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A strong third quarter in which they outscored their opponents 0-9 to 0-2 proved decisive as Ballyea recorded a second win in this season’s senior hurling championship.
Ballyea 2-21
Crusheen 0-15
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
When the sides went to the break on level terms and Ballyea returned for the second half without their captain Jack Browne, there was concern amongst their supporters but the two time champions stepped up their performance after the break and they dominated this period to emerge with a comfortable victory and move to the top of the table.
A twelve point margin certainly didn’t appear to be on the cards after the opening thirty minutes at the end of which Crusheen would not have been flattered if they had been ahead by four or five points. They played some lovely hurling but poor finishing cost them as they hit seven wides in the opening half to two for Ballyea while Crusheen failed to convert an excellent goal opportunity.
Crusheen started well and raced 0-3 to 0-0 clear after five minutes. They were 0-6 to 0-2 in front after twelve minutes but three minutes later Ballyea struck for a goal. Aaron Griffin won possession, turned his marker and raced through. His effort was stopped as was Niall Deasy’s attempt from the rebound but Mossy Gavin, one of Ballyea’s stars on the evening, managed to get the ball over the line to level the contest.
Ross Hayes responded by converting a free for Crusheen who led by the minimum margin at the first water break. When play resumed the exchanges were move even and when the half time whistle sounded the sides were level at 1-8 to 0-11.
A hamstring injury led to Ballyea’s manager Robbie Hogan and his selectors withdrawing their captain at the interval and he was replaced by Morgan Garry. Crusheen went back in front two minutes into the new half but Ballyea took over after this and they hit six unanswered points by the tenth minute.
Oisin O’Donnell pulled one back for Crusheen but Ballyea landed three more to led at the second water break by seven points, 1-17 to 0-13.
When play resumed hopes of a Crusheen rally were quickly killed as Niall Deasy soloed in along the endline and from a tight angle blasted to the net. Morgan Garry and Aaron Griffin followed with points and the Crusheen challenge faded.
Paul Flanagan, James Murphy, Tony Kelly, Aaron Griffin and Mossy Gavin were prominent for the winners while Cian Dillon, Ross Hayes, Oisin O’Donnell, Breffni Horner and Conor O’Donnell got through good work for Crusheen.
Scorers Ballyea: Mossy Gavin (1-5), Tony Kelly (0-7, 4f). Niall Deasy (1-4, 0-1f 0-1 line ball), Aaron Griffin (0-2), Gary Brennan, Morgan Garry, Martin O’Leary (0-1) each;
Scorers Crusheen: Ross Hayes (0-9, 8f), Conor O’Donnell (0-3), Oisin O’Donnell (0-2), Breffni Horner (0-1);
Ballyea:
1: Barry Coote
2: Peter Casey
3: Paul Flanagan
4: Brian Murphy
17: James Murphy
6: Jack Browne
7: Brandon O’Connell
8: Tony Kelly
9: Stan Lineen
10: Pearse Lillis
11: Gary Brennan
12: Aonghus Keane
13: Mossy Gavin
14: Niall Deasy
15: Aaron Griffin
Subs
23: Morgan Garry for Browne (HT)
22: Cathal O’Connor for A. Keane (45)
20: Martin O’Leary for Griffin (53)
19: Brian Casey for B. Murphy(60)
Crusheen:
1: Donal Tuohy
2: Luke Hayes
3: Cathal Dillon
4: Eanna McMahon
5: Ross Hayes
6: Cian Dillon
7: Fergus Kennedy
8: Tadhg Dean
9: Oisin O’Donnell
10: Diarmuid Mullins
11: Cilléin Mullins
12: Jamie Fitzgigbon
18: Murrough McMahon
14: Breffni Horner
15: Conor O’Donnell
Subs:
22: John Brigdale for L. Hayes (15) (Inj)
13: Luke Ketelaar for D. Mullins (44)
24: Ciaran O’Doherty for M. McMahon (44)
17: Gavin O’Brien for Brigdale (46)
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
