Conor Bowe retires with injury as Ballina eek out vital win over Moyne Templetuohy

FBD County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship - Group 1 - Round 2

Ballina 3-18 

Moyne Templetuohy 1-19

By Liam Hogan 

In inspired substitution by Ballina when they introduced Stephen O’Brien helped turn the tables as his goal, with his first touch, was the start of a last ten-minute journey when they outscored Moyne 1-5 to 0-3 and hold on to claim their first championship of the year.

O’Brien had been on the injured list over the previous three months and his appearance came as a bit of a surprise, a surprise to many outside the club. 

The win may not have been pretty but a week after they won their first-ever County senior football championship game the Shannonsiders will enter the last round with a degree of confidence when they face Cashel King Cormacs in their final game where victory is a must while at the same time, they will hope that Moyne Templetuohy will do them a favour if they overcome St Marys the same day.

And while Ballina will rejoice in their victory spare a thought for Gearoid O’Connor and Moyne Templetuohy where the Tipperary star, back in Ireland just 48 hours or so, after a summer period in San Francisco, produced a man of the match performance with a brilliant display of free taking when he scored 0-17 in total.

Aside from defeat there was more bad news for Moyne as they lost their inspirational centre-back Conor Bowe who left the field ten minutes from time suspect to a dreaded ACL injury. That injury had to be confirmed during the week. 

The game opened in a whiz of excitement when Donie Whelan’s opening score was matched by Gearoid O’Connor’s opening free, wind assisted from ninety metres, before Balina were four in front after David Kelly scored one of the goals of the season when he raced in past the Moyne defence and with the angle not so good he batted the ball to the net. 

With Matthew Power and Gearoid O’Connor swapping frees before scores came level for the sixth time in the opening twenty four minutes after David Kelly scored a brilliant point to make it 1-7 to 0-10.

Apart from Gearoid O’Connor converting frees, Moyne could depend on Thomas Hamill who operated at full forward and scored while Conor Bowe who manned number six was also on the score by then.

After the whirlwind start the game became very much stop-start due to the player's tendency to concede frees and the latest free conceded occurred in the 28th minute when Diarmuid Fogarty was fouled in the large square. Paul Maher stood over the penalty but his poorly struck shot was saved by Martin McKeogh who needed a second touch to clear off the line. 

Not out of danger, Ballina defence were on hand but Michael Breen, on his way out of goal was disposed by Eoin Guilfoyle who flicked the ball to the net and Moyne were three in front. Donie Whelan’s reply was important before Gearoid O’Connor’s ninth placed ball made the scoreline read Moyne Templetuohy 1-11 Ballina 1-8.   

The start of the second half continued as a shootout between Matthew Power and Gearoid O’Connor with Power’s free in the 34th minute reducing Ballina’s deficit to two but Moyne soon went four in front after two more Gearoid O’Connor frees. 

Ballina replied again with three Mathew Power frees before another O’Connor brace moved Moyne three in front as the game approached the 42nd minute. 

Meantime, the Ballina bench introduced Stephen O’Brien and his appearance caused a ripple among the Ballina support and within a minute O’Brien’s first touch was to shoot to the net from ten metres as the Templetuohy defence closed in following a misdirected pass by a Moyne defender. 

There was more from Ballina as Paul Maher saved at the expense of a sixty five which Matthew Power converted. A pointed free by O’Connor had scores level but points by Matthew Power (free), Donie Whelan and Eoghan Power had Ballina three in front with eight minutes remaining before  O’Connor and Mathew Power swapped frees.

At three points in front Ballina were on the front foot and they might have increased their lead but inaccuracy in front of goal would delay their win as they hit five wides in a row while Gearoid O’Connor responded with another free. 

However, Matthew Power’s 90 metre free edged Ballina three to the good only to see one final score by O’Connor free cut the margin back to two as the game entered additional time before one final Ballina attack saw Eoghan Power secure their third goal which sealed the contest. 

Ballina face Cashel in their final game with Moyne taking on St Marys. 

Ballina: Martin McKeogh; Zack Egan, James Hanly, Conor Power; Terry O’Halloran, Michael Breen, Jack Collins; Sam Loughran, M Power (0-10, 0-9f); David Kelly (1-2), Eoghan Power (1-2), Donie Whelan (0-3); Cathal O’ Donnell, Kian Donnelly, Charlie King (0-1).

Subs used: Stephen O’Brien (1-0) for Donnelly (45); Ben King for C Power (57).

Moyne Templetuohy: Paul Maher; Kevin Larkin, Eoin O’Gorman, Thomas Hassett;  Ciaran Lloyd, Conor Bowe (0-1), John Coughlan; Shane Lowe, Pierce Meade; Jack Taylor, Ger O’Connor (0-17, 0-16f, 0-1’65), Tom Meade; Eamon Guilfoyle (1-0), Tomas Hamill (0-1), Diarmuid Fogarty. 

Subs used: Sean Hayes for P Gleeson (44); Damien Cantwell for Fogarty (54). 

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)