following, then muscled his way into an opening and fired over a fine point to continue the games cat and mouse pattern.
Ballingarry were looking for Dylan Walsh at every opportunity and when he pulled down another Logue puck-out from the clouds, he sent another free over the ball after he was fouled. Graham Horan then chipped in with his second point as the stalemate continued. No quarter was asked or given as the tackling was bordering on ferocious at times. Mini squabbles were developing all over the pitch, with referee Sean Lonergan kept on his toes policing affairs. Mullinahone took the lead once more in the 25th minute from another Kelly free, and when Jack Shelly was fouled a minute later, Kelly with that familiar inward bend of the knee, did the honors once more. Having put his side ahead once again, disaster struck for the former Tipp skipper. A robust challenge, that at first appeared innocuous resulted in a feared concussion as the game was halted for a good five minutes. In first half stoppage time on resumption of play a pair of Dylan Walsh frees restored parity at the interval.
Ballingarry would have been disappointed going in level at halftime given their lion’s share of possession, but when Eoin Kelly didn’t re-appear, they surely must have fancied their chances. A Sean Curran success from a 65 early on edged Mullinahone ahead by the minimum, which was followed up by a Kevin Bolger score, who benefited from a great Micheál Dunne pass. Those two CJK points were swiftly cancelled out by yet another Dylan Walsh free and a massive rousing point from midfielder Paul Butler. Ian Ivors, arguably Ballingarry’s most dangerous forward put their noses in front once again only for Enda Keane, who was a constant threat throughout, pointed following great work from Sean Curran.
Ballingarry who changed their long direct approach to more of running game were making inroads and carving openings. One such foray saw Niall Curran see red following a very late pull, and Mullinahone were very now much in a bind with twenty minutes remaining. Dylan Walsh gave Ballingarry the lead with a free from distance, but when an inspirational Kevin Bolger equalizer sailed over the bar, we were set up for a grandstand finish. Cool heads were required, and ultimately it was Mullinahone who held their nerve as end-game approached. Two Trevor Ivor’s point attempts in as many minutes, dropped short, and when the chance arrived at the other end substitute Luke Mullaly scored an excellent point. Then a mis-hit by Philip Ivors let Alan Walsh save comfortably, but Ballingarry recycled and Adrian Cleere pointed.
Level again with the game in the melting pot, Paul Curran emerged from his fullback line like a snarling Rottweiler protecting his patch, and launched one more attack. Enda Keane, the recipient made no mistake and put the Kickhams men in front with the finishing line in sight. There was time for one last cameo though, this time Kelly the Elder, the evergreen Paul swung over the winning score off his favoured left side to put Mullinahone in the final.
Teams & Scorers
Ballingarry: J.Logue (0-1free), T. Donovan, D.Norton, JE. Molloy, J. Fennelly, G. Fennelly, S. Doheny, P. Butler (0-1), C. Shelly, I. Ivors (1-2), A. Cleere (0-1), E. Touhy, T. Ivors, P. Ivors (capt), D. Walsh (0-7, 0-6 frees)
Sub: C. Touhy for E. Touhy
Mullinahone: A. Walsh, K. Walzer, P. Curran, G. Cronin, N. Curran, E. Fennelly, K.Bolger (0-1), J. Shelly (capt), A. Curran (0-1), M. Dunne (0-1), E. Kelly (0-4frees), E. Keane (0-3), C. Horan, S. Curran (0-3, 0-1 65), G. Horan (0-2)
Subs: D. Cody for E.Kelly (injured), P. Kelly (0-1) for C. Horan, L. Mullaly (0-1) for G.Horan
Ref: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)
Report supplied by Tadhg O’Connell
