Carrick Swan are on a roll in Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

Carrick Swan 3-18 Ballina 1-19 

Carrick Swan brushed aside the challenge of Ballina to make it two wins from as many outings in this Round 2, Group 1 FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship game at Leahy Park, Cashel on Saturday evening.

Fresh from their opening round victory over Upperchurch Drombane, the Swan were full of confidence against a Ballina side that was hit by injuries. The teams were evenly matched in the opening ten minutes but by the end of the opening period the South senior champions had built up a four-point advantage, 0-11 to 0-7.

Over the course of the game Ballina were over-reliant on Jack Collins from placed balls, whereas Swan had a greater spread of scorers. Their full forward line in particular was in fine form, hitting 2-7 from open play between them while Callum Lanigan was unerring from placed balls, and midfielder Aaron O’Halloran chipped in with 1-1.

Their defence was tight with Gavin O’Halloran manning the middle while Colin Loughman and Scott Hogan, up to the time of his injury, were very solid.

Ballina had Michael Breen at the centre of their defence while Jack Collins hit 0-8, including six frees from midfield. Cillian Ryan, with 0-3, and David Kelly with 1-3 were always threatening up front and were the pick of their attack.

The second half produced four goals, three from the Swan and a David Kelly injury time major for Ballina. Overall, Swan will be happy with their performance and one felt that they even had a little in reserve. They will go into their final round 3 game against Silvermines full of confidence and hoping to top the group.

Carrick Swan started the livelier, with Gavin O’Halloran getting the scoreboard moving inside the opening minute with a point from the halfway line. Callum Walsh doubled this advantage two minutes later before Jack Collins got Ballina off the mark from a placed ball from 45 metres.

Aidan Waters put over from an acute angle before Ballina hit the next three points, Michael Breen landing a huge effort from beyond the halfway line and following up with a long-range free. Cillian Ryan got his first score of the day to put Ballina ahead for what would be the only time.

Carrick upped their game, hitting the next five points, Callum Lanigan with two frees and one from open play, and Aaron Dunne and Eric O’Halloran with a point each. Josh Egan and David Kelly were on the mark for Ballina, reducing the deficit to two.

However, the Swan replied through Taylor Fleming, Aaron O’Halloran and Aidan Waters before Jack Collins closed out the half with a converted free to leave the half-time score Carrick Swan 0-11 Ballina 0-7.

Ballina needed a positive start after the break and Jack Collins pointed after just ten seconds. However, from the resulting puckout Aidan Waters blasted past Simon Grace when he followed up on a save from Callum Lanigan. Ballina reacted with points from Cillian Ryan and Jack Collins to cut the Swan advantage down to four.

The next twelve minutes were even enough, with play moving up and down the field. Aidan Waters set up Aaron Dunne for his second point of the evening, before David Kelly made his mark at the other end. Kelly and Cillian Ryan were coming more into the game and that was reflected in the scoring pattern. Swan were finding it difficult to pull away, despite threatening to do so.

Aidan Waters found his range for his third minor of the evening and Jack Collins hit his fifth point. Callum Lanigan and Zak Egan traded points to keep the Swan ahead by five with a quarter of an hour to play.

Swan’s second goal came on 46 minutes when Callum Lanigan opened up the Ballina defence before laying off to Aaron O’Halloran, who scored from close-range.

Danny O’Hanlon was then introduced for Swan and fired over with his first touch when he latched onto a ball from Eric O’Halloran, who had intercepted a Ballina attempted clearance.

A minute later O’Hanlon got his second point when he prevented a high ball from going over the end line, before splitting the posts.

Swan were seven to the good with seven minutes of normal time remaining, but Ballina struck back with a point from David Kelly, which was followed up with a similar score from Matthew Power. Jack Collins reduced the deficit to four when he put over his eighth point of the evening to keep the game alive.

The game finished on a high. First Aaron Dunne raced through the Ballina defence for goal number three, and two minutes into added time David Kelly got in for a late Ballina major when he was first to react to a great save by Kieran Lonergan from Billy Collins’ low drive, in what was the last action of the game.

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan, Dean Kiely, Scott Hogan, Jack Murphy, Colin Loughman, Gavin O’Halloran (0-1), Ben Mulcaire, Aaron O’Halloran (1-1), Dean Waters, Eric O’Halloran (captain 0-1), Callum Lanigan (0-5, 4 frees), Taylor Fleming (0-1), Aidan Waters (1-3), Aaron Dunne (1-3), Callum Walsh (0-1).

Subs: Danny O’Hanlon (0-2) for Callum Walsh (49), Colin Waters for Scott Hogan (injured, 54), Owen Harrigan for Taylor Fleming (58), Dean Walsh for Aidan Waters (58).

Ballina: Simon Grace, Paddy O’Donovan, David Grace, Terry O’Halloran, Zak Egan (0-1), Michael Breen (captain 0-2, 1 free), James Hanly, David Coughlan, Jack Collins (0-8, 6 frees), Ben King, Josh Egan (0-1), Kian Donnelly, Corey Ryan, David Kelly (1-3), Cillian Ryan (0-3).

Subs: Billy Collins for Ben King (HT), Matthew Power (0-1) for Corey Ryan (44).

Referee: Johnny Butler (Upperchurch Drombane).