Dramatic late comeback sees Ballina snatch county title from heartbroken Ballingarry

FBD Insurance County Tipperary Junior C Hurling Championship Final

Ballina 1-14

Ballingarry 2-10

Ballina produced a stunning late rally to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and claim the inaugural FBD Insurance County Tipperary Junior ‘C’ Hurling Championship title following a drama-filled decider at a sun-drenched Ragg on Saturday afternoon.

For the second consecutive weekend, Ballingarry were left to rue a heartbreaking finish as Ballina struck 1-1 without reply in the dying moments to deny the South champions a memorable county triumph. Just seven days earlier, the club’s intermediate side had suffered similar agony when Arravale Rovers snatched victory with the last puck of the game in the county intermediate decider.

This time, it was Ballina corner-forward David Hickey who delivered the killer blow, flicking Eoin Slattery’s injury-time sideline cut to the back of the net before holding his nerve to fire over a close-range free and propel Paudie Sheehy’s men to a remarkable solitary-point victory.

For long periods, Ballingarry looked firmly in control and appeared to have one hand on the silverware when Kieran Lyons raised a green flag in the 43rd minute to leave his side comfortably ahead, 2-8 to 0-6. However, Ballina refused to surrender, launching a sensational comeback that transformed the contest and ultimately delivered a historic championship success.

Inspired by the outstanding Hickey and the influential introduction of substitute Eoin Sheehy, Ballina suddenly found another gear. Hickey opened their remarkable scoring burst with a 44th-minute free before arrowing over two excellent points in quick succession.

Jerry O’Brien, majestic throughout at centre-back, followed with a tremendous long-range effort, while Jack O’Mahoney and Eoin Sheehy added further scores in the 47th and 48th minutes.

Having watched their commanding advantage evaporate, Ballingarry were suddenly under severe pressure. Lyons briefly stemmed the tide with a point, but Ballina continued to attack in waves, their confidence growing with every possession.

The South champions battled desperately to regain control and appeared to have weathered the storm when Paddy Burns pointed in the 61st minute to restore a three-point cushion.

Yet Ballina had one final, decisive surge left in them. Hickey’s dramatic goal brought the sides level before his subsequent free completed an extraordinary turnaround, leaving Ballingarry crestfallen and Ballina celebrating a memorable county title.

The first half had been a very different story, with Ballingarry dominating proceedings and building a deserved interval advantage of 1-6 to 0-4. Ballina’s four first-half points all came from the reliable placed-ball striking of Domhnall McKeogh, as the South champions’ attack revolved around their influential captain, Philip Ivors.

Ballingarry made the perfect start, with Ivors opening the scoring in the fifth minute before Kieran Lyons set up Paddy Burns for a superb goal less than a minute later. The South side looked capable of inflicting further damage and appeared to have a second goal when Ivors dispatched an unstoppable penalty to the back of the net in the 11th minute.

However, referee John Lillis disallowed the effort after penalising the Ballingarry captain for encroaching beyond the 21-metre line, ordering play to restart with a throw-in to the considerable frustration of the Ballingarry supporters.

Ballina eventually opened their account in the 15th minute, but Dara Ryan responded with an excellent long-range point for Ballingarry before Ivors added two further scores to underline his influence on proceedings.

The South champions were unfortunate not to extend their lead further in the 25th minute. Jamie Cashin’s speculative effort struck the upright and dropped invitingly for the inrushing Paddy Burns, whose follow-up cannoned off the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

McKeogh continued to keep Ballina ticking over from placed balls, but Ballingarry remained firmly on top as the half progressed. Further efforts from Shane Burns and Ivors, the latter from a free, ensured Roy Cashin’s charges headed for the dressing rooms with a commanding five-point advantage.

Ballina needed a significant improvement after the restart, but the early exchanges suggested Ballingarry would remain in control. McKeogh and Ivors traded pointed frees before Eoin Sheehy, introduced in the 34th minute, made an immediate impact by clipping over an excellent score with his first touch.

Ivors replied with a point in the 36th minute, and Ballingarry looked poised to reassert their authority. However, Ballina goalkeeper David Nolan produced a superb intervention to keep his side in contention, putting his body on the line to deny Paddy Burns what looked a certain goal.

It proved a crucial moment, although Ballina were still struggling to find any sustained rhythm. When Lyons struck for Ballingarry’s second goal in the 43rd minute, the outcome appeared all but settled, with the South champions holding a seemingly unassailable eight-point advantage.

Instead, that score proved the catalyst for one of the most remarkable comebacks of the championship season. Ballina responded with tremendous character, determination and attacking purpose, gradually dismantling Ballingarry’s lead before Hickey’s dramatic late intervention sealed a famous victory.

Despite losing two members of their inside defensive line to injury during the opening half, Ballingarry had looked the stronger side for much of the contest. However, they were unable to contain Ballina’s rejuvenated attack during the closing stages as the North champions finished with a flourish to write their names into the history books as the first county Junior ‘C’ champions.

Hickey was the outstanding figure in Ballina’s dramatic triumph, while Jerry O’Brien, Stephen Stritch, Donal Kent, Eoin Kent, Sheehy, Jonny Kenny and Nolan also made significant contributions.

For a devastated Ballingarry side, Ivors, Lyons, Daniel Fennelly, Paddy Burns and Dara Ryan were among those who impressed.

Ballina: David Nolan; Enda Scully, Jonny Kenny, Daniel Tighe; Thomas Grace, Jerry O’Brien (0-1), Stephen Stritch; Donal Kent, Domhnall McKeogh (0-5f); Eoin Kent, Ger Sheehy, Paul Ryan; David Hickey (1-5, 0-2f, 0-1 ‘65), Kevin Cosgrave, Jack O’Mahoney (0-1).

Subs used: Eoin Sheehy (0-2) for McKeogh (34); Rody Kennedy for Scully (43); Eoin Ryan for O’Mahoney (49); Eoin Slattery for Cosgrave (58).

Ballingarry: Danny Lyons; Michael Dunne, Dickie Norton, Thomas Donovan; John Walsh, Daniel Fennelly, Matthew Butler; Dara Ryan (0-1), Cillian Touhy; Jamie Walsh, Philip Ivors (0-6, 0-2f, 0-1 ‘65) (captain), Shane Burns (0-1); Kieran Lyons (1-1), Paddy Burns (1-1), Nathan Butler.

Subs used: John Molloy for Norton (13); Sean Ryan for Donovan (29); John Holohan for Walsh (56).

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch)