*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 รire รg hearts on Sunday afternoon.
Ballyea 2-14
รire รg 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 couldnโt have been more evident with the skills proving to be simply match-winning.
It was a hook by Tony Kelly on Shane OโDonnell that led to a turnover which was cleaned up by Paul Flanagan and distributed to Cathal OโConnor that brought Ballyea back on level terms with sixty one minutes on the clock.
Kellyโs run back to make the hook was simply superb and moments later Gary Brennan made a vital block to deny OโDonnell 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 รire รg 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 Donnellanโs 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 รire รg puckout was won by Gearoid OโConnell 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 didnโt utilise the lighting fast attacker who is now a regular on Colm Collinsโ county football side.
Danny Russell opened รire รgโs 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 รire รg but his shot went to the left of Philly Walshโs 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 OโConnellโs long-range delivery before smashing to the net but Ballyeaโs 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 รire รg 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 refereeโs sideline officials intervened to correct the error.
Nonetheless it was Matt Shannonโs 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 Cooneyโs point to make the gap three points, it was lowered to two by Deasy before Darren OโBrien added a fine score.
Substitute Cathal OโConnor made his presence known for Ballyea, in a pre-match interview with The Clare Echo he may have remarked that he was โno Tony Kellyโ but the Coolmeen man was to the fore in securing the title on this occasion. He pointed twice in his half hour appearance.
Russellโs eleventh point of the evening with fifty minutes played turned out to be รire รgโs 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 Hoganโs side was their ability to nullify รire รgโs key threats. Gavin Cooney had been the link to supply possession to Shane OโDonnell in the inside line, by curbing Cooney they managed to keep OโDonnell 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 OโConnell, Jack Browne, Paul Flanagan, Peter Casey and Gearoid OโConnell among their top players on the day. The contributions of Deasy, Griffin, Kelly and OโConnor 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 hadnโt 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, รire รg 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 OโDea did best for the Ennis side.
Scorers Ballyea: Niall Deasy (1-06 6f), Tony Kelly (0-04 1โ65), Aaron Griffin (1-01), Cathal OโConnor (0-02), Martin OโLeary (0-01).
Scorers รire รg: Danny Russell (0-11 9f 1โ65), David Reidy (1-00), Darren OโBrien (0-02), Oran Cahill (0-01), Michael Moloney (0-01), Gavin Cooney (0-01)
Ballyea:
1: Barry Coote
2: Brandon OโConnell
4: Paul Flanagan
3: Peter Casey
5: Gearoid OโConnell
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 OโConnor for Gavin (34)
19: Martin OโLeary for Lillis (54)
รire รg:
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 OโDea
10: David McNamara
13: Gavin Cooney
12: Michael Moloney
14: Danny Russell
11: Shane OโDonnell
15: Darren OโBrien
Subs:
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)