Ballina find their way past gallant Thurles Sarsfields to qualify for last eight proper

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter-Final

Ballina 2-22 

Thurles Sarsfields 3-16

By Michael Dundon

Having chased the game most of the way, Thurles Sarsfields ultimately bowed out to North champions Ballina in a keenly contested FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling County Championship preliminary quarter-final at Templederry on Saturday.

Ballina did not expect to find themselves playing a preliminary quarter-final and were well fancied to advance, but they were made to fight all the way by a Sarsfields side badly hit by promotions to the senior ranks. 

The North men deserved their win, their 24 to 19 scores reflecting the advantage they enjoyed in terms of opportunities, but they had some anxious moments at the finish before their place in the last eight was secure.

Sarsfields passed up on two goal chances in the first quarter, at the end of which Ballina led 0-7 to 0-3, Matthew Power pointing three frees, Jack Lanigan doing likewise for Sarsfields. Helped by a pair of Charlie King points and another from Jack Collins, Ballina went 0-10 to 0-4 clear by the 20th minute. 

Sarsfields then had their best spell, points from Jack Lanigan, Aidan Stakelum and Rory Purcell, followed by an Aidan Stakelum goal levelling the game at 0-11 to 1-8 as half-time approached.

Sarsfields had every reason to be pleased with their recovery, but in injury time Ballina countered with a Matthew Power free and, immediately afterwards, a long delivery by Thomas Shanahan ended up in the Sarsfields net, the aerial intervention of Ballina full forward Steven O’Brien unsighting the Sarsfields backline for an interval lead of 1-12 to 1-8.

Ballina deserved their half-time lead but Sarsfields were showing enough to suggest they could cause an upset.

The third quarter followed a similar pattern with Sarsfields making great efforts to get on terms while Ballina held them at arm’s length. 

Jack Lanigan set up Michael O’Brien for a Sarsfields goal three minutes after the restart to cut the deficit to a point, but Power frees and a Charlie King point, to which Jack Lanigan twice replied for Sarsfields, had the North champions ahead 1-17 to 2-11 entering the last quarter.

The decisive goal came in the 46th minute when a ball broke kindly in the goal area for Ballina’s Jack Collins, who swept it to the Thurles net. At 2-17 to 2-11, Ballina looked safely on course for the quarter-final, but Sarsfields were by no means finished. 

They were seven points adrift in the 57th minute when Michael Russell was fouled and Jack Lanigan buried the penalty. He followed with another pointed free to leave it a one-score game in the 61st minute.

Ballina backs were to the wall but, in a break upfield, they won a free which Matthew Power converted to give them breathing space. Sarsfields came again for yet another Jack Lanigan pointed free to make it a one-score game once more, but the clock was against them, and their journey was over for this year.

Busy on the football scene also, Ballina will be glad to have this game behind them, and the win should boost confidence for their quarter-final. Conceding three goals will be a concern — and it could have been five — so there is work to be done there. 

David Kelly was outstanding in a defence anchored by countyman Michael Breen, with Terry O’Halloran also prominent. Jack Collins worked hard at midfield while Charlie King and free-taker Matthew Power were the key men in attack.

The loss of Jack Derby to injury early in the second half further weakened the challenge of a Sarsfields side which had already ceded too many players to their senior team. Nevertheless, they gave a very good account of themselves, with Jack O’Mara most impressive at full back. Jack Lanigan was the key man in attack from both play and frees, while others to catch the eye were Aidan Stakelum, Rory Purcell and David Corbett.

Scorers: Ballina: Matthew Power (0-12f), Jack Collins 1-3,  Thomas Shanahan 1-1, Charlie King 0-4, Eoghan Power, Steven O’Brien 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Jack Lanigan (1-12, 1-0 pen, 0-8f), Aidan Stakelum, Michael O’Brien 1-1 each, Rory Purcell 0-2.

Ballina: Simon Grace; Paul McKeogh, Zak Egan, David Coughlan; David Kelly, Michael Breen, Terry O'Halloran; Thomas Shanahan, Jack Collins; Charlie King, Billy Collins, Eoghan Power; Josh Egan, Steven O’Brien, Matthew Power.

Subs used: Cathal O’Donnell for McKeogh (28); Paddy Bradley for Shanahan (50mins); Brian Bourke for O’Brien (61).

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken; Kieran Moloney, Jack O’Mara, Aidan Ryan; James Armstrong, David Corbett, Jack Derby; Daniel Rossiter, Michael Purcell; Mossie McCormack, Aidan Stakelum, Cillian Minogue; Michael O’Brien, Rory Purcell, Jack Lanigan.

Subs used: Paul Noonan for Derby (35); Fionn Fogarty for Ryan (43); Conor Lanigan for Rossiter (48); Michael Russell for McCormack (48).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle)