Extra time classic sees Silvermines edge past battling Ballina and into U21 decider

North Tipperary U21 A Hurling Championship Semi-Final 

Silvermines 3-11 

Ballina 1-16 

By Liam Hogan 

In a repeat of last year’s North semi final meeting, a great start and a flying finish were just about enough to see Silvermines survive a Ballina revival and take their place in the final after what was a splendid game of hurling, despite cold wintry conditions, as the teams met in the North Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling semi final at Dolla last Sunday at noon.

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The ability to create goals at vital times and a splendid display of goalkeeping by Luke O’Connor, plus a tight-marking defence, were the ingredients needed to seal victory as Silvermines will meet champions Borris-Ileigh in a repeat of last year’s decider.

The first half began in frantic fashion, with Mines' corner back Sean McGrath opening the scoring after two and a half minutes. Ballina’s response was immediate, but Silvermines keeper Luke O’Connor pulled off a splendid point-blank save to deny Tadgh McKeogh from close in.

Mines, playing with a diagonal breeze, were more direct, and by the tenth minute they were three in front after points by Danny Quinn and Conor Ryan. Minutes later Ryan would have to leave the field with a shoulder injury, but by then Mines were 1-3 to nil in front after Danny Quinn latched on to poor defensive play by Ballina to find the net for the home side.

Ballina had plenty of chances, but a plethora of shots for scores dropped short for Luke O’Connor to clear, while the Mines half back line of Daniel McKelvey, Luke O’Brien and Brehon O’Donnell were very much in evidence.

Indeed, it was the same at the other end as Zack Egan and Jack Collins were reading the game very well, and any chances that fell to Mines were missed as the normally accurate Sean Nolan had a poor day on frees throughout the first half.

Who would ever predict a team failing to score in thirty minutes of hurling, but Ballina can take credit for that statistic. They were quick to redeem themselves, however, as they scored three points in the opening three minutes of the new half, with Billy Collins scoring two points either side of another on the left wing by Jack Collins.

Mines recovered some ground as Sean Nolan found his radar with a free, quickly followed by a Cynan Bailey score from play in the 35th minute. The game had really opened up now as Ballina came again, with the deficit reduced to the minimum after Billy and Jack Collins raised a white flag each, before Paddy Bradley pointed a close-in free after a foul on Charlie King following a blistering run by Brian Burke.

Ballina had the upper hand, but a gap in their defence saw Jack Quinn Jones find an unmarked Darragh Treacy, who found a path for goal from close in. As Ballina’s response saw an increase in their wides tally, another Nolan free in the 48th minute had the home side six in front, 2-6 to 0-6.

The margin was quickly reduced by half after Charlie King and Billy Collins scored from play, with Jack Collins adding a 65 following a great save by Luke O’Connor, who denied Charlie King. Substitute Eoin Grace found the target for Mines with his first touch, but Ballina were back in the driving seat when their next puckout went long, and the ball broke nicely for Tadgh McKeogh, whose ground shot ran past a helpless Luke O’Connor. Ballina had the lead for the first time just in time for the hour mark.

Over two minutes of added time were signalled, and one last attack by Silvermines saw Eoin Grace fouled, and Nolan showed his experience to level and force two periods of extra time at 2-8 to 1-11.

EXTRA TIME

Memories of Eoin Murchan’s goal for Dublin in the 2019 All-Ireland senior football final sprung to mind when Luke O’Brien scored a similar goal after he ran deep from halfway before scoring goal number three from close range with 15 seconds gone. Sheer pleasure. Billy Collins replied with his fifth point from play before Mines went four in front after another Nolan free plus a Darragh Treacy score from play made it 3-10 to 1-12.

The splendid Jack Collins had now moved to the attack (from number 6) and he scored back-to-back frees to see the scoreline read 3-10 to 1-14, with teams changing ends after almost five minutes of added time.

The second half was very stop start as tired limbs and cramping spoiled the flow of the game, and as the ten official minutes increased to almost fifteen there were three more scores on offer, the first a Danny Quinn score from play in the opening minute of the new half. Jack Collins replied with a free a minute later, but both defences did their jobs splendidly, leaving Jack Collins with the final say, a free two minutes from time, as the curtain descended on a very enjoyable game of hurling.

Silvermines scorers: Danny Quinn 1-2, Sean Nolan 0-4f; Darragh Treacy 1-1, Luke O’Brien 1-0, Sean McGrath, Conor Ryan, Cynan Bailey, Eoin Grace all 0-1 each. 

Ballina: Jack Collins (0-8, 0-5f, 0-1’65), Billy Collins 0-5, Tadhg McKeogh 1-0, Charlie King, Thomas Shanahan 0-1 each,  Paddy Bradley 0-1f. 

Silvermines: Luke O’Connor; Sean Murphy, Sean Ryan Prenderville, Sean McGrath; Daniel McKelvey, Luke O’Brien, Brehon O’Donnell; Darragh Treacy, Patrick Steed; Cynan Bailey, Sean Nolan, Cathal Treacy; John Ryan, Danny Quinn, Conor Ryan. 

Subs used: Jack Quinn Jones for J Ryan (24, inj); Eoin Grace for Quinn Jones (54); Ronan Cunneen for C Ryan (59); Conor McGrath for O’Donnell (HT, ET); Jack Quinn Jones for Cunneen (80). 

Ballina: Simon Grace; Jack Grace, Zac Egan, Sean Lyons; Ronan Coughlan, Jack Collins, J P Mbokha Tansia; Ollie Ryan, Thomas Shanahan; Paddy Bradley, Charlie King, Brian Burke; Tadgh McKeogh, Billy Collins, Luke Power. 

Subs used: Enda Tormey for Coughlan (38); Jack Quinn for T McKeogh (67, inj); Luke McKeogh for B Collins (78, inj). 

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Éire Óg)

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