Ballingarry will need to bring their A game to Tipperary intermediate hurling final

This Saturday’s FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Championship final between Ballingarry and Moneygall at Templetuohy (2pm) is a repeat of the County Hurling League Division 3 final played at the same venue in June.

On that occasion Ballingarry were comfortable winners by 11 points, 1-24 to 1-13.

Not for the first time, Dylan Walsh was their main man. The former county minor scored 11 points, including five from play in another virtuoso display, while their remaining scores were spread between seven players.

However, the south team will be expecting to face a different Moneygall team this weekend. Moneygall lined out in the league final without the services of county senior player Sean Kenneally while experienced centre back Brendan Tuohy was only introduced in the 50th minute, by which time Ballingarry were well on their way to victory.

Tuohy and Kenneally were in Moneygall’s starting line-up when they beat Cappawhite by two points in the county semi-final a fortnight ago, with Kenneally scoring 1-4 from play in their 1-17 to 1-15 win.

Ballingarry, meanwhile, got the better of Golden/Kilfeacle by 1-13 to 2-9 in the other semi-final. The south champions were nine points ahead at half-time but were forced to dig deep to fend off a spirited Golden comeback in the second period.

Extra time looked likely when Golden’s Jack Leamy scored the equalising point as the game entered added time. However, that man Dylan Walsh got Ballingarry across the line with a converted forty metre free in the 62nd minute.

Walsh again provided the spark when Ballingarry ended Kilsheelan/Kilcash’s hopes of a three in a row in the South final in July with a four-point win. He scored 13 points, including seven from play, in their 1-18 to 1-14 win at Páirc na nEalaí, Carrick-on-Suir.

Ballingarry have a strong supporting cast that includes forwards such as Thomas Walton, Ben Ivers and Michael Ivors. Ian Ivors is very effective playing the sweeper role while Gerard Ryan, Declan Hayes, Eamon Corcoran and captain Paul Butler are part of a solid defence.

They will need all players to be firing on all cylinders if they are to get the better of Moneygall in what should be a closely-fought encounter, and secure a place in the Premier Intermediate ranks for next year.

SEE ALSO: Tipperary county senior hurling final will be shown live on television