*Ballyea celebrate at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
BALLYEA HAVE won the Clare SHC for the fourth time, all in the space of six years as they produced a final flurry to break Éire Óg hearts on Sunday afternoon.
Ballyea 2-14
Éire Óg 1-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Hooks, blocks and tackles have long been the buzzwords used by Robbie Hogan when discussing the most important traits of this Ballyea side. It couldn’t have been more evident with the skills proving to be simply match-winning.
It was a hook by Tony Kelly on Shane O’Donnell that led to a turnover which was cleaned up by Paul Flanagan and distributed to Cathal O’Connor that brought Ballyea back on level terms with sixty one minutes on the clock.
Kelly’s run back to make the hook was simply superb and moments later Gary Brennan made a vital block to deny O’Donnell from hitting the target.
Niall Deasy hit what would be the winning score on sixty three minutes to put Ballyea ahead for the first time since the thirty fourth minute of the second half.
More than the additional time was signalled with Éire Óg given the chance to equalise but David Reidy taking his first free of the evening saw his effort drift to the wrong side of the posts, much to the delight of the Ballyea support base with Jarlath Donnellan’s final whistle sounding after this.
Remarkably, the first score in either half was a Ballyea goal. Space in front of either full-forward line was always going to be a vital platform and it paved the way for Aaron Griffin to round Jarlath Collins before nestling the sliotar in the net on four minutes, the move beginning when an Éire Óg puckout was won by Gearoid O’Connell who found Niall Deasy and he spotted the space in front of Griffin.
Three missed chances followed from the Townies before Griffin raised another white flag. Surprisingly, given his blistering start, Ballyea definitely didn’t utilise the lighting fast attacker who is now a regular on Colm Collins’ county football side.
Danny Russell opened Éire Óg’s account on eight minutes and the subsequent puck out was won by Oran Cahill who split the posts aiding the large Ennis support base to test their vocal chords. Deasy and Russell swapped scores on two separate occasions before Tony Kelly pointed his first effort of the evening.
Kelly had a chance to score a second Ballyea goal and one that undoubtedly could have seriously derailed Éire Óg but his shot went to the left of Philly Walsh’s goal.
Three points on the bounce including an equaliser from Mikey Moloney tied the sides for the first time in the contest, with twenty eight minutes on the clock. Kelly and Russell traded efforts to see them retreat at the break on level terms.
On the restart, there was goals on the double. First, Niall Deasy did well to control Brandon O’Connell’s long-range delivery before smashing to the net but Ballyea’s three point advantage was immediately wiped out when a blunder by Barry Coote allowed David Reidy to kick the sliotar over the line.
Deasy and Russell again pointed from placed balls before Gavin Cooney put Éire Óg ahead for the first time, ironically this score went wide of the goal but was awarded by the officials, the umpires appeared to have their vision impaired by the sun but none of the referee’s sideline officials intervened to correct the error.
Nonetheless it was Matt Shannon’s men that were beginning to kick on with Russell punishing any ounce of discipline with Deasy doing likewise at the other end. Russell converted twice following Cooney’s point to make the gap three points, it was lowered to two by Deasy before Darren O’Brien added a fine score.
Substitute Cathal O’Connor made his presence known for Ballyea, in a pre-match interview with The Clare Echo he may have remarked that he was “no Tony Kelly” but the Coolmeen man was to the fore in securing the title on this occasion. He pointed twice in his half hour appearance.
Russell’s eleventh point of the evening with fifty minutes played turned out to be Éire Óg’s last contribution on the scoreboard.
What ensued was a typical but always impressive spirited conclusion by Ballyea. They trailed by three points but hit the last four points of the encounter to ensure they would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Securing a fourth title since 2016 simply underlines how they are maximising a golden generation but worthy of applause is the fact they have come from behind to win each title, a clear sign if any of their grit and character.
Central to the win for Robbie Hogan’s side was their ability to nullify Éire Óg’s key threats. Gavin Cooney had been the link to supply possession to Shane O’Donnell in the inside line, by curbing Cooney they managed to keep O’Donnell scoreless but the 2013 All-Ireland winner did win a fair share of the scoreable frees tagged over by Russell.
Defensively Ballyea were close to their best with Brandon O’Connell, Jack Browne, Paul Flanagan, Peter Casey and Gearoid O’Connell among their top players on the day. The contributions of Deasy, Griffin, Kelly and O’Connor were also hugely influential.
Losing county finals are never easy but the pain is multiplied when the margin is so small. A big talking point among the Townie contingent will centre around the fact that a final free to level the tie in injury time was taken by David Reidy and not Danny Russell, Reidy hadn’t scored a free all day while Russell had 0-10 from placed balls. Though they were in control for the third quarter and arguable the second, Éire Óg failed to get the best out of their players and this came down to not feeding them with enough possession. Oran Cahill, Liam Corry and Cian O’Dea did best for the Ennis side.
Scorers Ballyea: Niall Deasy (1-06 6f), Tony Kelly (0-04 1’65), Aaron Griffin (1-01), Cathal O’Connor (0-02), Martin O’Leary (0-01).
Scorers Éire Óg: Danny Russell (0-11 9f 1’65), David Reidy (1-00), Darren O’Brien (0-02), Oran Cahill (0-01), Michael Moloney (0-01), Gavin Cooney (0-01)
Ballyea:
1: Barry Coote
2: Brandon O’Connell
4: Paul Flanagan
3: Peter Casey
5: Gearoid O’Connell
6: Jack Browne
7: James Murphy
9: Stan Lineen
12: Morgan Garry
14: Niall Deasy
33: Gary Brennan
11: Pearse Lillis
13: Mossy Gavin
8: Tony Kelly
15: Aaron Griffin
Subs:
17: Cillian Brennan for Garry (23) (inj)
10: Cathal O’Connor for Gavin (34)
19: Martin O’Leary for Lillis (54)
Éire Óg:
1: Phillip Walsh
2: Jarlath Collins
6: Aaron Fitzgerald
4: Niall McMahon
7: Liam Corry
3: Ciaran Russell
5: Oran Cahill
8: David Reidy
9: Cian O’Dea
10: David McNamara
13: Gavin Cooney
12: Michael Moloney
14: Danny Russell
11: Shane O’Donnell
15: Darren O’Brien
Subs:
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
