Late surge secures south Tipperary Under 21 A hurling title for Mullinahone

Mullinahone 1-15 Ballingarry 1-13

A late, late goal ensured early New Year celebrations for holders Mullinahone as they edged past great rivals Ballingarry in the South Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling Championship Final at Cahir on Saturday, New Year’s Eve.

It was a real Houdini act from the Kickham’s Country men, as they waited until the 60th minute to take the lead for the first time. It was heartbreak for Ballingarry, as they were never headed until then and looked the more likely winners over the hour in a game played before a huge crowd.

Ballingarry led by four points at the break, 0-9 to 0-5, and extended the lead through Kieran Lyons in the first minute of the second half to five. Even though Mullinahone drew level at 0-12 each ten minutes from time, Ballingarry raced into the lead again immediately with a goal from Ben Ruttle.

Two Conor Whelan frees – he hit seven in total - brought the margin down to a single point, with normal time up. It required cool heads from the Slieveardagh side to see out a win and upset predictions but then disaster struck.

A long ball in from Mullinahone substitute Josh Rowan didn’t appear to offer a huge threat, but it was misread by the goalkeeper and a defender, sailed over both, and an unmarked Mikey O’Shea wasn’t going to miss a gift-wrapped New Year’s present and stroked the ball into an empty net.

Three minutes of injury time allowed by referee Paul Guinan offered time to Ballingarry to strike back. While ace free-taker Conor Vaughan popped his fifth of the game over the bar, an earlier goalbound effort was cleared off the line, and Eoin O’Dwyer wrapped up the scoring with a late Mullinahone point.

It was no surprise that Mullinahone players celebrated wildly and the Ballingarry men dropped to their knees in despair at the final whistle. A heavy pitch and a good covering of grass was never going to allow for brilliant hurling but both sides gave it everything in a hugely entertaining contest to bring the curtain down on the year in style.

Yet it wasn’t until the second half that the game truly sparkled to life. Of the fourteen points in the first half, only two came from play, with free-takers Conor Vaughan and Conor Whelan doing most to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Both had an occasional wide but it was a remarkable display of long range free-taking from both centre half backs.

Against predictions, Ballingarry raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes. Conor Vaughan pointed his first free of five when Ballingarry won a free from the throw-in.

And even though Mikey O’Shea equalised from a free a minute later, Ballingarry hit back with three without reply – another Vaughan free, a Stephen Donovan free following a foul on Kieran Lyons and then the first point from play, from Donovan again, after relentless Ballingarry pressure saw Mullinahone struggle to clear their lines.

With neither forward line posing a goal threat, it was left to the free-takers to hit the scores – many of the frees following from referee Guinan’s strict interpretation of the handpass rule.

Ballingarry’s greater hunger and battling qualities saw them maintain the edge throughout the half and they had a double score lead, 0-8 to 0-4, with the half nearly over – the Ballingarry scores coming from two pointed frees each from Vaughan and Donovan, and Mullinahone’s three from Whelan frees.

Then in the half’s most inspirational moment, Simon Blackmore fielded a ball from the skies, turned and hit over a superb point for Ballingarry.

The action swung to the other end from the puckout and when Eoin O’Dwyer was fouled, Mikey O’Shea tapped over the free to leave it 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.

Remarkably, the first three minutes of the second half saw more points from play than in the entire 33 minutes played in the first half.

Kieran Lyons extended the Ballingarry lead in the first minute, Mikey O’Shea replied immediately for the Kickhams, and then Aidan Ryan restored the five-points Ballingarry advantage.

However, Mullinahone upped the tempo as they battled to retain their title. Three points in a row, from Eoin O’Dwyer, the increasingly influential Mikey O’Shea, and Shane Morris, saw the margin back to two points.

A Donovan pointed free broke their momentum before two Whelan frees and a fine score from Eanna Ryan tied the score at 0-12 each ten minutes from the end – the first time in the game that the champions had been level.

But parity didn’t last long. Thomas Walton won possession and looked for options on the next Ballingarry attack and brilliantly picked out the unmarked Ben Ruttle, who shot to the net past Stephen Hickey. It was a huge boost for Ballingarry in a game where goal chances were as rare as hen’s teeth, and even though two Conor Whelan frees pegged them back to a single point advantage, they were still playing with the confidence to cause an upset.

But all that changed in an instant. Failing to deal with Josh Rowan’s lofted ball into the square proved fatal to their title aspirations, as Mickey O’Shea found the empty net.

Ballingarry deserved more for their efforts. Niall Fitzgerald, Eamonn Corcoran and Conor Vaughan were immense in defence; captain Mikey McGrath and Aidan Ryan battled bravely at midfield; and Simon Blackmore, Kieran Lyons and Stephen Donovan were a threat upfront – Donovan another accurate free-taker with four successful strikes - with Ben Ruttle taking his goal in style.

But to the victors the spoils, and Mullinahone can look back on a final, and championship, well won. Mikey O’Shea’s 1-4, crucially the goal, proved vital, as did Conor Whelan’s remarkable seven points from placed balls.

Team captain Cillian White was rock solid at corner back, while upfront Eanna Ryan, Shane Morris and Eoin O’Dwyer chipped in with vital scores.

Mullinahone: Stephen Hickey, Sean O’Dwyer, Daire O’Brien, Cillian White, James Cody, Conor Whelan 0-7 frees; Conor O’Brien, Riain O’Halloran, Diarmuid White, Mikey O’Shea 1-4, 0-2 frees; Eanna Ryan 0-1; Patrick Hayes, Shane Morris 0-1; Jack Lonergan, Eoin O’Dwyer 0-2.

Subs: Josh Rowan for Jack Lonergan, Jack Lonergan for Diarmuid White, Cathal Brett for Shane Morris.

Ballingarry: Cian McCormack, Niall Fitzgerald, Ger Ryan, Michael Ryan, Eamonn Corcoran, Conor Vaughan 0-5 frees; Mikey McGrath, Billy McGrath, Aidan Ryan 0-1; Simon Blackmore 0-1; Thomas Walton, Diarmuid Ryan, Kieran Lyons 0-1; Ben Ruttle 1-0; Stephen Donovan 0-5, 4 frees.

Sub: Lee Cleere for Diarmuid Ryan.

Referee: Paul Guinan (Killenaule).