Holycross Ballycahill power to safety with commanding win over Ballybacon Grange

FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Relegation Semi-Final

Holycross Ballycahill 2-24

Ballybacon Grange 1-15

Holycross Ballycahill capped off a brilliant weekend of hurling for their club as their intermediate hurlers survived their relegation battle after a convincing win over Ballybacon Grange in Golden on Sunday afternoon.

Holycross proved to have too much for their South counterparts as they led from pillar to post. Ballybacon Grange will have to wait another day to try and secure their safety at intermediate grade when they face Clonoulty Rossmore in the relegation final.

Holycross started stronger on the day with a flurry of scores in the opening quarter. There were great points from Paraic Russell and Tony Leahy for the Mid Tipperary side, as well as three points from open play from Jamie Woods, all inside the opening ten minutes.

The fluidity of their forward movement proved to be a problem for the Ballybacon defenders, which was exposed when Stevie Flanagan won the ball and stuck it in the back of the net to give his side a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after 12 minutes.

This purple patch proved to be the deciding factor in the contest as they capitalised on any opportunity they were given, with both Luke O’Mara and Eanna Ryan opening their scoring tallies for the day with well-taken points.

After 20 minutes, the scoreline had been extended to 1-12 to 0-3, a deficit for Ballybacon which was always going to be a monstrous hill to climb.

Ballybacon clipped over five points in the final ten minutes of the half as Paul Cummins pointed a brace from dead balls and Billy Hewitt charged up the field to score two from open play.

Just as they began to find their rhythm on the scoreboard, Tony Leahy won the ball in a contest and laid it off to Stevie Flanagan, who in turn gave a handpass to Russell. After taking a big hit from corner-back John Condon, Russell’s strike on goal whizzed past the ear of Brendan Cummins and into the roof of the net, giving the keeper no chance.

After this dominant display in the first half, the game fell flat in the second half. With the damage done, Ballybacon could not reduce their deficit to any less than 12 points throughout the second half.

Flanagan and Paul Cummins traded pointed frees for most of the half. Cummins, in his first year of adult hurling, had proved to be a vital cog for this Ballybacon side, but he had his work cut out for him as he was tailed by Tony Maher wherever he went.

With 58 minutes on the clock, Ballybacon found a goal of their own after a great effort from substitute Declan Walsh.

Strong on the day for Ballybacon were Jack O’Neill, Billy Hewitt and Shane Ryan, while Holycross Ballycahill had strong performers throughout, with Tony Maher, Eanna Ryan, Jamie Woods and Paraic Russell among their best on the day.

Scorers: Holycross Ballycahill: Stevie Flanagan (1-7, 0-7f), Paraic Russell 1-3, Jamie Woods, Tony Leahy, Luke O’Mara all 0-3 each, Eanna Ryan 0-2, Shane Ryan 0-1f, Stephen Quinlan, Tadgh Ryan 0-1 each.

Ballybacon Grange: Paul Cummins 0-5f, Billy Hewitt (0-3, 0-1f), Shane Ryan 0-3, Declan Walsh 1-0, Brendan Cummins 0-1f, James Murphy, Eoin Walsh, Brian Dillon all 0-1 each.

Ballybacon Grange: Brendan Cummins; Sean Nagle, Ronan Myles, John Condon; Johnny English, Michael Barlow, Luke O’Brien; Jack O’Neill, Billy Hewitt; Oisin Ryan, Gerry Cronin, Shane Ryan; Paul Cummins, Eoin Walsh, James Murphy.

Subs used: Aaron Lonergan for Luke O’Brien (HT); Brian Dillon for Oisin Ryan (37); Declan Walsh for James Murphy (44); James O’Mahoney for Jack O’Neill (51); Philip Walsh for Paul Cummins (57).

Holycross Ballycahill: Thomas Comerford; Jimmy Ryan (H), Conor Ryan (H), Cian Ryan; Shane Ryan, Eoin Morris, Kieran O’Dwyer; Tony Maher, Eanna Ryan; Jamie Woods, Tony Leahy; Stephen Quinlan, Luke O’Mara, Paraic Russell.

Subs used: Sean Ryan for Stephen Quinlan (46); Daire Ryan for Jimmy Ryan H (52); Tadgh Ryan for Eanna Ryan (54).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)